Date: 19 Dec 88 22:56:00 Z
From: DK4EG
Subject: Introducing TheNet CONVERS mode


Hello PR world \n

several ideas arrived here how the features of TheNet could be
upgraded or what new features should be added. As mentioned in
earlier postings there was allways the lack of free EPROM space.

But here is a special new solution:

CONVERSATIONAL mode for TheNet

This CONVERS mode overcomes a lack of packet radio which you don't
find in other parts of HAM radio : buildung groups of several HAMs
all talking to each other.

And this is how it works:
You connect the CONVERS node via the usual CONNECT commands of
TheNet and get the message:
( from the Brunswick digi in this example )

BS:DB0FC> Connected to BSCONV:DB0FC-2

BSCONV:DB0FC-2> Mini-Convers. Type /HELP for help.

Follow this instruction, type /HELP and you'll get:

Commands may be abbreviated. Commands are:
 /?                   Print help information
 /BYE                 Terminate the convers session
 /CHANNEL n           Switch to channel n
 /EXIT                Terminate the convers session
 /HELP                Print help information
 /INVITE user         Invite user to join your channel
 /MSG user text       Send a private message to user
 /QUIT                Terminate the convers session
 /WHO                 List all users and their channel numbers
 /WRITE user text     Send a private message to user
***

To find out who's just working via this node you follow this
instructions and enter /who  ( upper or lower case or abbreviated )

you'll might geht this response

User     Circuit           Channel
DD1HL    HH2:DL0TEL        0
DK4EG    BS:DB0FC          0
DC6QE    GOE:DB0FE         16
DK5AH    GOE:DB0FE         16
DF3AV    BS:DB0FC          0
***

This means by default you'll allways be connected to virtual channel 0.
Up to 255 virtual channels might be established on one CONVERS node.
It doesn't matter from what uplink node you connect the CONVERS node.
As lang as you stay on your channel you'll get informed by the
CONVERS node if new users signon to this channel:

*** DL8ZAW signed on.

and you'll get all messages typed by all users of your channel
( but you won't get back your own message ! Why should you ? ) :

<DL8ZAW>:  Hello to everyone on this channel

But you can send messages to only one user of the channel as well
by typing

/MSG DK4EG have you got my new firmware release in the meantime ?

so on my screen I'll see:

<*DL8ZAW*>:  have you got my new firmware release in the meantime ?

The * sign tells me this was a private message. And you found out
all messages preceded by a / ( slash ) sign are directed to the
command interpreter of the CONVERS node.
Furthermore you may include other HAMs of other channels to your
channel by inviting them to join your group.

By means of the multiconnect features of TheNet you could
be signed on to 16 different QSOs, each with ( theoretical )
unlimited number of users.

So what do you need if you decided to install the CONVERS mode at your
site?

Just add a further TNC2 ( clone ) to your node via the diode matrix
on RS232 side and plug in the new firmware. You don't need the
modem on the TNC board if you omit the radio channel.
At our Brunswick digi we have installed 6 TNCs via the RS232 side
without any trouble yet.

The CONVERS  firmware is derived from TheNet sources by replacing
most user command parts. It was written by Frank ( DL8ZAW )
and the firmware is running here under Betatest conditions in
severals nodes on different sites.
It shall be available to everyone who might be interested just
for the charge of copying and handling expense. As soon
as there are no new bug reports for some time the shipment
of the software is to be startet. But in my opinion Frank has done a
very good job and the software seemes to be stabil since some time.
No system crashes in the meantime appeared, no RESET neccessary in
between.


So watch out for the news , I'll keep you informed.


73s de Detlef ( dk4eg )                  NORD><LINK
c0033003 @ dbstu1.bitnet
Detlef J. Schmidt
computer center
university Brunswick

