Introduction
The Philipsburg Amateur Radio Association (PARA) now operates a bulletin board service (BBS) W3PHB-3 as well as a node (NODE) W3PHB-7. The frequency of the BBS and NODE is 145.030 kHz. The BBS is a place where amateur radio operators can leave messages for each other much like text on a telephone system. The NODE is used to connect to other nodes, and other BBS stations. Chat via keyboard to keyboard is also possible. There is a vast network of nodes and BBS stations throughout the country, and beyond.
Minimum equipment needed to gain access to packet radio BBS and nodes is a VHF 2 meter radio, a terminal node controller (TNC), and at a minimum a terminal, or computer that has terminal software on it. Many radio operators are successful in using only the sound card on their computer and a radio. My experience has been to keep things simple as you begin, and learn as you go.
The scope of this website is not to present an in-depth tutorial, as all of the information that you need is already documented on the internet. The basic commands once you have your radio and TNC configured, are C, B, S, L, R, K.
- Connect to a station BBS or NODE
- Bye to disconnect
- Send a message to a station
- List a message(s)
- Read a message(s)
- Kill (delete) a message
For further reading and studies, here are a few links to get you started. Enjoy, 73
- Introduction to Packet Radio
- Packet Nodes Near Altoona PA
- Packet Radio Networks
- Nationwide Amateur Radio Packet Directory
- TARPN – Terrestrial Amateur Radio Packet Network
- Maine Packet Network
Filip Cerny N3CQ
Oct 19, 2022
Tutorials
| Subject | Author | Date |
| Getting Started with Outpost Personal Message Manager | Bob Snyder | Dec 26, 2022 |