$BID: IPNN01.89
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January, 1988           Indiana Packet NTS Newsletter          Vol. 3 Issue 1
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           A monthly forum for ideas about packet traffic handling
                         Jay Farlow, WB9MDS, Editor

EARTHQUAKE SPURS PACKET FAX IDEA
    By Phil Karn, KA9Q

    [Ed. Note:  The ARRL invited Karn to travel to the Soviet Union after 
the earthquake in Armenia.  The League ended up sending packet equipment, but 
no people.]  

    This episode has renewed my interest in one facility that I think would 
be extremely useful in emergency field communications: facsimile.  It's hard 
to beat a clipboard, a pad of paper and a pencil as an "input device" that 
could be used by lots of highly mobile, untrained emergency workers 
(untrained in radio and computers, that is).  In each group of workers you 
then need only one system and one operator (in the back of a truck, say) 
feeding messages to and from central command posts.   
    Has anyone else looked into modifying a typical Group 3 fax machine to 
operate over amateur packet radio? Are there battery-powered machines small 
and light enough to be portable?
 
RADIOGRAM GENERATING PROGRAMS REVIEWED: PART ONE OF TWO
    By Jay Farlow, Editor

    IPNN has received copies of two public-domain MS-DOS programs designed to 
help operators of IBM-PC (trademark registered) and compatible computers 
generate radiograms for transmission via packet bulletin board systems 
(PBBS's).  "TRF.EXE" was written by Carl Moreschi, N4PY, of Franklinton, NC.  
"NTS.EXE" was written by VE4UB (who doesn't appear in my copy of the 
"Callbook").
    Both programs present a form to fill in.  And both create ASCII disk 
files which you send to a PBBS later.  Both automatically count the 
"check" (number of words in the radiogram text).  Both offer default entries. 
Both programs allow you to use the MS-DOS date and time for the "date filed" 
and "time filed" preamble fields.  But that's pretty much were similarities 
end.
    NTS is well-suited only to ORIGINATING a string of radiograms, 
particularly from your home station.  Unlike TRF, it is not flexible enough 
for copying someone else's messages from another mode, for relay on packet.  
The first time you run NTS, it asks for certain defaults to use on all 
messages...including your call, town, state, home ZIP, time zone, and 
starting message number.  When you fill in the message form, NTS does not let 
you enter anything else in the radiogram's message number, "station of 
origination," or "place of origination," fields.  You can change the defaults 
at any time.  But you must exit to DOS, delete the default file, and start 
again from "scratch."  
    Exiting to from NTS to DOS is a challenge.  There's no documented "abort" 
command.  You must complete a message...even if you don't intend to send it.  
NTS exits to DOS after each message.  You must run it again if you have 
another to type.  
    Also, NTS does not allow you to enter a handling instruction (HX) in the 
preamble.  It enters your call sign and ZIP in the "station of origination" 
preamble field, which is not standard radiogram form.  It also violates 
standard form, by putting an "ARL" before every check...whether or not the 
text includes an ARRL numbered text.
    Shown below is a file generated by NTS.EXE.  Note that it includes an 
"ST" command line for the PBBS...a response to the PBBS "subject" 
prompt...and an "/EX" to signal end-of-PBBS-message (which we surrounded with 
parentheses, to keep from confusing PBBS's which relay this newsletter).  As 
you will see in next month's installment, TRF does not include those lines in 
its files:

ST 47303 @ NTSIN
MUNCIE IN (317) 288-6542
NR 2 R WB9MDS@46816 ARL 10 FT. WAYNE IN 04:28z Jan-14-1989

JANI FARLOW
900 NEW YORK AVENUE APT 306
MUNCIE IN  47303
(317) 288-6542  BT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY X HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON X LOVE  BT

73 - JAY FARLOW - WB9MDS @ 46816  AR

(/EX)  

DECEMBER PBBS TRAFFIC REPORT

    [Ed. Note: We welcome reports of NTS traffic load from all PBBS's, 
especially those within Indiana.  It helps readers gauge the amount of NTS 
activity the packet net receives.  Please send them to WB9MDS @ KB8NH by the 
10th of the following month.]

    WA9UXP, Valparaiso:
          130 NTS Messages       (  9.6% of messages entered)

EDITOR INVITES COMMENTS, DUPLICATION
 
    WB9MDS sends this newsletter to every PBBS in Indiana, and to HamNet on
the CompuServe Information Service (C.I.S.).  Feel free to duplicate all or
any part...as long as you credit the source.  Send comments and questions to
WB9MDS @ KB8NH, or 72737,157 on C.I.S.