A 6 Meter BBS Node near Youngsville, NC

The WB4IUY-7 6 meter node on 51.160 mhz is used as a "backbone" for W4RAL BBS to communicate with other BBS's to the west. It is the east end of a 125 mile, single hop path to KC4FWC-1 in Locust NC. It is also available as a user port for any area packeteers who may with to hop over to the western part of the state, or gateway into the W4RAL BBS in Rolesville, NC.

WB4IUY-7 consists of an Azden PCS-7500H, which is interfaced with the 1200 baud channel of a Kantronics 9612 dual port TNC. The TNC is in the picture below, and is the bottom TNC. This 6 meter node can gateway into the local 2m/220/70cm network via it's 223.7mhz 9600 baud TNC port.

The node's primary antenna is a 5 element, horizontally polarized yagi made by Cushcraft. The antenna is at about 120 feet above ground (495' above sea level), and pointed at approximately WSW of 35.55.35N x 078.22.24W. It's fed through about 150' of CQ-Flexi-4xl.

Below is a short tutorial on how to use the 6m <==> 220 (51.160 mhz <==> 223.700 mhz) Gateway to hop across the state of NC, access packet radio on other bands, etc.

There is much info contained within, and the following is a bit drawn out, but the desire is to have NC packet users to better understand the new breed of dual port "Gateway TNC's". The system outlined here is in it's infancy, but shows much promise for the use of 6 meters as a long haul backbone to speed packet traffic in NC and maybe reduce the congestion on VHF caused by BBS-to-BBS traffic. Don't be disturbed if the system doesn't always work, as there is still much work underway. However, this will prepare you for the use, and allow you to "play" a bit to learn how it all works together.

This is information on how to use the 6 meter gateway between east and western North Carolina. First, here's a little info on the system so you'll better understand what it actually consists of and visualize its path.

The 6 meter gateway is a long haul, single hop, 6 meter packet radio link between Zebulon (approx. 20 miles east of Raleigh) and Locust (approx. 20 miles east of Charlotte). It operates on 51.160 at 1200 baud. Users can access the east end (WB4IUY-3) of the link via W4RAL-5 on 145.01, 147.54, 223.70, or 441.0 mhz. Users on the western end can access the link via KC4FWC-1 on 145.69, 147.48, 223.40, , 145.01, 28.185, or 446.5 mhz. As usual, users can enter either end on 51.160 direct if they so desire.

#1- The east end is a Kantronics 9612 dual port tnc in Zebulon. Port 1 is the 6 meter rig on 51.160, on port 2 is the 223.7 rig on the local 9600 baud lan.

#2- The west end is a "BPQ" multi-frequency node stack. This will be explained herein.

The system is easy to use, and will probably get easier as it develops. I've broken down the access keystrokes below, depending on your point of entry, to simplify your first contacts via the link.

The following might seem complicated at first, but I've really tried to spell out every detail in case one is unfamiliar with gateway tnc's or "BPQ" multi-frequency node stacks. So, don't let this scare you, just read on and try it!

First, you have to get to the WB4IUY-3 gateway site. To do so is easy. If you have 6 meter rig, connect your 1200 baud tnc and connect to WB4IUY-7 on 51.160 mhz. If not, have no fear, it's still easy! You can get to 6 meters through the W4RAL-5 "BPQ" multi-frequency node stack. Here's how to get there:

In the Wilson/Wake and Franklin/Nash/Edgecomb/Wayne county areas you'll find W4RAL-7 on 147.54 or WB4IUY-7 on 223.7 are your best access routes. In the Durham and surrounding areas, one can get to W4RAL-5 through WR4AGC-7's UHF port #2. I'll break this down further into access from specific nodes.

=>FOR 147.54 W4RAL-7 in Zebulon... Dial up 147.54 and type:

C W4RAL-7 (wait for connection)
C W4RAL-5 (wait for connection)

That will connect you to W4RAL-5, a multi-frequency node stack. Type "?" and "enter" to get a list of commands. Type "PORTS" and "enter" to see the available ports. You'll see something like this:

1 147.54
2 441.00
3 145.01
4 223.70
W4RAL-5>

To see what each of W4RAL-5's port frequencies are hearing you type MH (me heard) followed by the port number. Example, MH 4 would let you see what the W4RAL-5 223.7 port #4 is hearing.

The WB4IUY-3 gateway operates between 223.70 and 51.160, so the W4RAL-5 port #4 will give you access to the gateway. So, here we go...let's now hop over to the gateway tnc and have a look at what it's seeing. Type:

C 4 WB4IUY-1 S (wait for connection) (the "S" at the end lets you stay connected to W4RAL-5 when you say "B"ye to wb4iuy-1 in a minute)

You'll now be in the mailbox portion of the gateway. The login message will prompt you to read a certain message # about the gateway operation. Probably this same message, hi!

Remember: Port one of the WB4IUY-3 gateway itself is 6 meters, port 2 is 220 mhz. You can't actually connect "TO" the gateway (wb4iuy-3), but rather you connect through it. I'll explain more in a minute.

Now that you're connected to the gateway tnc, type "J", and see what's heard on both of the gateways' ports. A "J" command will show something like this:

KC4FWC-1/1 10/04/98 06:33:00
W4RAL-5/2 10/04/98 06:41:00
WB4IUY/1 10/04/98 06:42:00
W4RAL/2 10/04/98 06:53:00

The /# denotes the port that the gateway is hearing the associated call on. In the example above, W4RAL-5 is being heard on the gateway's port #2 (223.7), while KC4FWC-1 is being heard on the gateway's port #1 (51.160).

Remember: Port 1 of the WB4IUY-3 gateway itself is 6 meters, port 2 is 220 mhz. To connect to something that's heard on the opposite port of the gateway, you do so VIA WB4IUY-3. The local W4RAL-5 4-port BPQ NODE is on the 223.7 port of my gateway.

So, to get into Locust (KC4FWC-1 shown in the example above on port 1 of the gateway), you need to back out of WB4IUY-1 by typing "B"ye. You'll return to W4RAL-5 (remember the "S" I had you to add to the end of the connect string above?). Then type:

C 4 KC4FWC-1 VIA WB4IUY-3

This will send you through the WB4IUY-3 gateway and onto 6 meters. You'll get a response from the Locust end of the link when you're connected. The Locust end at KC4FWC-1 is a "BPQ" multi-frequency node stack just like W4RAL-5, so the same commands I mentioned above for getting info, checking the ports, etc. will be the same.

*Now that I've gone through the explanation, here are the exact keystrokes for access to KC4FWC-1 in Locust from W4RAL-7 in Zebulon on 147.54:

C W4RAL-7 (wait for connection)
C W4RAL-5 (wait for connection)
C 4 KC4FWC-1 VIA WB4IUY-3 (wait for connection)

*The exact keystrokes for access to KC4FWC-1 in Locust from W4RAL-4 in Clayton on 145.01:

C W4RAL-4 (wait for connection)
C W4RAL-5 (wait for connection)
C 4 KC4FWC-1 VIA WB4IUY-3 (wait for connection)

*The exact keystrokes for access to KC4FWC-1 in Locust from WR4AGC-7 in Durham on 145.73:

C WR4AGC-7 (wait for connection)
C 2 N4AJF-7 (wait for connection)
C W4RAL-5 (wait for connection)
C 4 KC4FWC-1 VIA WB4IUY-3 (wait for connection)

First, you have to get to the KC4FWC-1 "BPQ" multi-frequency node stack site. To do so is easy. If you have 6 meter rig, connect your 1200 baud tnc and connect to KC4FWC-1 on 51.160 mhz. If not, have no fear, it's still easy! You can get to 6 meters through the KC4FWC-1 "BPQ" multi-frequency node stack.

You can connect to KC4FWC-1 at 1200 baud on 145.69 mhz, 223.40 mhz, 145.01 mhz, 28.185 mhz, or 446.50 mhx. You can also connect to KC4FWC-1 at 9600 baud on 147.48 mhz.

Once connected to KC4FWC-1, type "?" and "enter" to get a list of commands. Type "PORTS" and "enter" to see the available ports. You'll see something like this:

1 145.690 mhz 1200 baud
2 223.400 mhz 1200 baud
3 446.500 mhz 1200 baud
4 147.480 mhz 9600 baud
5 145.010 mhz 1200 baud
6 051.160 mhz 1200 baud
7 028.185 mhz 1200 baud
KC4FWC-1>

To see what each of KC4FWC-1's port frequencies are hearing you type MH (me heard) followed by the port number. Example, MH 6 would let you see what the KC4FWC-1 51.160 port #6 is hearing.

So, to get into Raleigh (WB4IUY-3 gateway or WB4IUY-1 mailbox) from Locust, type:

C 6 WB4IUY-1 S (the "S" at the end lets you stay connected to KC4FWC-1 when you say "B"ye to wb4iuy-1 in a minute)

This will send you through the KC4FWC-1 port 6 and onto 6 meters. You'll get a response from the Raleigh end of the link when you're connected. Once connected to the east Raleigh end, you'll now be in the mailbox portion of the WB4IUY gateway. The login message will prompt you to read a certain message # about the gateway operation. Probably this same message, hi!

Remember: Port one of the _WB4IUY-3_ gateway itself is 6 meters, port 2 is 220 mhz. You can't actually connect "TO" the gateway (wb4iuy-3), but rather you connect through it. I'll explain more in a minute.

Now that you're connected to the gateway tnc, type "J", and see what's heard on both of the gateways' ports. A "J" command will show something like this:

KC4FWC-1/1 10/04/98 06:33:00
W4RAL-5/2 10/04/98 06:41:00
WB4IUY/1 10/04/98 06:42:00
W4RAL/2 10/04/98 06:53:00

The /# denotes the port that the gateway is hearing the associated call on. In the example above, W4RAL-5 is being heard on the gateway's port #2 (223.7), while KC4FWC-1 is being heard on the gateway's port #1 (51.160).

Remember: Port 1 of the WB4IUY-3 gateway itself is 6 meters, port 2 is 220 mhz. To connect to something that's heard on the opposite port of the gateway, you do so "VIA" WB4IUY-3. The local W4RAL-5 4-port BPQ NODE is on the 223.7 port of the WB4IUY-3 gateway.

So, to get into Raleigh (W4RAL-5 shown in the example above on port 2 of the gateway), you need to back out of WB4IUY-1 by typing "B"ye. You'll return to KC4FWC-1 (remember the "S" I had you to add to the end of the connect string above?). Then type:

C 6 W4RAL-5 VIA WB4IUY-3

This will send you through the WB4IUY-3 gateway and onto 223.7 to the W4RAL-5 4-port BPQ NODE. You'll get a response from the Raleigh end of the link when you're connected. The Raleigh end at W4RAL-5 is a "BPQ" multi-frequency node stack just like KC4FWC-1 in Locust, so the same commands I mentioned above for getting info, checking the ports, etc. will be the used.

*Now that I've gone through the explanation, here are the exact keystrokes for access to WB4IUY-1 in Zebulon (for info) from any of KC4FWC-1's ports in Locust:

C KC4FWC-1 (wait for connection)
C 6 WB4IUY-1 (wait for connection)

*The exact keystrokes for access to W4RAL-5 in Raleigh from any of KC4FWC-1's ports in Locust:

C KC4FWC-1 (wait for connection)
C 6 W4RAL-5 VIA WB4IUY-3 (wait for connection)

W4RAL-5 in Raleigh has ports on:

147.54 mhz 1200 baud
441.00 mhz 9600 baud
145.01 mhz 1200 baud
223.70 mhz 9600 baud

You can gain access to many, many BBS's in the area, as well as operate with keyboard to keyboard QSO's via this link. Once connected to W4RAL-5, simply typing:

C W4RAL

...will connect you to the W4RAL BBS in Rolesville.

Other paths that you might find helpful, once connected to the W4RAL-5 node, are:

There are many more possibilities on each end of the link. Drop a note to me at WB4IUY@WB4IUY.#RTP.NC.USA.NOAM for a copy of the NC Packet BBS/Node listing.