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HB9ONO > KAM 13.04.96 23:47l 86 Lines 4757 Bytes #-11039 (0) @ EU
BID : 13460FHB9PD
Read: ON7SD DG9MFP GUEST
Subj: Amateur Paging KPC-9612
Path: DB0AAB<DB0MWS<HB9PD
Sent: 960413/1832z @:HB9PD.CHE.EU [PRIG-Bern BOX 1.9b5] $:13460FHB9PD
de HB9ONO @ HB9PD.CHE.EU (Jean-Francois)
to KAM @ EU
NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT
AMATEUR PAGING
If you're interested in emergency communications, remote control of
equipment, or notification of important events, then digital paging for
amateur radio just might be for you! And it's likely you or your fellow club
members already have most of the equipment required for digital paging. The
system requires a computer (or terminal), a KPC-9612 with paging firmware, a
9600 "data ready" transceiver, an antenna, and a few numeric or alphanumeric
POCSAG pagers. If you're already 9600 active, all you'll need is the version
7.0 firmware for your KPC-9612, and pagers recrystalled for 2-meters or
70-cm.
Kantronics' firmware upgrade v7.0 for the KPC-9612 supports the transmission
and reception of Radiopaging Code No.1 (also known as POCSAG). This code is
the defacto standard used by radio common carriers (commercial paging
companies) supporting numeric and alphanumeric pagers. The upgrade supports
all three paging rates -512, 1200, and 2400 - and includes a packet paging
serverú. With the server, amateurs may connect by packet radio to the
KPC-9612 directly or to the K-Net node and send a page or inquire about
pages already sent. A manual addendum included with the upgrade describes
amateur paging and the keyboard and paging server commands added to the
firmware. Associated with the upgrade, Kantronics is offering for sale the
PAGER HANDBOOK for the Radio Amateur and Motorola Bravo Plusú pagers
recrystalled for 2-meters and 70-cm.
The PAGER HANDBOOK for the Radio Amateur, by W0XI, with eight chapters and
five appendices, includes details of the POCSAG protocol (CCIR
Recommendation R-584-1), transmission and reception requirements for paging,
and instructions for recrystalling pagers for the 2-meter and 70-cm amateur
bands. The handbook will be available in spiral bound format (GBC) April
15th and in paperback format (perfect binding) about May 15th.
We recognize that frequency coordination for new modes/activities can be a
problem. Hence, initially, we're offering refurbished Bravo Plus pagers
crystalled for only one of two frequencies: 145.73 MHZ and 446.15 MHZ. These
two frequencies fall within the experimental and simplex sub-bands for
2-meters and 70-cm, according to the 95/96 ARRL repeater directory. In
addition, we're soliciting recommendations for paging frequencies on a
regional basis from the coordinating bodies. As frequencies become
established and coordinated, Kantronics will stock crystals for these
frequencies as well and will offer a service for crystalling and programming
pagers at the factory. Full details will be available later. Please keep in
mind that the low prices you see for commercial pagers also carry a monthly
access fee. Amateur digital paging carries no such fee.
Some of the "data ready" transceivers sold today for 9600 baud packet
operation are suitable paging transceivers. For example, Kenwood's TM-251,
TM-451, TM-733, and Azden's PCS-9600D do a nice job of sending and receiving
1200 baud paging. Quality reception of paging signals requires a receiver
with "discriminator" audio. You'll get marginal results with typical speaker
audio; the audio amplifier must be bypassed for quality paging reception.
Careful reading of Part 97 [sections 97.3(a)(10), 97.111(b)(2), 97.305(c),
and 97.307(f)(5)] makes it clear that digital paging is allowed for VHF and
UHF operations. One-way transmissions are made every day by amateurs to
establish communication with other amateurs, even using one mode to
establish a link in another mode. Paging simply creates another way of
establishing communications. The rules also state that unspecified
protocols/codes may be used for communications on 50 MHZ and above. Let's
page!
In summary, the KPC-9612 v7.0 firmware upgrade supports the transmission and
reception of 512, 1200, and 2400 baud numeric and alphanumeric POCSAG
paging, contains a packet paging server, page directory (pairs of callsigns
and pager IDs [capcode]), a paging transmission log, and optional sysop
controlled password operation. All features in v6.0 are retained. Version
7.0 adds nine keyboard commands: MYPAGE, PAGE, PAGECWID, PAGEDIR, PAGEMON,
PAGELOG, PAGEPRIV, PAGEPSWD, and PAGETEXT. The unique features of the
KPC-9612 integrated circuit modem make amateur paging possible. Discrete
RUH' modems cannot support paging. Paging firmware will not be supported in
the KPC-3 or KAM Plus.
Spring is here! Treat yourself to the v7.0 upgrade so you can be ready for
paging activities.
For further details, please write, fax, or e-mail Kantronics at 1202 E 23rd
Street, Lawrence, KS 66046, fax 913-842-2031.
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