Kantronics TNC

[Anthony Otlowski]

I downloaded and set up PAT today on my raspberry pi2. It is a very nice program. I was able to access winlink via telnet with no problem. When I tried to use winlink packet over my serial TNC, however I ran into trouble. I could see PAT key the TNC and radio, but it did not connect. I am using a Kantronics TNC, so I wonder if the non standard command set it uses is the issue. Is there a way to edit the commands that PAT issues to the TNC?

Thanks!

[LA5NTA]

Hi Anthony,

welcome to the list and thank you for the kind words :)

The serial-tnc driver have not been touched since it was written early in the project start-up phase, unfortunately. See https://github.com/la5nta/wl2k-go/issues/34. To modify any of the INIT commands, you'll basically have to modify the source code and recompile.

I would recommend that you run your TNC in KISS-mode, and use the ax25:// transport scheme (Linux' AX.25 kernel module) which has been tested by several users with great success. This is what I run for all my packet setups.

The tutorial for getting all this up and running has not been written yet, but here is a short list of steps to get you started:

1. sudo apt-get install ax25-tools
2. sudo nano /etc/ax25/axports # Add a new line with axport 'wl2k', e.g. 'wl2k N0CALL-0 9600 255 7 Kantronics TNC'. NOTE: Make sure not to insert any blank lines

3. sudo /usr/share/pat/ax25/install-systemd-ax25-unit.bash # This installs a systemd service (startup script) to bring the AX.25 network interface up.

4. sudo nano /etc/default/ax25 # Set DEV and HBAUD as needed

5. Ensure you're TNC is in KISS-MODE (KISS ON; RESTART;)

6. sudo systemctl start ax25 && sudo systemctl status ax25 -l # This brings up the AX.25 network interface and prints the status (including logs)

7. If everything is well, you should be able to make a connection using pat: 'pat connect ax25:///TARGETCALL'

Good luck, and please do report on your progress!

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73 de LA5NTA

[LA5NTA]

One quick note about the line added to /etc/ax25/axports ('wl2k N0CALL-0 9600 255 7 Kantronics TNC'):

9600 is the tty (serial-port) baudrate, you may need to change it. Also, remember to change the callsign.

More info on this topic can be found here: http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/AX25-HOWTO/x495.html#AEN1143

[LA5NTA]

Hi,

I just added a getting started guide for Linux AX.25 on the wiki: https://github.com/la5nta/pat/wiki/AX25-Linux

(Feedback are welcomed at issue #12)

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Regards,
Martin.

[arbutus]

Hi folks,
I'm having a terrible time getting connected using PAT.  I think the TNC (an old Timewave pk232mbx and KISS is my problem.  I'm using Linux (Ubuntu) and it seems that my radio is keying up too late in the process.  If tried running kissparms and changing the txdelay to as much as 2000.  But I'm not seeing any sort of delay at all and by the time the radio keys up, there is just a tiny bit of a data burst.  I've never used KISS before (frankly, it's just not that simple).  I'm hoping someone else with linux might have some tips.  Please!

[Steve Nosko]

Martin,

Are the instructions below still viable?  I have the same problem with my RPI 3+.  

73 

Steve W4SJN

[Martin Hebnes Pedersen]

Hi Steve,

please see the wiki page "AX25 Linux" og Github for more detailed instructions.

https://github.com/la5nta/pat/wiki/AX25-Linux

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73 de LA5NTA/Martin

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