4.4 More Packet Features
Now that you have worked a few packet stations, it is time to learn a
little more about the other packet capabilities of the PK-232.
Rather than explain all the features in detail, we will leave the
specifics to the command descriptions in the Command Summary Appendix.
4.4.1 LED Status and Mode Indicators
Your PK-232's front-panel LEDs show you the operating mode and status
at any moment. Each LED is marked with an abbreviated name, but some
LEDs have two functions. All markings referring to packet are below
the LEDs. The following front-panel LEDs are used in packet operation.
MULT Multiple Lit when multiple connections exist
Blinks when receive buffer is full
SEND Send Lit when PTT line is active
CONV Converse Lit when in the Converse Mode
STA Status Lit when you have sent a packet that has
not yet been acknowledged
Blinks when you have MailDrop messages
CON Connected Lit when a packet Connection exists
CMD Command Lit when in the Command Mode
TRANS Transparent Lit when in the Transparent Mode
PKT Packet Lit when in the Packet Radio Mode
DCD Data Carrier Detect Lit when data signals are received
4.4.2 Automatic Greetings
You can tell your PK-232 to send an automatic greeting to any station
that connects to you. This can be used to tell others that you are
out of the shack - or for any other message you would like to send.
To enable the CTEXT message, set your Connect Text message using the
CTEXT command. Then set CMSG ON to enable the Connect Message
feature. Think of the CTEXT message as the message your telephone
answering machine might give to a caller.
4.4.3 Beacon Operation
Your PK-232 can send an automatic "beacon" message at a specified time
interval. A beacon can send special announcements, or let others know
you are on the air. To enable beacon operation do the following:
o Set your beacon message with the BTEXT command.
o Set the beacon interval using the BEACON EVERY or AFTER command.
o A beacon frame is sent to the path given in the UNPROTO command.
In the early days of packet, the beacon was useful to show your
presence on the packet channel. With the growth of packet, many users
feel that beacons have outlived their usefulness and interfere with
traffic. Use your beacon with consideration for others.
As a reminder, if you set the BEACON timing at a value considered too
small for busy channels (less than "90"), you'll see:
WARNING: BEACON too often
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