The Rideau Lakes Amateur Radio Club Packet Facilities

Information from Mike, VE3UIL
March, 2011

A lot has happened since I first established the BBS in 2006 here in Smiths Falls.  We initially started off with a simple FBB BBS and BPQ NODE software.  Since then I have added DX CLuster connectivity, a WINLINK RMS port, new BPQ BBS and BPQ CHAT.

An RF Port is available on 145.010 Mhz.  The 145.010 Mhz is the main back bone route south to N2TB in Russel, NY which provides connectivity to the Upstate NY Flexnet network.  Through that network, KA2JXI-4 BBS in Ogdensburg, NY is available, as well as routing to VA3UIN in Kingston.  The Flexnet network has connectivity down in to Central and Western NY when working.

The main source of traffic is through the internet network of Packet stations.  Initially I set up Telnet connectivity for BBSs  to connect and make FORWARDing transmissions of Bulletins and Private message traffic, as well as housekeeping traffic between BBSs.  In additon, AXUDP connections were available though the BPQ NODE to other NODEs and BBSs worldwide.  This worked out fine for FBB to FBB BBS but when trying to FORWARD to other types of BBS such as JNOS/TNOS/OpenBCM certain problems arose that limited the full capability of the network.

Since the FBB BBS software is no longer supported by F6FBB the orginal author, an alternate solution was sought.  John Wiseman G8BPQ, the author of the BPQ NODE software decided to  begin implementation of a BBS software integrated with his NODE software and based on the AXUDP connectivity of NODEs rather than Telnet connections.

Therefore I have installed the Beta version of the BPQ BBS software into the system as well, and this provides further access around the world for  Bulletins and Private messages.

One additional feature included in the BPQ BBS is the CHAT feature.  The CHAT access provides full WORLD-WIDE CHAT capability to any other station running the BPQ MAILCHAT software.

Access on either of the RF Ports can be made to all of the VE3UIL functions as follows:

        CALL            ALIAS            Function
        VE3UIL-1      SFSBBS     BPQBBS
        VE3UIL-3      BBSUIL       FBB BBS
        VE3UIL-5      SFSDX       Connects to N9PMO DX Cluster in Racine, WI
        VE3UIL-7      SFALLS      BPQ Packet NODE
        VE3UIL-10    SFSRMS    WINLINK - RMS Terminal 
        VE3UIL-11    SFSCHT     BPQ CHAT facility    

One final facility that I have also added to the System is a Winlink terminal VE3UIL-10. This service provides world wide access to Internet E mail services via amateur radio.

Anyone is welcome to try the system out. Spread the word around to other Amateur radio friends as well. If you are equipped for packet radio, give it a try.

If you would like to acccess the system via a Telnet connection over the Internet let me know and I can set up an account for you.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Mike - VE3UIL

Return to the Rideau Lakes A.R.C. Home Page

This Web Page

This web page is now running under Apache Webserver software v 2.2.6