PK-88 OPERATING MANUAL
PACKET OPERATION
4 - 5
PK-88 - 52
4.4
Your First Packet Communication Session
There are more features you should be familiar with for comfortable packet operation - but
you probably want to begin using the PK-88.
If possible, get help from an experienced packet operator to get you started. Be sure that
the distant station is close enough to ensure good noise-free reception for your first 'on-the-
air' communication.
4.4.1
System Cable and Switch Check
Before actually trying your first connection, take one more minute to verify your system
setup:
1.
Verify that the cable from the J2 connector is correctly wired to your radio's micro-
phone jack.
2.
Connect your radio to the PK-88 using the J2 jack.
3.
Be sure you have adjusted the PK-88 and your radio using the installation procedure
described earlier in this manual.
4.4.2
Starting the Communication
You are ready to try a connection. We will use WX1AAA in place of your callsign, and
WX1BBB for the distant station's call sign. You can type upper case or lower case - the
PK-88 doesn't care.
Type
[^C]
to verify that you are in Command Mode. Type
CONNECT WX1BBB
after the
cmd:
prompt. After a moment you should see:
cmd:
connect WX1BBB
*** CONNECTED to WX1BBB
You have begun your first Packet communication. The PK-88 and the packet controller at
the distant station are automatically switched to Converse Mode. The other station sees:
*** CONNECTED to WX1AAA
Exchange several messages to get the feel of Packet-Radio. Watch your radio's transmit
indicators and, if possible, listen to the audio from both radios; you will get a better idea
of what is happening. Your radio is inactive most of the time, even while you are typing.
When you reach the end of a line and type
[
↵
]
, your radio is keyed briefly. The distant
station hears 'brrrraaaap' on his speaker. As your message is displayed on his computer,
his radio will be keyed for an even shorter burst; you will hear 'brraap' on your speaker.
This is the ACK, the packet acknowledgment coming back.
The PK-88 notes that the packet was received correctly, but does not display anything on
your screen. This is normal operation. If your system still had any unacknowledged pack-
ets outstanding, the PK-88's STA (Status) LED would be lit – but it is not. (Unless you
have set MCON to a value higher than '4,' your terminal will not display ACK frames.)
