PK-232 OPERATING MANUAL PACKET RADIO
CHAPTER 4
PACKET RADIO
4.1 Overview
In the last several years Packet Radio has grown to become perhaps the
most popular digital mode found on the amateur bands. Although Packet
can be found on HF (primarily on the 20 meter band) it is most popular
on the VHF and UHF FM bands. This chapter will start with general
Packet Radio operation and then discuss VHF and UHF Packet. Packet
radio on the HF bands requires some special considerations, so we will
leave it until the end of this chapter.
4.1.1 Getting Started
You can learn quite a bit about Packet operation with the PK-232
before even connecting it to a transceiver. For your first packet
practice, the PK-232 will be connected in a "loopback" circuit as done
in the "Quick Check" performed in Chapter 2. In this configuration,
the PK-232 will "talk to itself" which allows you to become familiar
with packet operation before actually going on the air.
4.1.2 Making the Loopback Connection
Make sure the PK-232 is turned OFF and power is removed before
performing one of the following.
I If you constructed a single Radio cable in Chapter 3, you should
have one unused radio cable available for the following:
1. Get the unused Radio Cable from Chapter 3.
2. Strip about 1/4 inch of insulation from the Green and White
wires at the "radio" end of the cable.
3. Join the Green and White wires by twisting them together
gently.
4. Insert the 5-pin plastic plug end of the cable into the
"RADIO-2" connector on the PK-232's rear panel. Be sure
that the plug is inserted with the cable running downward.
5. Set the front-panel "RADIO-1/RADIO-2" switch to "RADIO-2."
6. Skip to section 4.2.
II If you constructed two Radio Cables in Chapter 3 and do not have
an unused Radio Cable, then you must do the following:
1. Locate JP1, the Battery Jumper which can be removed through
a hole in the bottom of the PK-232 located immediately
behind the "RADIO-1/RADIO-2" switch.
2. Remove this Jumper by lifting it straight up off the two
posts.
3. Place this Jumper on pins 1 & 2 of the RADIO-2 connector J6.
NOTE: Pins 1 and 2 are the right most pins of J6 when
looking at the connector from the rear of the PK-232.
4. Set the front-panel "RADIO-1/RADIO-2" switch to "RADIO-2."
5. Skip to section 4.2.
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