Setting up PAT to work with PK-232 on Linux

[CJ Kelley]

Not necessarily a question, but I have observed some other members of
this group having problems setting up their PK-232 with PAT on Linux.
I just recently got it working the other day with my PK-232 and
thought I would share my configuration with everyone on this group.

I am using a Raspberry Pi 4 with the latest Raspbian, though this will
work on any modern Linux OS. My method uses the PK-232 in kiss enabled
host mode and uses ax25d to provide the interface to the modem.

First, install pat. https://getpat.io/

Once pat is installed, execute the command:

sudo /usr/share/pat/ax25/install-systemd-ax25-unit.bash

Third, install the ax-25 suite:

sudo apt-get install ax25-tools ax25-apps

then configure your axport:

# name callsign speed paclen window description
#

#1 OH2BNS-1 1200 255 2 144.675 MHz (1200 bps)
#2 OH2BNS-9 38400 255 7 TNOS/Linux (38400 bps)
wl2k KG7UJH-1 1200 255 7 Winlink


Pat is configured by default to connect using the interface titled
wl2k (collumn 1) for RF connections. Change collumn 2 to your call
sign. Collumn 3 sets the baud rate. Since I am using pat on VHF, the
baud rate is set to 1200 - change this value if you are operating at
different baud rates. Adjust collumns 4 (packet length) and 5 (window)
if your modem is giving you problems - I find these work OK on VHF
connections. The final collumn can be named anything.

Once that is set up, open a terminal program and point to to your
PK-232. Execute the below commands to put your PK-232 in a kiss
enabled host mode:

reset
xflow off
8bitconv on
conmode trans
rawhdlc on
hpoll off
kiss on
host on

Once host mode is enabled, the terminal will become unresponsive.
Close your terminal program then execute:

sudo systemctl start ax25

Now to configure PAT. Execute the command:

pat configure

Configure the first 4 lines of PAT with your callsign, winlink
password, and grid square locator.

Scroll to the section titled "ax25". The options should be similar to this:

"ax25": {
"port": "wl2k",
"beacon": {
"every": 3600,
"message": "Winlink P2P",
"destination": "IDENT"
},
"rig": ""

Scroll up to "connect_aliases". Here you will add the aliases for the
winlink node(s) you wish to connect to. The format is as follows:

"name" : "ax25:///digi/node"

Example: "rf": "ax25:///W7MOT-6/N0DAJ-10"

My configuration looks like this:

"connect_aliases": {
"telnet": "telnet://{mycall}:CMST...@cms.winlink.org:8772/wl2k",
"rf": "ax25:///W7MOT-6/N0DAJ-10"
},

Make sure you include a "," at the end of each entry except the last entry.

At this point, you are ready to connect.


Hope this helps.

73,
Christopher Kelley
KG7UJH

[Chris Keller]

Thanks for documenting this, Christopher! I'll be trying this out shortly.

Chris, K0SWE

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