At one time, working in packet radio was a common hobby among ham radio operators. Users would leave mail for each other on Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) or have keyboard to keyboard Chat sessions with each other. Once the internet proliferated, along with email, packet radio fell by the wayside and is now primarily used for Packet Reporting with APRS and emergency communication. Packet Radio today, is still capable of BBS and Chat functions, but can now allow users to send email via radio. The instructions below will work to get users through the hardware selection and set up as well as software usage. In this case, the term 'packet' is refering to digital messages in the AFSK format.
The equipment required for packet radio are:
1. VHF/UHF Radio (Most packet radio happens in the 2 Meter Band)
2. Computer
3. The Terminal Node Controller (The Terminal Node Controller (TNC) can be a physical modem or it can be a SignaLink soundcard or it can also be software that emulates a virtrual TNC)
4. Software that processes the messages to be sent through the TNC to the radio.
First: Select and Configure Hardware
Second: Select and Configure Software
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