Hi Mike,
First my apologies on the web link typo, but as you said, you found it.
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Correct, Network105 packet started on 20 meters in 1986 and members have been populating 30 and 40 meters recently. No official "Network105" on 10 meters :-)? But that doesn't mean we're not interested in hearing about your HF packet fun over there.
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Robust Packet uses 500 Hz of bandwidth with 60 Hz spacing between carriers, and uses OFDM with 8 DBPSK or DQPSK carriers. On 200 bps mode, it uses BPSK. For 600 bps mode, DQPSK is used. For both modes, each subcarrier runs at a constant rate of 50 Bd. Like Packet, Robust Packet uses the AX.25 frame protocol for transmitting data. Compared to Packet, Robust Packet has better resistance against multipath propagation and fading.
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Unfortunately, there aren't many Robust Packet operators in the world compared to other modes and the TNCs can get expensive.
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Since VARA isn't packet and lacks all the advantages that packet has, I don't bother with it. But don't let me stop you. Have fun with all the modes!
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While you are correct that packet took a backseat during the "Packet Apocalypse," a phrase I coined for the internet killing packet - AX.25 packet has become EXTREMELY popular in recent years. I author the which lists Nodes, BBS, Mailboxes, Packet to Pager Gateways, etc.? In the past two years, the maps has had over 115,000 views. I started a as well and the views are climbing.
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FB on the 7300. I own a 7100 but haven't set it up yet...
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Packet on!
73 de Chris Lance, moderator
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On 10/12/2023 11:37 PM EDT Mike N5PWP <n5pwp1@...> wrote:
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Thanks, Chris. Yes, I did find the website after I stopped looking for network105.com or whatever. In fact the link in your email note says Network105.org but actually goes to Net105.org which doesn't exist. I found the site at . Either way I found it.
I guess I'm a victim of too many You Tube videos that are passing mis-information. I saw a video that said Network105 is the same group no matter what band you're on. So I mistakenly believed that 28.105 was where you are on 10M. I have now seen that you are predominantly on 20M (14.105). So I've been sitting on 28.105 LSB and not seeing much activity. I saw others that popped up there or in the Direwolf groups.io that were trying to get started with packet on 10M too. It seems that for short periods there's a flurry of activity there but then it all just stops. Today I saw nothing. But then I think we had a solar event and the bands may have been dead. I didn't see a lot on VARA either. Not sure what affect it has with the VARA folks on the USB side of that frequency. I started with packet on 2M back in the early 90s. It was pretty exciting because gateways and portals were being setup then to start interfacing packet with 'The Internet'. Then the internet took over and packet began its decline. Now I'm just trying out all the digital modes to find which works out the best for me. Since I'm a Tech I only have privileges on the low end of the band. I can't do FM further up.
?I'm using a sound card based transceiver (IC-7300). I do still have my PK-88 hardware TNC from the 2M days. I'm very intrigued by VARA. I have it installed and have made several contacts and had nice QSOs with others. I'd like to be able to do Packet or Olivia using the VARA-HF modem. I've tinkered with FT8/4. I'm trying to get FLDigi working to do PSK31 and RTTY. But, nostalgia has brought me back to packet and I'm curious about the differences between old AX.25 packet and Robust Packet. Lots of things to learn and for this 70+ year old I want to keep the ol' gray-matter flexible.
Thanks for the welcome, Chris. I look forward to seeing what packet can do now.
73
Mike
On 10/12/2023 9:43 PM, Chris Lance WW2BSA wrote:
Hi Mike,
Welcome to the group! It seems you've located the web site.
But we would love to hear about your HF packet adventures on 10 meters.
Let's start with a TNC: are you planning on using a sound card or external hardware?
What frequency were you thinking of? LSB or if your license class allows, FM?
73 de Chris Lance
ww2bsa.org
Chris Lance WW2BSA