Not sure if it is exactly what you are looking for, but I have used AGW Packet Engine to establish a packet connection between two D-RATS clients.? I was looking for a way to bring non-D-STAR machines and users into D-RATS.??? ?But, I was never quiet able to accomplish my overall goal.??

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I had hoped to bring up a ratflector for "local use" at an event.??? Local machines would connect to the ratflector using either the local network, D-STAR RF, or packet.?? Once we were linked together we could chat, send messages, and share files locally.?? I had also hoped to link the local ratflector to other ratflectors over the internet or using RF, thereby extending the reach of the local machines.

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I hit a snag, however.? It turns out that while AGWPE (and, presumably TNCs) will work with the D-RATS client app, they will not work with the D-RATS repeater (ratflector) app.? ??The repeater app will not start if there is an AGWPE connection defined in it.??? So, only D-STAR radios can connect to my ratflector.

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We spoke with Dan Smith, the creator of D-RATS, about the problem, and he said he didn't think there was enough interested in running AGWP (or TNCs, I guess) on ratflectors to warrant chasing down the bug.? ??I still think it would be an extremely useful tool, but I'm stuck.

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I do believe D-RATS will allow you to forward messages to and from WL2K, but I'm not sure if it does so over a packet link.

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73

Dan

W4DTO

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I think it would be very useful.?? Seems like you are talking about a gateway between packet tools and D-RATS.? Interesting idea that I haven't seen anyone attempt.

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But, I believe the first obstacle is the ability to connect a TNC (or AGWPE) to D-RATS in such a way as to pass the traffic in an out.?? I think you would need to connect the packet station to the D-RATS repeater app (aka Ratflector) to make that work.? The repeater app functions like a switch or router, connecting together multiple technologies like D-STAR, packet, telnet, etc.???? It's kind of the connection point.?? Once everybody is connected to the repeater app everyone can see everything.?????

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Here's an example.?? I set up a ratflector using the repeater app.?? I then connected my ratflector to:

??????????????? 1) my D-RATS client app and

??????????????? 2) to another more distant D-RATS ratflector.?

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Anything that happened on either of those to instances of D-RATS was seen by anyone connected to either of them. ??

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I then set the repeater app on my side up to allow me to connect a D-STAR radio via serial cable.?? Remote stations could then connect their D-RATS instances to mine via D-STAR over RF simplex.?? That added a third instance of D-RATS to the party.?? Everyone on the three D-RATS clients could see everything that was happening.

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Next, I set up an AGWPE (poor man's TNC?) connection on my repeater app to try to connect remote D-RATS users via packet.? ?However, when I restart the repeater app after adding the AGWPE connection the app fails to start and gives an error in the log.?? If I remove the AGWPE connection the repeater app will start back up without an error.

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To sum it up, I think you need the repeater app to accomplish what you are trying to do.? You may or may not need more software, but I think the repeater app is key.? But, while the repeater app appears to allow TNC and AGWPE connections I think there is a bug in the current version that keeps that from working.

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I think there is a lot of utility there if we could get that bug fixed.

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Dan

W4DTO

Patrick, have you run a TNC on the repeater app??? I don't have one, so I was using AGWPE.?? A cohort tried setting up a TNC and had trouble.? We stopped since I had trouble with AGWPE.?? Would be interesting to hear that you have made it work.

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Dan???????

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I WILL get my hands on a TNC, then!?? We never made it work with a TNC because of some kind of error, but I didn't have my hands on that end of the connection.?? The friend who was working with me has an extra Kantronics.? I will take him up on his offer to let me borrow it and see how far we can go.?? I have had good success with D-RATS client-to-client using AGWPE.?? AGWPE just seems to fail in the repeater app. ?Maybe we can set up a TNC on the ratflector (which is probably a good idea) and let people use AGWPE/soundcard OR a TNC from the other side. ?

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Thanks for the added hope!? Will keep you posted.

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