Telpac and Paclink…Streamlined AX.25 Packet Radio

Server and Client for a Full Service Ham Radio Messaging

NetworkVictor Poor, W5SMM

Rick Muething, KN6KB

DCC 2003

Introduction and Overview

Background on Winlink 2000 (WL2K)Motivation for Telpac and PaclinkDevelopment Approach Telpac ….The TELnet - PACket bridge for WL2K Simple setup examplesPaclink …. A Radio client for E-mail Configuration and operation examples Using the AGW Packet EngineApplicationsSummary/QuestionsDemo of Paclink and Telpac (time permitting)

DCC 2003

Winlink 2000 SystemWhat is WL2K?

• Introduced in 2000 (DCC 2000) WL2K is a modern Introduced in 2000 (DCC 2000) WL2K is a modern software implementation of a Global ham message system software implementation of a Global ham message system capable of conventional BBS functions with significant capable of conventional BBS functions with significant extensions for the Mobile user. extensions for the Mobile user.

• Biased toward the mobilemobile user.– Conventional BBS functions with routing and store and forward

for radio and E-mail messages.

– No “Home BBS” designation required (global message mirroring)

– Optimized to capitalize on Internet forwarding when possible

– On demand WX products and other Web information.

– E-mail with text/compressed binary attachments

– Position reporting and request from radio and Internet

• Currently 4300 Users (HF Pactor, Packet, Telnet, Web) delivering over 150,000 messages per month by 36 PMBOs.

DCC 2003

Telpac node

AX.25 Packet

Telnet

Internet

Radio(Pactor 1-3, AX.25 packet)

TelnetWL2K PMBO WL2K PMBO

(Telnet Server)

NPMBO BBSUSERS AirMail BBS Programs Keyboard Terminals

WL2K Central Server (CMBO)

Winlink 2000 System

User Client

DCC 2003

Motivation for Telpac and Paclink

WL2K has been very well accepted by the mobile HF communityMany requests to expand local WL2K coverage (VHF/UHF)

Emergency communicationsSmall portable terminals

Two obstacles for widespread VHF/UHF expansion: The standard PBMO setup requires a considerable computer, radio equipment and synchronized data base.

Telpac provides a simple Telnet to Packet bridge

The user client program has to work with most available TNCs and interface with existing E-mail clients. Paclink provides a user client that meets these objectives

DCC 2003

Development Approach

Leverage existing standardized interfaces & protocols: Existing WL2K Telnet Servers via Internet/TelnetStandard TCP communication between componentsStandard mail format and server protocols:

MIME message storagePOP3 and SMTP servers

Capture TNC drivers using a standardized TCP interfaceAGW Packet Engine

Use modern development environment and tools for improvedproductivity and reduced support

Telpac: VB6, Paclink: VB.NET

DCC 2003

Telpac…WL2K’s Telnet <> Packet Bridge

TelpacTelnet

TCP

AGWPacket Engine

TNCs/Packet Radios

or

TELnet PACket Bridge

RS232

WL2KTelnetServer

Paclink

AirMail

Terminal

Radio Client

Programs

AX.25

AX.25

AX.25

Key Features:

Easy set upNo local databaseMultiple active connectionsSupports all WL2K functionsAGW Packet Engine support

DCC 2003

Telpac…15 Minute Setup…Step 1

Install the AGW Packet Engine…

These 2 menus setup the TNC

DCC 2003

Telpac…15 Minute Setup…Step 2

These 2 menus set up the Telpac bridge.

Customize your log-on banner and beacon...

You’re a WL2K Telpac node!

Install Telpac…

DCC 2003

Paclink… A Windows Radio E-mail Client

PaclinkRadioClient

SMTPServer

POP3Server

Standard E-mailClient:

(Outlook,Netscape, Eudora, etc)

Address Book:E-mail addressesRadio addresses

TCP

TCP

Channel Layers

Telnet Pactor AX.25 Others

BBS Protocol Layers

WL2K FBB MBL/RLI Keyboard

AGWPacket Engine

TCPTelnet

PactorTNC

RS232

WL2K Or

FBB Servers

Setup:Call signs,User accts,Channel assignment, Connect

scripts

Key features:

WL2K, FBB or MBL BBSs E-mail user interfaceMixed radio/E-mailPacket Engine support

DCC 2003

[AGWPE 1] [ W4MLB via COA1 ] [KN6KB] [MLB_BBS/****]

PACTOR

PACKET 1AGW 2ENGINE 3

TELNET

Mail Acct:MLB_BBS

POP3

SMTP

[AGWPE 3] [ N0IA-1] [KN6KB-1] [BUD_DIRECT/******] Mail Acct:BUD_DIRECT

POP3

SMTP

[PACTOR] [ N8PGR ] [W5SMM] [ WL2K_PACTOR/*****] Mail Acct:WL2K_PACTOR

POP3

SMTP

[TELNET] [ K4CJX Telnet ] [KN6KB-1] [WL2K_TELNET/****] Mail Acct:WL2K_TELNET

POP3

SMTP

Paclink channel setupPaclink ports setup

E-mail client accounts

One-to-One E-mail Account to Paclink Channel Concept

Each account on the E-Mail client (e.g. Outlook) handles traffic for one Paclink channel

DCC 2003

Paclink Channel Setup

Channel Properties Port Properties

Each Paclink channelcorresponds to one E-mail client account

Name and password match E-mail client

DCC 2003

Paclink’s User Interfaces Paclink’s own simpleterminal window forkeyboard interfaces

Your favorite E-mailclient for normal BBS messages.

DCC 2003

The AGW Packet Engine with Telpac and Paclink

AGW PacketEngine

TNCSoundCardTNC

TCPIP

…

By George Rossopoulos, SV2AGW

Standardized TCP interface supports most TNCs Using KISS mode.

Supports sound card TNCs (1200 & 9600 baud)

Shares TNCs across applications Paclink, Telpac, BBS, APRS, Terminal, Monitor

Allows remote operation via TCP link TNC’s may be separated from application

DCC 2003

Telpac and Paclink Applications

Telpac as a conventional BBS for “Last Mile” wireless connectivity

Paclink as an end user client for BBS access (WL2K, FBB etc)

Paclink as the an emergency radio link for Internet E-mail Paclink provides the radio connection to a WL2K Telpac node Emergency field operators use their existing E-mail client but with a “radio” account instead of default account Multiple operators can share a single Paclink and its TNCs/radios

Paclink <> Paclink transfers (keyboard or via E-mail clients)

DCC 2003

Demo (time permitting

or in the demo room)

1) Connection to a WL2K Telpac node:Send request via E-mail for a text WX report Outlook Express > Paclink (local TCP) Paclink > Telpac node (AX.25 packet) Telpac node > WL2K Telnet server (Internet Telnet) Telnet Server > WL2K Bulletin Processor

…..and return….

2) Paclink to Paclink (keyboard and message via Outlook Express)

DCC 2003

Summary/Questions

Telpac and Paclink are examples of rapidly developed modern Ham software that leverage standard protocolsand existing user and TNC interfaces.

Simplified setup and minimal equipment requirements meanexpanding the wireless infrastructure can be done quicklywith minimum expense.

Your feedback and comments are appreciated to help us expand these programs to new applications.

DCC 2003