Hello Joshua,

First, the handheld(s) I was using wasn't quick enough and wasn't doing a good job at receiving packets

When you say "handheld", what radio was this?  If you say Baofeng, I won't be surprised it didn't work well.

I moved my KISS TNC from a handheld to my TM-V71A and I stopped losing packets.  Second, the TM-D710G wasn't accepting a connection request from its own callsign, even with a different SSID.  I used my wife's callsign for one of the radios and the connection was established on the first try.  So, #1 has been solved.

That's strange to hear it wouldn't accept a connection from the same callsign but a different SSID.  That *should* work.  Are you sure you're running the newest version of the D710 TNC firmware?

   https://www.kenwood.com/i/products/info/amateur/software_download.html

Since I want to be able to use my TM-V71A with packet radio also and I currently have a homemade Mobilinkd style TNC connected to it for APRS, I decided to try a TNC emulator with that setup.  I use a MacBook as my laptop and that has hindered me greatly but where there is a will, there is a guy who will spend his whole weekend making a way.  I now use a Raspberry Pi Zero W running linBPQ and G8BPQ's Simple KISS configuration.  I connect to the Pi over wifi, SSH into it, start the emulator, open another SSH terminal, start a minicom terminal, and use that as my TNC interface.  It's quite a software dance but it seems to work!

When you say "Mobilinkd style TNC", is this some simple PIC based Bell 202 TNC?  Those can work but their performance isn't all that great.  Since you're a Mac user, consider trying out Direwolf.  It runs natively on the Mac and it's performance is practically unbeaten by any other hardware or software TNC out there:

   https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf

This also works very well on Linux with hardware like Raspberry Pis, etc.  I have a document for that too:  :-)

   https://www.trinityos.com/HAM/CentosDigitalModes/RPi/rpi4-setup.html


Anyway..that's all food for future though.  Glad to hear you got things working!


--David
KI6ZHD

On Sat, May 22, 2021 at 01:21 PM, David Ranch wrote:

Hello Joshua,

Your first sentence isn't complete so I cannot tell if you ARE able to create a connection or not but I'm assuming KJ7LVZ-9 (D710 TNC) to KJ7LVZ-2 (BPQ32) works.  It's the reverse path that isn't responding.  Do you have CONOK enabled on the receiving D710 TNC?

   Here is a cheat-sheet that might help
   https://www.trinityos.com/HAM/CentosDigitalModes/misc/D710-TNC-setup.txt

Sorry David, the correct word is "established".  I was able to establish a connection between the TNCs one direction but not the other.  CONOK was on for both TNCs.  Thank you for the link to the cheat-sheat.  I had seen that and was using it along with the manual.  I hacked away at this for a while and realized two things. First, the handheld(s) I was using wasn't quick enough and wasn't doing a good job at receiving packets.  I moved my KISS TNC from a handheld to my TM-V71A and I stopped losing packets.  Second, the TM-D710G wasn't accepting a connection request from its own callsign, even with a different SSID.  I used my wife's callsign for one of the radios and the connection was established on the first try.  So, #1 has been solved.

2. When I am trying to write a message on the Kenwood using the W command, it's all fine and dandy until I want to exit the body using (return), (CTRL+C), (return).  All I get is new lines, the message never finishes.  The only way for me to exit the message is to restart the TNC. 

When you start the message, the TNC prompts you with:

   You terminate with either a <cr>/EX<cr> or <cr><ctrl-Z><cr>

I recommend to use "/ex" as that seems to be the common standard

The "/ex" option works.  I saw it on one of my connections and gave it a try.
#2 is solved.

3. What's the importance of PACLEN?  The TNC on the handheld defaults to 236 even though I have the config file set to 128 and the Kenwood defaults to 128.  They connect fine with different PACLENs.  I can set them the same and everything is still kosher.

PACLEN is the AX.25 payload MTU and the bigger it is, the faster your throughput *could* be assuming you have perfect RF conditions.  If you have poorer RF conditions, you might consider using something smaller like 128 bytes as well as use a smaller packet window (aka "MAXFRAME").   Generally speaking, these are some of the common settings:

   - Excellent RF conditions for UHF/VHF AX.25 - PACLEN: 255
   - Excellent RF conditions for UHF/VHF AX.25 over NETROM - PACLEN: 236

   - Decent RF conditions for UHF/VHF AX.25 - PACLEN: 128
   - Decent RF conditions for HF AX.25 - PACLEN: 64

   - Poor RF conditions for any packet: forget about it - the retries will kill any effective communications


Btw, I have another cheat sheet that takes new Packet users through the using connected and unconnected packet operations here:

   https://www.trinityos.com/HAM/Packet-GettingStarted/getting-started-with-packet-radio.txt

PPs.  You can find ALL TNC commands in the "TNC COMMANDS LIST" section (PDF page 36) of Kenwood D710 instruction manual - http://manual.kenwood.com/files/TM-D710_CD-ROM_English.pdf

--David
KI6ZHD

Thank you for the explanation of PACLEN.  I wasn't sure if one TNC set to a packet length of 128 would have a problem receiving a packet with more than 128 bytes.  Sound like that is not the case. 
I love manuals and already have the full Kenwood manual on my computer to reference.  I will definitely look at the "Getting Started With Packet Radio" document you sent.

Thank you for the help.  

Since I want to be able to use my TM-V71A with packet radio also and I currently have a homemade Mobilinkd style TNC connected to it for APRS, I decided to try a TNC emulator with that setup.  I use a MacBook as my laptop and that has hindered me greatly but where there is a will, there is a guy who will spend his whole weekend making a way.  I now use a Raspberry Pi Zero W running linBPQ and G8BPQ's Simple KISS configuration.  I connect to the Pi over wifi, SSH into it, start the emulator, open another SSH terminal, start a minicom terminal, and use that as my TNC interface.  It's quite a software dance but it seems to work!

Hello Joshua,

1. I establish a connection from the Kenwood (KJ7LVZ-9) to the handheld (KJ7LVZ-2) which is connected to a Raspberry Pi running linBPQ and Simple KISS.  But when I try and connect to KJ7LVZ-9 from KJ7LVZ-2, I get no response.  The Kenwood never transmits; never responds to the connect request.  CONOK is set to ON on both TNCs.  Can't figure that one out.

Your first sentence isn't complete so I cannot tell if you ARE able to create a connection or not but I'm assuming KJ7LVZ-9 (D710 TNC) to KJ7LVZ-2 (BPQ32) works.  It's the reverse path that isn't responding.  Do you have CONOK enabled on the receiving D710 TNC?

   Here is a cheat-sheet that might help
   https://www.trinityos.com/HAM/CentosDigitalModes/misc/D710-TNC-setup.txt

2. When I am trying to write a message on the Kenwood using the W command, it's all fine and dandy until I want to exit the body using (return), (CTRL+C), (return).  All I get is new lines, the message never finishes.  The only way for me to exit the message is to restart the TNC. 

When you start the message, the TNC prompts you with:

   You terminate with either a <cr>/EX<cr> or <cr><ctrl-Z><cr>

I recommend to use "/ex" as that seems to be the common standard

3. What's the importance of PACLEN?  The TNC on the handheld defaults to 236 even though I have the config file set to 128 and the Kenwood defaults to 128.  They connect fine with different PACLENs.  I can set them the same and everything is still kosher.

PACLEN is the AX.25 payload MTU and the bigger it is, the faster your throughput *could* be assuming you have perfect RF conditions.  If you have poorer RF conditions, you might consider using something smaller like 128 bytes as well as use a smaller packet window (aka "MAXFRAME").   Generally speaking, these are some of the common settings:

   - Excellent RF conditions for UHF/VHF AX.25 - PACLEN: 255
   - Excellent RF conditions for UHF/VHF AX.25 over NETROM - PACLEN: 236

   - Decent RF conditions for UHF/VHF AX.25 - PACLEN: 128
   - Decent RF conditions for HF AX.25 - PACLEN: 64

   - Poor RF conditions for any packet: forget about it - the retries will kill any effective communications


Btw, I have another cheat sheet that takes new Packet users through the using connected and unconnected packet operations here:

   https://www.trinityos.com/HAM/Packet-GettingStarted/getting-started-with-packet-radio.txt

PPs.  You can find ALL TNC commands in the "TNC COMMANDS LIST" section (PDF page 36) of Kenwood D710 instruction manual - http://manual.kenwood.com/files/TM-D710_CD-ROM_English.pdf

--David
KI6ZHD

I have the same problem that you do with issue #1. I'm using APRSIS/32 on a Windows machine with the 710 connected via the RT Systems cable, and all I ever get is comm errors that the port can't be opened.

#1 seems to be a problem with the implementation of Simple KISS from linBPQ.  I set up a BBS and Chat server on the Pi with a web interface and I could connect to my Kenwood fine through the included terminal.  

I am a couple decades behind for packet radio (apart from APRS) but I'm having fun anyway.  I have a TM-D710G and I connect to its TNC through my Macbook and an RT Systems serial to USB converter.  It's simple to connect to the TNC through the Mac's Screen program and I am able to connect to another radio I have setup and enter converse mode.  However, I'm running into so quirks I can't overcome.

1. I establish a connection from the Kenwood (KJ7LVZ-9) to the handheld (KJ7LVZ-2) which is connected to a Raspberry Pi running linBPQ and Simple KISS.  But when I try and connect to KJ7LVZ-9 from KJ7LVZ-2, I get no response.  The Kenwood never transmits; never responds to the connect request.  CONOK is set to ON on both TNCs.  Can't figure that one out.

2. When I am trying to write a message on the Kenwood using the W command, it's all fine and dandy until I want to exit the body using (return), (CTRL+C), (return).  All I get is new lines, the message never finishes.  The only way for me to exit the message is to restart the TNC.  

3. What's the importance of PACLEN?  The TNC on the handheld defaults to 236 even though I have the config file set to 128 and the Kenwood defaults to 128.  They connect fine with different PACLENs.  I can set them the same and everything is still kosher.

I neveruse thepowersupply to power on/offense radio, many because of power supplyspikesat startup. That can damage a radio. Use radio power on button, that's what it's for! Just my$0.02

Hello, 
I own a TM-D700 for long time. I always keep the unit switched on. Switch off will be taken place by power supply. When I switch PS back on, in the past the TM-D700 came up again. Now, suddenly,  it will not power up. I have to manually switch it on. Then it fires up.
Does anybody have any idea what causes this issue? 
Thank you for any help.

73 de 
DF8FS, Gundolf

Check the software download page on the Kenwood web site.  If they have new firmware for your radio, just follow the instructions they have (also on that page) to install it.  Basically, just connect a Windows computer to your radio and run the installer program.  Kenwood makes it easy.

Ron:

I think I would have a better chance finding a D700 Control Head than the RC-2000 Control Head. I am not sure where you heard of a RC-350 Control Head.
--

73 De Mike
VE3YF

RC-350 (?) Control head from Kenwood is compatible, it's the control head for the B2000

How does one go about updating firmware, if it is indeed out of date?

OOPS KENWOOD REMOTE CONTROL HEAD RC-2000

Hi:

I am looking for a D-700A Control Head or the complete radio. Must be Firmware G2.0 revision and a 41 Million + Serial Number.
Tnx

73 De Mike
VE3YF

I got it all done with menu 1-8-1 and 1-8-5. Took a little sleuthing in the manual, searching for text strings I figured out from looking at the t of c. Made notes. Shouldn't ever happen again. ;-)

Yes, 1-2-4 got me speech. There are I think three choices--speech, none, APRS, possibly a fourth.

Too quick on my reply.  I started browsing the manual and found a note that you want 124 for the VS-3 unit.

Sorry, I mixed up the groups and thought you were talking about the D710.  For the D700, it's  menus 181-184. You can get the manual at http://manual.kenwood.com/files/TM-D700-English.pdf

I just got some help with this, and the menus only go up to 4. There is no 9-anything.