FreeDATA interface in BPQ32/LinBPQ

Introduction

Both the FreeDATA TNC and this driver are still under development. Changes to the TNC may affect the driver.

BPQ now includes an driver for the FreeDATA Modem.

This document is for BPQ Versions of 6.0.23.21 and above, and was tested with FreeDATA version 0.5.0-alpha.

The FreeDATA TNC responds to any SSID of the configured callsign. This means you can't run two stations using the same base callsign on the same frequency, and using APPLCALLS won't work.

Configuration

Note that at the moment BPQ connects to the FreeDATA daemon, which then starts the TNC, so you need to start the daemon manually. This may change, with BPQ connecting to TNC

The driver is defined to BPQ32 as an External port and needs a CONFIG section. The first line defines the IP address and Port of the FreeDATA TNC (not the daemon). Normally this will be 3000. This can be followed by an optional PTT parameter and an optional PATH to the FreeFDATA TNC (which is not currently used) If PTT is omitted, VOX operation is assumed. Other PTT options are PTT RTS, PTT DTRRTS, PTT CM108, PTT HAMLIB


Typical first lines are:

ADDR 127.0.0.1 8300
ADDR 127.0.0.1 3000 PTT DTR
ADDR 127.0.0.1 3000 PTT CI-V (or PTT CAT)

Other required parameters specify the sound devices to use:

CAPTURE Device
PLAYBACK Device

Device is the sound device name, or part of the name that uniquely identifies the device. On Linux this is likely to be of the form hw:0,0, on Windows it could be something like Speakers or Microphone

BPQ can accept File Transfers from the FreeDATA GUI. Use the RXDIRECTORY configuration command to specify where to save these files. This directory must exist (BPQ won't create it), eg

RXDIRECTORY C:\Users\John\AppData\Roaming\BPQ32\FreeDATARX

If RXDIRECTORY is not specified or does not exist the transfer will be discarded.

You can set the tuning range of the modem (default is 50). You must use one of the values below or the TNC won't start. The default is probably fine for most hf use, but may not be enough when using, for example the QO100 satellite. The range is twice the specified value (eg -50 to +50).

TUNINGRANGE 50/100/150/200/250

You can limit the bandwidth used by the modem (I believe to 500 Hz) by setting LIMITBANDWIDTH to 1.

LIMITBANDWIDTH 0/1

Example FreeDATA Port Configuration:

PORT
 ID=FreeData
 DRIVER=FREEDATA

 CONFIG
 ADDR 127.0.0.1 3000
  CAPTURE hw:0,0
  PLAYBACK hw:0,0
  RXDIRECTORY /home/pi/linbpq/FreeDATARX
ENDPORT

Operation

As the TNC only supports a single connection, a FreeDATA port must be allocated to a user before use. This is done using the ATTACH command. So if your FreeDATA port is BPQ32 port 3, enter

ATTACH 3

You can then use the following commands:

PING Callsign
  Send a PING message to specified station

CQ
  Send a CQ message

BEACON n
  Send a Beacon every n seconds. Set n to 0 to stop.

C Callsign
  Connect to the specified station

D
  Disconnect

Chat

The driver is compatible with the Chat feature of the FreeDATA GUI. I you receive a chat message while you are attached to the FreeDATA port but not connected to another station it will be displayed. If you are not attached or are connected the driver will send back the message "Message received but user not on line". In either case the message is recorded in the driver window.

To chat with another station (FreDATA GUI or BPQ) enter the command:

CHAT CALL. This will enter chat mode and anything to type will be sent to the other station. To exit chat mode enter /ex