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4.4 More Packet Features<br />
Now that you have worked a few packet stations, it is time to learn a<br />
little more about the other packet capabilities of the <strong>PK</strong>-<strong>232</strong>.<br />
Rather than explain all the features in detail, we will leave the<br />
specifics to the command descriptions in the Command Summary Appendix.<br />
4.4.1 LED Status and Mode Indicators<br />
Your <strong>PK</strong>-<strong>232</strong>'s front-panel LEDs show you the operating mode and status<br />
at any moment. Each LED is marked with an abbreviated name, but some<br />
LEDs have two functions. All markings referring to packet are below<br />
the LEDs. The following front-panel LEDs are used in packet operation.<br />
MULT Multiple Lit when multiple connections exist<br />
Blinks when receive buffer is full<br />
SEND Send Lit when PTT line is active<br />
CONV Converse Lit when in the Converse Mode<br />
STA Status Lit when you have sent a packet that has<br />
not yet been acknowledged<br />
Blinks when you have MailDrop messages<br />
CON Connected Lit when a packet Connection exists<br />
CMD Command Lit when in the Command Mode<br />
TRANS Transparent Lit when in the Transparent Mode<br />
<strong>PK</strong>T Packet Lit when in the Packet Radio Mode<br />
DCD Data Carrier Detect Lit when data signals are received<br />
4.4.2 Automatic Greetings<br />
You can tell your <strong>PK</strong>-<strong>232</strong> to send an automatic greeting to any station<br />
that connects to you. This can be used to tell others that you are<br />
out of the shack - or for any other message you would like to send.<br />
To enable the CTEXT message, set your Connect Text message using the<br />
CTEXT command. Then set CMSG ON to enable the Connect Message<br />
feature. Think of the CTEXT message as the message your telephone<br />
answering machine might give to a caller.<br />
4.4.3 Beacon Operation<br />
Your <strong>PK</strong>-<strong>232</strong> can send an automatic "beacon" message at a specified time<br />
interval. A beacon can send special announcements, or let others know<br />
you are on the air. To enable beacon operation do the following:<br />
o<br />
o<br />
o<br />
Set your beacon message with the BTEXT command.<br />
Set the beacon interval using the BEACON EVERY or AFTER command.<br />
A beacon frame is sent to the path given in the UNPROTO command.<br />
In the early days of packet, the beacon was useful to show your<br />
presence on the packet channel. With the growth of packet, many users<br />
feel that beacons have outlived their usefulness and interfere with<br />
traffic. Use your beacon with consideration for others.<br />
As a reminder, if you set the BEACON timing at a value considered too<br />
small for busy channels (less than "90"), you'll see:<br />
WARNING: BEACON too often<br />
4/91 4-13<br />
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