[aprssig] AEA PK-88 as APRS home station?

[Josh Freeman]

Hello all,

I've inherited an old AEA PK-88 Packet Controller that I'd like to
make into a home APRS station, and possibly a WIDE1-1 digi. I didn't
get a manual with the unit, so I don't really know much about it other
than how to power it on and watch incoming packets. If anyone has
experience using the PK-88, perhaps you could help me with a couple of
things.

1. Does the PK-88 support KISS mode in any way? If so, how do I make
it do that? If not, is there a way I can transmit through it using an
APRS program using its standard terminal interface? This might be
obvious if I had a command reference for the thing, but I don't, and I
don't really want to pay $20 for a reproduced manual for something
that may not even have the capability I'm looking for.

2. I would not expect the PK-88 to have any built-in APRS features,
given its age. Is there replacement firmware available? I have no idea
what "TNC2 compatible" means, or whether the PK-88 is.

Thanks,
Josh KI4ITI