Re: Packet Radio on Apple II

[icssofty@aol.commonality (ICS Softy)]

>Is anyone familiar with packet radio on the Apple II? I am considering
>putting an old Apple Iie to work as a dedicated packet radio terminal. I
>need to know how to set up the serial card to work with a TNC. Are there any
>hams out there who have done this?
>
>Donal Leader
>dleader@mac.com
>


I'm not a ham, but I happened to remember  an Apple II Forum discussion on AOL
a few years back with Jim Merritt, who was an A2 engineer at Apple and a packet
radio fan.

The following is a description of a software package for A2 Packet Radio that
was uploaded to AOL not long afterwards (it's in two archives).  It's still
available on AOL (if you have an account, and know to directly access the old
A2 Forum areas).  And it might be also available from other sites, as nearly
all the old libraries have been downloaded from AOL and uploaded elsewhere
(likely with the same filenames).

------------------------------------------------------
Subject:  Packet Radio on Apple IIs    SHK
Author:  Fabio Viviani, Et all
Uploaded By:  MPSConsult
Date:  12/28/93

File:  APGENG1.DISK (56061 bytes) 

Part 1 of 2
---------------------------------

Subject:  Apple Packet Radio           SHK
Author:  Fabio Viviani, et all
Uploaded By:  MPSConsult
Date:  12/28/93

File:  APGENG2.DISK (88225 bytes) 

Equipment:  A "TNC" connected to a Apple // series computer.

Part 2 of 2
This program has been developed to enable the user to connect its computer to a
TNC for packet radio operations.

Besides the typical terminal emulation functions this programs features the
possibility to up/down-load binary files using the YAPP (tm) protocol.


HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS:

The program can be run on:

  - Apple ][+ with lower cases and  with a Super Serial Card  in
    slot 2 and optionally with a VIDEX 80 card in slot 3
  - Apple //e (preferably enhanced) with a Super Serial Card  in
    slot 2  and  optionally  with  an  80  column  card  in  the
    auxiliary slot
  - Apple //c using the built-in modem port
  - Apple IIgs with a Super Serial Card in slot 2
  - Apple IIgs using the built-in modem port
  - Other machine configurations compatible with the above ones


The program has been developed for use with a TNC-220, a KPC-2 or other
compatible TNC's.

------------------------------------------------

Larry :)
(aka AFC Softy, former Apple II Utilities Forum Consultant)