Frequently Asked Questions about Amateur Radio tcp/ip networking Q. Where do I start - I’m using AX25 and have heard about tcp/ip I’de like to use this system? A. Read some, read some more. Well not exactly, talking to someone already set up for tcp/ip would be a good start. Check out some of the links and remember that this is much more a ‘hands on’ system than AX25. It will be worth it, and you’ll learn plenty. Q. I’ve got Windows 95 or 8 - Do I have to reboot into Dos to use it? A. No - recent developments by a Greek radio Amateur SV2AGW has been a small program to re-direct the tcp/ip you already have as part of W95/8 to your TNC. Allegedly this works with a Baycom - please let us know if you have managed to make it work. The program has an install - it needs to be registered though :( Follow the links page for the software. Q. I have a spare computer - a Dos one that only has a small amount of memory and is a 386 can I use that? A. Yes - we have a floppy disk install that will give you all the standard services from a lowly spec’d computer - it has an install which includes a TNC and a Baycom board. You’ll need a IP number to contact your local hub though. See next question. Q. OK - so I’ve got a setup - I’ve read the books, files, etc. How do I get my station on-line. A. You need to get a number allotted to your station - contact your nearest hub - or any hub sysop, they'll advise you. See AX25 addresses on the hub pages. (See also gb7dqy for Shropshire & gb7ipt for Telford area and South Staffs) - let them know your QTHlocator code, your local area name (village, town, etc) and your name. They will allot your IP number and tell you which local BBS - hub you should contact to work through. (most hub sysops have AX25 addresses now so contact *should* be easy). hey will add you to their routing table and you can start operations. Q. Why all the palaver (in the above!). For the same reason the AX25 ‘White Pages’ lets everyone know which BBS you are linked to. The global network uses a listing to let everyone know where you are - so packets of mail, files, chat, whatever can make their way to you. So your hub has a listing of up to 256 number to allot. Some are pre-set - but your is yours - although it must be changed if you move QTH or Hub - please let your hub sysop know if you do. Q. What is this tcp/ip anyway? A. Tcp/ip - is an efficient system of routing data - it stands for Transport & Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol. The Internet uses it. The numbering system it uses identifies every station on the network - (some Internet providers give you a different number when you log on as they only have a limited amount). On packet radio we have our own set of numbers unavailable to other Internet users - they follow the same pattern though. Q. How do these IP numbers work - why not just use text like on AX25? A. Each station has a number and a name - the name is similar to AX25 e.g. g0cer@g0cer.ampr.org. The ampr.org is specific to packet radio. The numbers that do the same job are 44. 131.90.10. The translation between the two is done by a text file called ‘domain.txt’ which each station can carry more or less of). If you carry local station data - your station will ask you local hub for translation of any station you don’t already have. The global file of stations is about 1meg of text! Q. Explain what the various numbers mean. A. For example 44.131.90.10 The 44 shows that this is a Amateur radio address, 131 is a number that shows this station is in the UK, 90 is part of Shropshire and 10 is my station identity. Q. I’ve got the Linux OS. What can I do with that? Get to know Linux well - you have all the services you need as part of the OS anyway. You may need to re-compile the Kernel, you can run a Baycom - read the man files! You can use a PMS/BBS called TNOS follow this the link on this page to a TNOS FAQ.