PacComm TINY-2 - Introduction to PacComm Packet Controllers; Computer and Radio Interfacing

INTRODUCTION
The
purpose
of
the
PacComm
packet
controller
is
to
act
as
an
interface
between
an
ordinary
voice
radio,
such
as
a
VHF
or
UHF
FM
transceiver,
and
a
computer.
The
packet
controller
will
establish
error-free
radio
communications
between
your
computer
and
another
packet-radio
equipped
station.
You
will
be
able
to
have
a
“private
channel”
ail
sharing
a
frequency
with
other
packet
stations,
operate
remote
computer
“bulletin
board”
or
“electronic
mail”
stations,
send
messages,
~
in
short,
to
enjoy
all
the
advantages
of
digital
communication
via
your
radio
system.
This
OPERATING
MANUAL
explains
how
the
packet
control-
ler
operates
and
contains
a
detailed
breakdown
of
the
various
commands
the
packet
controller
will
accept
and
messages
it
may
report,
as
well
as
a
description
of
packet
radio
protocol.
The
COMMAND
REFERENCE
CARD
contains
a
listing
of
packet
controller
commands
in
a
convenient
form
for
reference
while
you
are
operating.
These
two
documents
are
written
to
apply
io
the
entire
line
of
PacComm
amateur
products,
and
may
contain
descriptions
of
commands
not
included
in
the
firmware
on
every
model.
_
There
is
a
TECHNICAL
REFERENCE
MANUAL
for
each
series
of
PacComm
packet
Controller.
Refer
to
the
TECHNI-
CAL
REFERENCE
MANUAL
for
details
on
pee
es
acket
controller
to
specific
computers
and
radios.
The
TECH-
CAL
REFERENCE
MANUAL
also
contains
details
about
the
specific
features
of
the
packet
controller
to
which
it
applies.
The
term
“packet
controller”
was
chosen
to
refer
to
the
Pac-
Comm
equipment
throughout
this
manual.
Other
terms
com-
monly
used
are
pie
assembler/disassembler,
terminal
node
controller
(TN
s
packet
modem,
packet
interface,
etc.
The
term
“computer”
is
used
to
refer
to
the
computer
or
terminal
which
is
connected
to
the
packet
controller.
Computer
and
Radio
Interfacing
The
packet
controller
communicates
with
your
computer
through
a
sefial
port
using
RS-232C
signal
levels.
Some
models
also
support
"TTL
level
signals
to
interface
to
such
popular
computers
as
the
Commodore
VIC-20,
C-64,
and
C-128
without
requiring
the
use
of
an
RS-232
adaptor.
The
serial
port
connec-
tor(s)
are
on
the
rear
panel
of
the
packet
controller.
Purchase
or
builda
cable
that
connects
to
the
serial
port
connector
of
your
computer
and
the
RS-232
(or
ie
connector
of
your
packet
controller.
The
RS-232
cable
should
be
wired
for
connection
=
CORRE
ee
ee
Operating
Manual,
4th Ed.
©
PacComm,
1990
1