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PK-88 OPERATING MANUAL
4.4.3
What If.... ?
If you have trouble connecting, take a few minutes to verify each of the
following items. Verify that:
The PK-88's AFSK Output Level control, your microphone gain and
deviation are set properly as shown and discussed in Chapter 2.
All cables and connectors are properly installed.
Your radio's volume and squelch are set for local conditions.
You are in Command Mode. (Type '<CTRL-C>' to confirm this)
If the cmd: prompt does not appear, press the PK-88 POWER switch
off and then on again. You should get the normal sign-on message.
TONE is set to 3 (or 2) for VHF, 0 or 1 for HF.
HBAUD is 1200 if on VHF; 300 if on HF.
CFROM is set to ALL.
Ask one of your area's experienced packet operators to listen to your
transmissions and monitor with his TNC. Both you and the distant station
should set MONITOR and MCON to '5' or '6', enter Converse Mode and send some
packets. Each station should display packets sent by the other.
If only one station is 'hearing' properly, verify the modulator
and transmitter of that station and the demodulator and receiver of the
other station.
Experiment with the TXDELAY timing parameter for the sending TNC.
Set TXDELAY to 60 for a long delay. If this solves the problem,
decrease TXDELAY to the lowest value that works all the time.
4.5
Automatic Operation
The PK-88 offers a variety of automatic operating features including beacon
operation, digipeater function and auto-answer messages.
Your packet station can be a digipeater for relaying packets to a more remote
destination. Functions like CONNECT MESSAGE take care of situations not easily
solved in modes other than packet. See the 'Command Summary' chapter for full
details on the PK-88's commands.
4.5.1
Beacon Operation
The PK-88 can send an automatic beacon message at specified intervals. A
beacon text can contain special announcements, or the MAIL FOR list in a
bulletin board operation. The values '0' to '250' set the beacon timing in
10-second intervals. '0' turns off the beacon.
Set your beacon text using the BTEXT command.
Set the beacon timing interval using the BEACON EVERY or BEACON
AFTER command.
For example, to transmit your beacon at 15-minute (15 X 60 seconds) intervals,
type:
cmd:BEACON EVERY 90 (Beacon is sent every 900 seconds) cmd:BEACON EVERY 0
(Beacon is disabled)
4-6
PACKET OPERATION
PK88-58
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