Keyboard to Keyboard Radio Coms with AX.25 and Linpac!

Let's chat around the world using the Linpac app on top of the AX.25 network stack. Let AX.25 deal with resends, noise, and compression -- we'll just type!

[@BobPlank_KK4DIV]

I know this vid is 1yr old at this point, but wanted to comment. Nice video. I run a packet node on HF and VHF here in NW FL. Always enjoy seeing folks utilizing the mode. While not as widespread as 20-30 years ago, packet is alive and well. 73. KK4DIV

[@jeffreybaker4285]

AX-25... the "A" in AX-25 stands for Ancient! AX-25 has been around for many decades, primarily running our old packet ops. Great video, thanks!

[@owenvinall9970]

Hi Craig, excellent video thanks. Im running Digipi on a Pie 3. Owen Vk5kov

[@thearchitect4726]

I very much want to get involved in this,in particular to do p2p, was hoping 4 a simple to use GUI like yahoo messenger or MSN ,ICQ. Still working on my ham licence the t- deck meshtastick device really grabbed my attention also. So good !

[@ghostmandka5498]

This is awesome! Glad to see packet isn't dead on HF. I have a spare Pi etc, but I also have an extra Zumspot. Could I repurpose a Zumspot to work for this?

[@craig9309]

yup, a zumspot has a pi zeroW in it

[@robertbower9862]

Logging question: Do you log contacts to a BBS on HF?

[@afiqfitrirusli490]

Great video. Really love to make 1 myself. A question tho, what if i add battery pack to the pi zero or usb hat for quick and easy setup? And what rig can i use this on? Like can i use this on a baofeng uv5r or does it has to be certain brand that i can use it on?

[@debiani3866]

There are a few guys out there that make tnc cables for various radios. I know ham made parts makes tnc cables for the uv5r. He may make something for the tnc pi as well. If not you can always find a wiring diagram.

[@thuff3207]

Hi Craig I have had many troubles with LinPac. The biggest problem is ALT x will not stop LinPac. I am on a RPI3 with the draws hat for radio connection. LinPac seems to not respond to any commands. It loads but that is about it. If you have any ideas please let me know.

[@TyWooly42]

FYI: Not sure how it's used in your area of the planet, but in Canada "Silent Key" means the Ham operator is deceased. (i.e. dead) 😮‍💨

[@icqme8586]

I tried keyboard to keyboard and setting up BPQ32 BBS and it sorta works. It connects and I can see the welcome ctext and other info only in the monitor window. It doesn't show in the receive window... only what I type shows up there. I have 2 HTs and 2 laptops with different -SSID on my call. Using soundmodem and easyterm. Tried awgterm too. same thing. googled but can't find why. in your video showing the terminal the top 1/3 of the window has the back and forth. don't understand why it's not showing there. it's connected. can see it in the moni window. using different MYCALL-# ssid. packet is frustrating.

[@KM6LYW]

I observe this with unreliable ax that 25 connections. A packet is resending and you won't see any new stuff until that packet goes through. That's why you see it in the log and not on the terminal screen

[@icqme8586]

@@KM6LYW That makes sense. When I used direwolf instead of soundmodem it was displaying ax25 error code 3. I will have to tinker with it. Thanks for responding.

[@fourwinds6943]

I try to edit the conf file to add the modem info, but it's "unwritable." I'm not well versed in how to make something writable in Linux. I'm accessing it through Putty. Can anyone help?

[@KM6LYW]

if you're using the DigiPi run "sudo remount" first, to make the sd card writeable. if using something else run "sudo su - root" to become the root user who can write to anything.

[@fourwinds6943]

@@KM6LYW sudo remount did the trick! Thanks!

[@robertbower9862]

I have a permissions issue. For linpac to run without errors, I have to run with sudo. I am a member of dialout is there another group I need to be a member of? Thanks

[@KM6LYW]

Hey Robert, I vaguely recall needing to be root for the ax.25 part of linpac to work. I dont' have a solution off the top of my head.

[@robertbower9862]

@@KM6LYW Thanks Craig I found linpac -m works without sudo it disables monitor, so it is a trade off.

[@KM6LYW]

sweet - great workaround, tho, monitoring is a big part of linpac. try just "chmod 4755 /usr/bin/linpac" ? that'll make it run as root, and monitor the ax.25 interface, which is a root-level activity.

[@KD9JLZ]

It would be 73 your name then your call

[@carltonsiple1876]

I'm getting a ' no AX.25 port configured'

[@vladimirk4734]

1. Start direwolf 2. Fill in `/etc/ax25/axports` 3. Execute `kissattach /tmp/kisstnc wl2k` 4. Execute `kissparms -c 1 -p wl2k`

[@carltonsiple1876]

Ty