PK-232 MBX – OPERATING MANUAL PACKET-RADIO
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There are three different kinds of Packet stations you are likely to encounter in your first
Connects; Standard TNCs, Mailbox Systems and Network Switches. The following sections
discuss each station type.
4.3.3.1 Standard TNCs
When you first turn on your PK-232, it becomes a standard AX.25 Packet TNC (Terminal
Node Controller). All TNCs and Multimode controllers have this capability. When you
Connect to a TNC, in most cases you will be connecting directly to someone's computer
screen. If you see an automatic Connect Message (CMSG) similar to the one below, you
know you have reached a TNC.
Welcome to my packet station, if I don't respond,
please leave a message and Disconnect.
If you get a message like this when you connect to another station, usually you would
type something like Are you there?. If you do not see a response from the other station
in a minute or so, simply leave a message – just like a telephone answering machine.
The TNC at the other station should then hold your message until the operator returns
to the computer or terminal. Later we will discuss how your PK-232 can do the same for
messages it receives from others.
4.3.3.2 Mailbox Message Systems
Although Standard TNCs allow incoming messages to be saved, there is no way for the
owner to leave a message for someone who will connect at a future time. The ability to
both send and receive messages without the owner being present is accomplished by a
Mailbox.
There are many different Packet Mailbox systems in use. Some systems are large and
require the use of a dedicated computer. Other systems are small like the personal Mail-
Drop built into your PK-232 MBX.
Large systems are often called Packet Bulletin Board Systems (PBBS) since they serve
as electronic message centers for a local area. PBBS's are a source of information as
well as a gateway for messages that can be sent to and received from other parts of
the country or world. You will probably want to locate the PBBS nearest you and con-
nect to it from time to time.
Most Mailbox systems are easy to use and whether they are small or large, operate in
much the same way. Another nice feature of Mailboxes and other automatic systems is
that they usually have Help available by sending an H or ?. If you connect to a Mailbox
such as a PK-232 MailDrop you will see something like the following:
*** CONNECTED to KD7NM
(AEA PK-232M] 18480 free (A,B,H,J,K,L,R,S,V,?) >
If you get something like this when you connect to another station, try typing an H or a
? to get a help list as shown below:
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