Subj : BBS over Ham Radio To : GELA From : Daryl Stout Date : Sun May 13 2018 11:37 am Here's a message I sent to Angela Morley in one of the ham radio echoes on my BBS. The initial text was so similar, so I decided to just forward the original post, instead of retyping it. Daryl, WX1DER *** AM>I'm very interested in ham radio, bbs, and emergency communications. I'm AM>wondering if I can merge these topics together -- is it possible to run a BB AM>server over amateur radio frequencies? How would you set it up? Would you ne AM>to configure a duplex system, or would a simplex AX.25 system work? Are ther AM>any examples of this working already? First and foremost, you would obviously need to be a licensed amateur radio operator of the appropriate class. If you plan to operate in the VHF bands, you need at minimum, the Technician Class license. But, to operate HF, you need a General or Amateur Extra Class license. Local groups of ham radio operators give the exams now...and usually once a month in or near you. The FCC used to do that a long time ago, when they came to the State Capitol Federal Building maybe 3 times a year. You had to pass the Morse Code Test FIRST, or you were sent home. There is no longer a Morse Code Requirement for any ham radio license in the United States. You can still learn it and use it, but you no longer have to prove that you know it. An overview of ham radio, plus 10 study options, what to expect at a license exam session, etc. (for the U.S. and its territories) is located at http://www.theweatherwonder.com/hamradio.htm Second, there are several options for an RF system. You can run a true packet BBS, with software such as MSYS (an older one), F6BB, and software by W0RLI and W2XO. There are several other packages out there now. Go to www.tapr.org/pr_links.html for more info. These all require a rig and a TNC. Third, if you are running Synchronet BBS software, and if you have an older MFJ 1270 series TNC (preferably an MFJ 1270C), you can use some of the ham radio doors, done by the late Dave Perry, W4KGU (he became a Silent Key in 2011. The doors he did included: 1) ARPD - Amateur Radio Packet Door. Works best with the MFJ 1270 series TNC's...but NOT with the newer MFJ TNC's. It basically allows your computer bulletin board system (BBS) users (landline, telnet, or FTelnet) that are Technician Class or higher ham radio operators to access the area packet network, courtesy of your TNC. There is also a mailbox where folks can leave you messages from another packet node. If the TNC is being used by you, or is offline, users are told such, and asked to try again later. 2) WASPORT - Worked All States. I require users to have an amateur radio license (Novice or higher) to use it. One tracks their progress in the ARRL Worked All States Award competion in several preset modes...but there is a special additional mode that is Sysop configurable. Mine is for Internet (VoIP, Echolink, IRLP, D-Star, D-Rats, Packet Via Telnet, etc.). While that doesn't actually "count" toward the award, it's fun to see how many states you have worked. 3) QRZDOOR - QRZ Callsign Search Door. This one is basically useless now, as QRZ no longer makes callsign data CD's, and no longer posts updates for download. On my BBS, I've replaced it with the Buckmaster Callsign Search Door (yearly subscription fee, but worth it). I require users to have an amateur radio license (Novice or higher) to use it. 4) BULLET - Bulletins Door. 26 Sysop defined categories for whatever topic you desire...ham radio, weather, BBS related, cooking, religious, etc. No amateur radio license required to use it. 5) REGSCAN - Part 97 of the Ham Radio FCC Rules. I had to download a file of it, then reformat it for ASCII text for the door. No amateur radio license required to use it. On my BBS, I don't use the ARPD door, as for some reason, it doesn't work right under Windows 7, and the QRZ door was replaced by the Buckmaster callsign door. The other 3 though, are online. Of note, the doors REQUIRE a DORINFO1.DEF BBS dropfile...and do NOT have a fossil driver. So, the best BBS package to run them under is Synchronet for Windows or Linux. There is a variable where you can enable a comport I/O console feature, which fools the door, and allows you to set it up like any other BBS door, where it will run under telnet. Good luck with your efforts. Daryl, WX1DER === þ OLX 1.53 þ The Thunderbolt BBS, Little Rock, AR wx1der.dyndns.org --- SBBSecho 3.04-Win32 * Origin: RadioWxNet: The Thunderbolt BBS wx1der.dyndns.org (801:1/2) þ Synchronet þ Temple of Doom BBS - tod.eothnet.com .