[aprssig] Need EPROM Burned

[Ray McKnight]

Thanks for the info, Steve.
I've had so many different TNC's I can't keep
Them all straight.  Do you know what the earliest
Firmware version is that includes Pactor support?

I also was unfortunate to run out and plop down $400
For a DSP232 when it came out, only to find out that 90%
Of its features didn't work and AEA/TW only supports
Packet, all else they abandoned.  ARGH.  

But I've had a hoot with my PK-900 which has a Pactor-
Packet gateway, which I ran for a few years.  And I use
It sometimes to access WinLink.

Too bad not more TNC's include Pactor support.
Even if it's only Pactor-1.

-----Original Message-----
From: aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org]
On Behalf Of Stephen H. Smith
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 21:22
To: TAPR APRS Mailing List
Subject: Re: [aprssig] Need EPROM Burned

Ray McKnight wrote:
> Great!  But now I'm a bit confused.
> I see two EPROMS a HI and a LO.  I thought
> It only used the LO unless you installed special
> DIGI firmware.  But maybe I'm thinking of the TNC2's.
> So I guess I need both.  Let me know how much you want.
> I see my other firmware is 7.0 and not sure what vers I
> Downloaded but I can send the .hex file as an attachment
> If you can read it.  It's possibly newer.
>
>   

The PK-232 is NOT a TAPR TNC2 clone.   

It CANNOT run the various firmware alternatives like TheNet or UIdigi 
used on TNC2 clones (such as the MFJ-127x series, PacCom units or even 
PK88s).  

Further, the '232 is a power hog, consuming over an amp at 12 VDC 
compared to 200-300 mA for a TNC2 clone.

Finally, there is no explicit support for APRS in the PK-232 firmware.  
It will not do call-sign-substituting decrementing-N  digipeating 
stand-alone.   You have to run it in KISS  mode with a program on a 
computer to do modern WIDEn-N digipeating.  By itself, it is only 
useable as a basic WIDE1-1 home fill-in digipeater.  

It is far more valuable as an HF device for RTTY, AMTOR and especially 
PacTOR (for Winlink/Airmail) than for VHF APRS due to it's excellent 300 
baud HF filters and modem.  With recent firmware that supports PacTOR, 
they should be an easy sell to the boating/yachting  types that are 
always looking for WinLink appliances.  




--

Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
EchoLink Node:      14400    [Think bottom of the 2M band]
Home Page:          http://wa8lmf.com  --OR--   http://wa8lmf.net

NEW!   World Digipeater Map
  http://wa8lmf.net/APRSmaps

JavAPRS Filter Port 14580 Guide
  http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/JAVaprsFilters.htm

"APRS 101"  Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating
  http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths

Updated "Rev H" APRS            http://wa8lmf.net/aprs
Symbols Set for UI-View,
UIpoint and APRSplus:





_______________________________________________
aprssig mailing list
aprssig at lists.tapr.org
https://lists.tapr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aprssig