Kantronics KAM-XL User guide

KANTRONICS

KAM XL

Reference Manual

Table of Contents

Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Contact Us: .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5

REVISIONS ............................................................................................................................................................................ 6

Disclaimer Notice .................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Kantronics Warranty Registration ........................................................................................................................................... 7

IMPORTANT .......................................................................................................................................................................... 8

License Agreement .................................................................................................................................................................. 8

LIMITED WARRANTY ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

Return/Repair Procedures ...................................................................................................................................................... 11

Radio Frequency Interference Statement .............................................................................................................................. 13

RFI Suppression ................................................................................................................................................................ 13

FCC Declaration of Conformity: ........................................................................................................................................... 14

CE Marking Considerations .................................................................................................................................................. 14

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 15

KAM XL features: ............................................................................................................................................................. 15

GPS compatibility: ............................................................................................................................................................ 15

APRS digipeater: ............................................................................................................................................................... 15

Large PBBS: ...................................................................................................................................................................... 15

E-mail: ................................................................................................ ................................................................ ............... 16

Control and Sensing: ......................................................................................................................................................... 16

Remote access: .................................................................................................................................................................. 16

Other operations: ............................................................................................................................................................... 16

Software control: ............................................................................................................................................................... 16

Configurations: .................................................................................................................................................................. 16

Installation ............................................................................................................................................................................. 17

Package Contents .............................................................................................................................................................. 17

Additional Parts Required for a Multi-Mode Radio Station .............................................................................................. 18

Front panel of the KAM XL ............................................................................................................................................... 18

Rear panel of the KAM XL ................................................................................................................................................ 18

CONNECTING THE KAM XL TO A POWER SOURCE ............................................................................................... 19

CONNECTING THE KAM XL TO A COMPUTER ........................................................................................................ 19

The Terminal Program ...................................................................................................................................................... 23

CONNECTING THE KAM XL TO TRANSCEIVERS.................................................................................................... 24

AUX PORT (RS232 – DTE) ............................................................................................................................................. 26

CONNECTING A GPS DEVICE ..................................................................................................................................... 26

Interface Communication modes of the KAM XL ................................................................................................................. 27

Terminal Mode .................................................................................................................................................................. 27

Kantronics Host Mode ....................................................................................................................................................... 27

KISS Mode ........................................................................................................................................................................ 28

XKISS (Extended KISS) Mode ......................................................................................................................................... 29

COMMUNICATION MODES IN THE KAM XL ............................................................................................................... 30

Packet Mode ...................................................................................................................................................................... 30

AX.25 Protocol for Amateur Packet Radio: ...................................................................................................................... 30

Remote Access .................................................................................................................................................................. 36

Other Packet Modes of Operation ......................................................................................................................................... 37

PBBS (Personal Mailbox) ................................................................................................................................................. 37

PBBS Commands .............................................................................................................................................................. 39

Advanced PBBS Configuration ......................................................................................................................................... 45

Remote SYSOP Access to the PBBS ................................................................................................................................ 46

KA-NODE ............................................................................................................................................................................. 47

Overview ........................................................................................................................................................................... 47

Configuring The KA-Node ................................................................................................................................................ 47

Using a KA-Node .............................................................................................................................................................. 48

Using the XCONNECT Command ................................................................................................................................... 48

Remote Commands of the KA-Node ................................................................................................................................. 49

K-NET ................................................................................................................................................................................... 51

K-Net Configuration .......................................................................................................................................................... 51

Networking terms .............................................................................................................................................................. 52

K-Net SYSOP Commands ................................................................................................................................................ 53

K-Net USER commands: .................................................................................................................................................. 57

GPS NMEA, Weather station Interfacing ............................................................................................................................. 60

Overview ........................................................................................................................................................................... 60

GPS Equipment Requirements .......................................................................................................................................... 60

Cabling a GPS Unit to the KAM-XL ................................................................................................................................. 61

Configuring the GPS Commands ...................................................................................................................................... 61

Other GPS Features ........................................................................................................................................................... 62

GPS Command Summary.................................................................................................................................................. 64

Advanced GPS/APRS Digipeating .................................................................................................................................... 65

Improving Efficiencies of Advanced Digipeating ............................................................................................................. 65

Overview of UI Digipeating Commands ........................................................................................................................... 65

Configuring Digis for HF/VHF Gateway Operations........................................................................................................ 66

OTHER FUNCTIONS .......................................................................................................................................................... 68

TELEMETRY ................................................................................................................................................................... 68

Copying NWS EMWIN Weather Broadcasts .................................................................................................................... 68

DAMA ............................................................................................................................................................................... 69

HF Modes (Non-Packet) ....................................................................................................................................................... 71

Tuning in to receive signals ............................................................................................................................................... 71

Exiting non-packet modes ................................................................................................................................................. 71

CW ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 71

Receiving CW ................................................................................................................................................................... 71

Tuning in CW a signal ....................................................................................................................................................... 71

Transmitting CW ............................................................................................................................................................... 72

CW Directives ................................................................................................................................................................... 73

RTTY .................................................................................................................................................................................... 74

Receiving RTTY ............................................................................................................................................................... 74

Tuning RTTY signals ........................................................................................................................................................ 74

Transmitting RTTY ........................................................................................................................................................... 74

RTTY Directives ............................................................................................................................................................... 74

MARS Feature ................................................................................................................................................................... 75

ASCII .................................................................................................................................................................................... 77

Receiving ASCII ............................................................................................................................................................... 77

Tuning ASCII signals ........................................................................................................................................................ 77

Transmitting ASCII ........................................................................................................................................................... 77

ASCII Directives ............................................................................................................................................................... 77

AMTOR (includes LAMTOR, FEC, SELFEC, NAVTEX) .................................................................................................. 79

AMTOR Operation ............................................................................................................................................................ 79

Calling CQ ......................................................................................................................................................................... 79

Answering a CQ ................................................................................................................................................................ 80

Mode B (FEC) Operation .................................................................................................................................................. 81

Mode B (SELFEC) Operation ............................................................................................................................................... 81

Receiving Mode B SELFEC ............................................................................................................................................. 81

Transmitting Mode B SELFEC ......................................................................................................................................... 81

LAMTOR (Listen Amtor) operation ..................................................................................................................................... 81

Notes on AMTOR operation ............................................................................................................................................. 82

AMTOR directives ............................................................................................................................................................ 82

NAVTEX .............................................................................................................................................................................. 83

NAVTEX/AMTEX Theory ............................................................................................................................................... 83

NAVTEX/AMTEX Operation .......................................................................................................................................... 84

NAVTEX directives .......................................................................................................................................................... 85

PACTOR (PTL, PTFEC) ...................................................................................................................................................... 86

Pactor Operation ................................................................................................................................................................ 86

Tuning Pactor signals ........................................................................................................................................................ 86

Monitoring Pactor FEC ..................................................................................................................................................... 86

Calling CQ or Transmitting FEC....................................................................................................................................... 86

Linking to another station .................................................................................................................................................. 86

PTLISTEN Mode .............................................................................................................................................................. 87

G-TOR (and GMON) ............................................................................................................................................................ 88

G-TOR Operation ................................................................................................................................ .............................. 88

Tuning G-TOR .................................................................................................................................................................. 89

Monitoring G-TOR ............................................................................................................................................................ 89

Linking to another station in G-TOR ................................................................................................................................ 89

Speed changes ................................................................................................................................................................... 89

PBBS Access in G-TOR .................................................................................................................................................... 90

Summary of GTOR Directives .......................................................................................................................................... 91

PSK31 ................................................................................................................................................................................... 93

Tuning PSK31 Signals ...................................................................................................................................................... 93

Transmitting PSK31 .......................................................................................................................................................... 93

Exiting PSK mode ............................................................................................................................................................. 93

PSK31 Directives .............................................................................................................................................................. 93

Command Reference ............................................................................................................................................................. 95

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................... 95

Entering Commands .......................................................................................................................................................... 98

COMMANDS ....................................................................................................................................................................... 99

Appendix A: Installation ..................................................................................................................................................... 181

Precautions ...................................................................................................................................................................... 181

Connecting to Radios ...................................................................................................................................................... 181

Interfacing Hand-Held Radios ................................................................ ................................................................ ......... 182

Port 1: HF and Packet ...................................................................................................................................................... 183

Transmit level .................................................................................................................................................................. 184

Appendix B: Advanced Information ................................................................................................................................... 185

Disassembly and Assembly ............................................................................................................................................. 185

Hard Reset ....................................................................................................................................................................... 185

Updating/Uploading new BIOS (Firmware) ................................................................................................................... 186

Calibration ....................................................................................................................................................................... 187

PTT (Push-to-Talk) Watchdog Timer ............................................................................................................................. 189

Jumpers............................................................................................................................................................................ 190

Appendix C: Replacing the Lithium Battery ....................................................................................................................... 192

Appendix D: In Case of Difficulty ...................................................................................................................................... 193

Appendix E: Additional Information ................................................................................................................................... 195

Messages from the KAM XL ........................................................................................................................................... 195

Kantronics

14830 W. 117th St. Olathe, Kansas 66062

Orders/Inquiries (913) 839-1470

FAX (913) 839-8231 E-mail sales@kantronics.com Website: www.kantronics.com

Service/Technical Support (913) 839-8143 (8 AM to 12PM and 1 to 5 PM Central

Time, M-F) FAX (913) 839-8231 E-mail service@kantronics.com

REVISIONS

Revision

Date

Description

2006-5-18

Updated Kantronics address

2006-08-22

CE mark removed pending RoHS compliance.

2011-07-31

Updated contact information, text revisions, formatting.

2015-05-28

Updated to a searchable format.

The Kam XL is a Kantronics hardware and software design incorporating the AX.25 Level 2 Version 2 Packet protocol as adopted by the American Radio Relay League.

We have attempted to make this manual technically and typographically correct as of the date of the current printing. Production changes to the TNC may add errata or addendum sheets. Your comments and/or suggested corrections can be sent to us (see our contact information).

This document was compiled in the U.S.A. The Kam XL is manufactured in the U.S.A.

without the written permission of the copyright owner. KAM XL, Pacterm, K-Net, and G-Tor are registered trademarks of Kantronics Co., Inc.

KPC-3 Plus is a registered trademark of Kantronics Co., Inc. KPC-9612 Plus is a registered trademark of Kantronics Co., Inc.

NET/ROM is a registered trademark of SOFTWARE 2000. APRS is a registered trademark of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. HyperTerminal is a registered trademark of Microsoft.

PSK31 is a design of Peter Martinez, G3PLX. Special Thanks to Peter for his consultation and direction of implementation of PSK31 in the Kam XL.

Disclaimer Notice

We have attempted to make this manual technically and typographically correct as of the date of the current printing. Production changes to the KAM XL may add changes to the manual at a later date.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

Contents of this publication or the firmware within the KAM XL may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome, see our Contact Us information.

Printed in the United States of America.

Kantronics Warranty Registration

Please take the time to (print this page) fill out the warranty registration form and mail it to Kantronics, including a copy of your sales receipt, to register your purchase. Refer to the warranty policy in this manual for further information.

Mail form and sales receipt to:

Kantronics 14830 W 117th Street Olathe, KS 66062

Warranty Registration

Last Name: First Name: Call Sign: . Mailing Address: City: State: Zip/Postal Code: Country: Telephone: E-Mail: Product: KAM XL Serial #: Date of Purchase: Dealer:

IMPORTANT

READ THIS PAGE BEFORE INSTALLING THIS KANTRONICS PRODUCT

This product contains SOFTWARE on Programmable Memory (ROM) and/or diskette, which is protected by both United States copyright law and international treaty provisions.

If you install or use this product, you will be deemed to be bound by the terms of the SOFTWARE license shown below. If you do not wish to be bound by such license, return the (unused) complete product package to your supplier for refund. The supplier may deduct restocking/re-packaging costs.

License Agreement

1. License. In consideration of payment of the License Fee, which is included in the price of the product, the Licensee

(you) is granted by the Licensor (Kantronics Company, Inc. - Kantronics) a non-exclusive right to use the SOFTWARE and associated documentation. No ownership rights to the SOFTWARE or its Documentation are transferred from Kantronics to you.

2. Term. This License Agreement is effective until terminated. You may terminate this Agreement by destroying the

PROM or diskette or CD and documentation. You may not rent or lease the SOFTWARE, but you may transfer the SOFTWARE and accompanying written materials on a permanent basis provided you retain no copies and the recipient agrees to the terms of this Agreement. Kantronics may terminate this Agreement without notice if you violate any terms or conditions of the Agreement. In the event of termination of the Agreement, provisions relating to

Kantronics’ disclaimers of warranties, limitation of liability, remedies, or damages and Kantronics’ proprietary rights

shall survive.

3. Object Code. The SOFTWARE is delivered in object code only. You shall not reverse compile or otherwise reverse

engineer the SOFTWARE.

4. Limited Warranty. This product is covered by the standard Kantronics Limited Warranty, which is enclosed.

5. General. This License Agreement constitutes the complete Agreement between you and Kantronics.

The SOFTWARE and/or Documentation may not be exported or re-exported in violation of any export laws or regulations of the United States of America or any other applicable jurisdiction.

This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of the State of Kansas, United States of America. Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government of the United States is subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph

(c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer SOFTWARE clause of DFARS 252.227-7013. Kantronics may in its sole discretion, provide you with upgrades of the SOFTWARE and/or Documentation if you have

provided Kantronics your completed Warranty registration with a copy of your receipt showing the amount you paid. LICENSEE ACKNOWLEDGES HAVING READ AND UNDERSTOOD THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES TO BE

BOUND BY ITS TERMS. LICENSEE FURTHER AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN LICENSEE AND LICENSOR AND SUPERSEDES ANY PROPOSAL OR PRIOR AGREEMENT, ORAL OR WRITTEN, AND ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT.

Any questions concerning this Agreement or any other matter relating to Kantronics, Kantronics products, or business practices, may be sent to us by any of the means on our contact information page.

LIMITED WARRANTY

KANTRONICS CO., INC.

LIMITED WARRANTY

Effective January 1, 1997

To receive notice of future updates, new product information and prompt warranty service, please fill in the Kantronics Warranty Registration form COMPLETELY and return it along with a copy of proof of purchase (to establish purchase date) by any means to us (see our Contact Us page).Warranty Registration form and proof of purchase may be e-mailed to sales@kantronics.com.

NOTE: Return of the Warranty Registration form and proof of purchase is a pre-condition to warranty coverage.

1. WARRANTY. Kantronics warrants to the first consumer purchaser (“you”), for the Applicable

Warranty Period (as described below), that the Applicable Product (as described below) will be free from defects in material and workmanship.

2. REMEDY. Kantronics agrees that, for any Applicable Product found by Kantronics to be in

violation of the warranty of Section 1 hereof within the Applicable Warranty Period, it will, at its option, repair or replace the defective Applicable Product at no charge to you, excluding in-bound shipping charges.

3. EXCLUSIVE REMEDY. Repair or replacement of the Applicable Product, as provided herein, is

the sole remedy available to you against Kantronics, and in no event will Kantronics be responsible for any other liability or damages or for incidental, special, or consequential damages, regardless of whether purported liability is predicated upon negligence, strict tort, contract, or other products liability theory and whether or not Kantronics is warned about the possibility of such liability or damages. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF

INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

4. DISCLAIMER. This Limited Warranty is in lieu of all other warranties expressed or implied and

no representative or person is authorized to assume for Kantronics any other liability in connection with the sale of its products. KANTRONICS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY AND IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE FOR ANY APPLICABLE PRODUCT. IF, HOWEVER, YOU ARE A CONSUMER WITHIN THE MEANING OF 15 U.S.C. 2301(3), THE ABOVE DISCLAIMER OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES IS EFFECTIVE ONLY FOR PERIODS OUTSIDE THE APPLICABLE WARRANTY PERIOD. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG

AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

5. APPLICABLE PRODUCTS AND PERIODS. Kantronics products are of two types - (1)

hardware units and (2) firmware and software for operation of these units, whether incorporated into the units themselves or separate from the units as adjuncts or accessories to the units. Hardware units and the media containing firmware, software and documentation are sold to the consumer purchaser and become property of the purchaser. Firmware and software are licensed for use by the consumer purchaser in return for a fee included in the purchase price of the units and do not become the property of the consumer. (See separate License Agreement provided with these products). The

products to which the warranty of Section 1 hereof applies (herein “Applicable Products”) and the periods during which the warranty shall apply to such products (herein, “Applicable Warranty Period”) are as follows:

Applicable Products:

UNITS:

KAM XL, KPC-3 Plus, KPC-9612 Plus, MT1200, MT1200G Applicable Warranty Period: One (1) year from date of purchase.

MEDIA:

EPROMS, CDs, manuals (however bound), specification and other supplemental pages or any other media on which firmware, software or documentation are supplied

Applicable Warranty Period: Thirty (30) days from date of purchase.

6. EXCLUSIONS. This Limited Warranty does not apply to the cosmetic appearance of the

Applicable Product; to broken or cracked cabinets; to any accessory not supplied by Kantronics which is used with the Applicable Product; to any product that has been subject to misuse abuse or overvoltage; to any product that has been modified by non-Kantronics personnel unless specifically authorized in writing by Kantronics; or to any product damaged or impaired by shipping (whether or not caused by poor packaging), neglect, accident, wiring not installed by Kantronics, improper parameter settings which are cleared by performing a hard reset, or use in violation of instructions furnished by Kantronics or of generally accepted industry practice. Kantronics does not warrant that the functions contained in any software will meet your requirements or achieve your intended results; or that operation of any software will be uninterrupted or error-free or without effect upon other software used with it. Responsibility for the selection of the hardware and software program to

achieve your intended results rests with you.

7. REMEDY PROCEDURE. Should you need to make a warranty claim, first contact the dealer

from whom you purchased the product. If the dealer is unable to assist you, contact us prior to returning an Applicable Product to receive a Return Authorization Number. (As a practical matter, problems can often be solved in such a manner without the product having to be returned to Kantronics for repair or replacement.)

Return of any Applicable Product for the enforcement of rights under this Limited Warranty shall be at your expense. Any product returned for warranty service, which Kantronics determines to be without defect or not covered by this Limited Warranty shall be subject to the minimum charge for labor and the product will be returned to you at your sole expense. Please note, no warranty service will be provided until Kantronics has been furnished with your Warranty Registration card and copy of proof of purchase establishing purchase date.

8. NON-ASSIGNMENT. This Limited Warranty is not assignable by you. Any attempt to assign or

transfer any of the rights, duties, or obligations hereof is void.

9. OTHER RIGHTS. This Limited Warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have

other rights, which vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Return/Repair Procedures

Important: Our repair statistics show that over 70 percent of the units returned for service do not, in fact, require any service. Therefore, we advise you to please double-check the following list of common, user-solvable, sources of difficulty before contacting Kantronics about returning your unit for service.

Check-List for Possible Problems

Should you encounter difficulty in getting your equipment to “talk” to your computer, please perform at least the

following limited checks before calling or writing: Carefully check your wiring connections to the 232 port. If you purchased third-party cables, double-check to be sure that they conform to the Kantronics’ wiring

instructions in this manual. Verify your terminal baud.

It may be useful to perform a “Hard Reset”. (See Hard Reset section.) If service or repairs still appear necessary

after you have checked the items listed above, it may be wise to call, fax, e-mail or write Kantronics to determine if the problem can be solved without returning the unit.

Return Procedures

When calling, report the product name and ask for the Service Department. Please have the following information available:

 The unit name and serial number (the serial number is found on the bottom of the unit).  The firmware version number (the version number is displayed when you give the Version command).

If possible, you should have the unit and your computer available to perform troubleshooting operations when you call.

The Service Department telephone hours are 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday. If you call outside these hours, the phone will just ring. The service department telephone is not connected to the main switchboard and the switchboard receptionist cannot transfer you to the service number. If lines are busy, you may wish to (and it may be faster to) contact service by fax, or e-mail. Service e-mail is checked twice per day. Before contacting us, please take the time to list out your problem fully and carefully.

When writing, faxing, or e-mailing Kantronics, include a clear description of the problem, unit name, firmware version, computer type, computer software used and if possible a list of current parameter values for your unit (as shown in a DISPLAY listing). Be sure to include a return fax number and/or e-mail address.

Returns to the factory for refund or exchange are strictly regulated. Any return for refund or exchange, must be approved by the service department.

Charges

Consult the limited warranty policy in this manual for the service provisions offered by Kantronics at no charge. This warranty is considered to be in force only when the customer has submitted his completed warranty registration within 10 days of purchase, and when the stipulations of the warranty have been met.

Violations of warranty clauses will automatically void the warranty and service or repairs will be charged to the owner.

Service outside the warranty will be charged at the cost of parts, labor, and return shipping. Units returned for service without a Return Authorization number will be subject to a minimum charge of ½ h labor plus shipping and handling.

If payment has not been previously arranged, repaired (or un-repairable) units may be returned via C.O.D. These C.O.D. charges can be avoided by including your VISA or MasterCard number with your unit to be

repaired. Shipping and repair may then be charged.

International Returns



This section applies to international returns only, not to domestic returns.

In case of unit problems, first contact the dealer from whom you purchased the product. If you must return a Kantronics product to us, please observe the steps outlined below. It will save you, the customer, and Kantronics unnecessary difficulties and expense.



All returns must be shipped to the factory.



All expenses of returning items to Kantronics must be paid by you, including any duty/entry fees, whether the return is for warranty or non-warranty repair.



Usually, the best way to return items to us is by mail. However, if you wish to use one of the courier services such as DHL, UPS Expedited, Federal Express, etc., be sure to use DOOR-TO-DOOR service. If you use one of these services, a commercial invoice may be required. Please check with your carrier before shipping.



Include in the description of the items on the paperwork (whether postal or courier) the words:

“U.S. GOODS RETURNED FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT.”

Step 1. An additional description of “Amateur radio peripheral equipment”, or “Data communications equipment”,

would be helpful. It would also be helpful (but not required) to include the code number 9801.00.1035 which

tells U.S. Customs agents that the package contains “U.S. goods returned without improvement/enhancement”. However, if the words “U.S. goods returned for repair/replacement” are on the

paperwork, the number is not really necessary.

 Provide a value for customs purposes. This is usually the value of the item(s) in their current condition. A $0

value is not acceptable for U.S. Customs.

 Inside the package, with the item(s), include

 a fax number and/or e-mail address (if available) in case we need to contact you  a correct and full address for return  method of payment to be used for any charges (if MasterCard or VISA, include expiration date)  a brief description of the problem  a reference to any conversations with the technical/sales staff about the problem  and the Return Authorization number assigned

 For warranty repairs, we will pay the shipping charges to return the item(s) to you via air parcel post. If you wish

return by courier service, include your account number. To be eligible for repair under warranty, we must have a record that you sent your Warranty Registration and proof of purchase to Kantronics, and the item(s) must still be within the warranty period at the time the return is authorized.

 For non-warranty repairs, you must pay the return shipping charges.

Radio Frequency Interference Statement

Note 1: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.

However, there is no guarantee that the interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.  Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.  Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is

connected.

 Consult the dealer or an experienced Radio/TV technician for help.

The user is cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. The user is also cautioned that any peripheral device installed with this equipment must be connected with a highquality shielded cable to insure compliance with FCC limits.

Note 2: The shield of the cable, whether foil, braid, braid over foil, or double braid, must be properly terminated (connected) 360 to the connector. This is usually accomplished by the use of a metal or metalized plastic back shell, but may be implemented by direct contact, including soldering, with metal portion of connector. Experience has indicated that cable assemblies (with connectors) advertised as “shielded” are not necessarily terminated properly, if terminated at all. Check cable construction to be sure.

RFI Suppression

In moving to the world of digital communications via computers, a new dimension of RFI may be encountered. In spite of the equipment manufacturers’ diligence, each new piece of electronic equipment will react differently in each separate environment. Every amateur station will have its own unique layout, equipment variation, and antenna installations. Experience has shown that these differences are related to the total RF environment, and may be causative factors in RFI induced problems. The suggestions given here may assist in resolving RFI problems:

 Use shielded cable for all connections between equipment. See note 2 above  Make all interconnecting cables as short as practical

 Install RF suppression Toriod or Ferrite cores on the connecting cables between the equipment.

 A balance should be maintained between cable length and equipment proximity. At times simply

routing interface cables away from the video monitor or other devices, will solve a “screen hash” or electrical noise problem

 Feed-lines to antennas should be kept away from equipment control lines and/or interconnecting

cables. If it is necessary for such lines to cross each other, they should do so at 90 angles

 Ground leads should be as short as possible and go to an EARTH GROUND

FCC Declaration of Conformity:

NOTE: This equipment, Kantronics’ KAM XL, has been tested and found to comply with the essential emission and immunity requirements of the EMC Directive FCC Title 47, Part 15, Subpart B. The test results are on file at the corporate offices of Kantronics.

Type of Equipment: Information Technology Equipment Class of Equipment: Class B

CE Marking Considerations

The following cautions pertain to CE Marking of this product:

 All cables connecting to DC IN, PORT 2 (VHF), PORT 1 (HF), AUX, and COMPUTER must be

 3 m in length

 The cable connecting to the TELEMETRY port may be  3 m in length  The nominal 12-V dc power must be supplied from a CE marked or third party approved power

brick (wall wart) or ac to dc power supply. If a homemade power supply is used the components making up the supply must meet IEC/EN standards for such components

 All cables, except for the DC IN port, must be shielded with the shield properly terminated 360 to

the connector. See note 2 in the RF Interference section

Introduction

The Kantronics KAM XL is a dual-port multi-mode controller for wireless (RF) digital communication, with connectors for GPS and other data functions, a telemetry connector for remote sensing and control, and 2 radio port connectors.

The KAM XL advances the state of the art beyond the pioneering Kantronics' KAM, KAM Plus, and KAM XL products in a number of ways, including increased processing power, larger amount of RAM, more available operating modes, and DSP modems.

KAM XL features:

 Commonly used HF modes, such as CW, RTTY, ASCII, AMTOR, PACTOR, G-TOR, PSK31,

300 baud packet, and receive WEFAX

 300, 1200, or 9600 baud packet with a VHF or UHF transceiver  Capture and beacon of information from a GPS receiver, weather station, or other similar type

devices with NMEA or compatible data output format

 As a DIGIPEATER, a packet repeater, can re-transmit packets from other stations, and can be

configured as an advanced APRS digipeater station

 Operation as a network node (compatible with NET-ROM or THE-NET) using the Kantronics K-

NET node

 Gathering of telemetry data from multi-channel analog inputs and beaconing packets containing

that data

Packet communication is described briefly in this chapter and covered in detail in the chapter on packet modes of operation. Commands for packet mode are documented in the Commands chapter.

GPS compatibility:

A GPS (or other) data-reporting device with NMEA 0183 (or compatible) data output format can be connected to collect and beacon information reports at specific intervals, using the packet mode. A storage buffer can also be configured to store the reports internally, and be accessed through the PBBS.

APRS digipeater:

APRS UI digipeater functions are included, with advanced features such as UIDWAIT, UIFLOOD, and UITRACE.

Large PBBS:

An extensive set of commands for configuring and controlling the mailbox is included. Its default size is about 480 k, but can be set to any smaller size or even disabled if memory is needed for other functions, or set to a larger size if memory is available. It includes advanced features such as message forwarding to a full-service BBS or other mailbox.

E-mail:

With special purpose computer software, commercial or amateur e-mail messages can be relayed via radio telex (AMTOR) , PACTOR, G-TOR, or PACKET, to another station for transfer to the Internet.

Control and Sensing:

A telemetry port is available for sensing voltages (0 to +5V). Reports of samples of these inputs are available on command, or can be transmitted in a beacon-type packet at specified intervals.

Control outputs are available, and are switched on or off by command.

Remote access:

The KAM XL can be accessed and controlled from a remote location via packet mode, with password control. Most commands and parameters can be sent from a remote station connected in this way. Control outputs can be switched, and telemetry sensing operations can also be done remotely.

Other operations:

Reception of HF WEFAX signals, with 2, 4, or 16, gray levels possible (special computer software required).

Reception and display of 1200 baud EMWIN signals (special computer software required for full decoding of the EMWIN data stream).

Standard TERMINAL, HOST, and KISS (and NET-ROM), serial port interface modes.

Software control:

The KAM XL can be controlled with terminal communication programs, including Kantronics' DOSbased Pacterm 2.0 (which is included), terminal programs included with Windows 3.1 (TERMINAL) and Windows 95/98/NT/ME/XP (HYPERTERM), and programs from 3rd parties (written specifically for Kantronics TNCs).

Configurations:

The KAM XL is easy and flexible to configure to operate in selected modes, with a wide range of external devices, including remote TNCs, GPS devices, weather stations, external modems, and remote sensing and control devices. Configuration is done by command entry from a terminal program, external port selection, and internal jumper settings.

The internal operating program (BIOS or firmware) in the KAM XL is stored in FLASH ROM. Update or Upgrade firmware can be loaded from a file, with a simple ASCII file transfer from a terminal program.

Full details of the KAM XL’s internal jumpers, and other technical specifications are located later in the Appendix sections of this manual. Additional documentation and supporting material is available at the Kantronics website (www.kantronics.com).

Installation

This chapter covers the hardware side of setting up a packet radio station.

The KAM XL is a multi-port device. Radio Port 1 is for low speed packet and HF non-packet modes, and Port 2 is a packet port, with each port connected to different transceivers. Unless otherwise noted, the steps involved for installing the two radio-to-transceiver connections are the same.

The major steps involved in installing (i.e., connecting the parts) a packet radio station are as follows:

 Connect the KAM XL to a power source and confirm that the unit powers on when it should  Connect the "Computer" port of the KAM XL to a serial port on a computer  Install and/or configure terminal communication software in the computer to access the serial port

on the computer

 Connect "Radio" port 1 on your KAM XL to a transceiver and adjust the volume of the transceiver,

so the KAM XL can receive/transmit packet signals from/to the transceiver

After learning how to connect radio port 1 to a transceiver, the same steps can be used to connect radio port 2 to another transceiver.

Package Contents

Verify that the items listed below have been included:

 The KAM XL unit  Parts to use in assembling cables (2 male DSUB-9 connectors, 2 metalized back shells for the

DSUB-9 connectors, and two 3-foot [0.91 m] pieces of 5-conductor shielded cable)

 2.1 mm power connector  CD which will include:

KAM XL Manual PACTERM 2.0 – DOS based PC terminal program (copyright Kantronics, Inc) BIOS Wizard for Kantronics KAM XL flash download Manuals for other Kantronics units

Note: The Kantronics supplied PACTERM 2.0 program was originally written for DOS operating systems. Windows operating systems may or may allow Pacterm to properly access the computers serial ports. You may need to locate a terminal program designed for your operating system.

Additional Parts Required for a Multi-Mode Radio Station

In addition to the KAM XL unit, the following parts are needed to set up a multi-mode digital communications radio station:

 HF and/or VHF transceivers, with microphone (Mic) jack and external speaker or accessory jack

connectors

 Connectors (plugs) to mate with the Mic jack and external speaker jack or accessory jack.  A computer and terminal program (or other RS232 terminal device)  An RS232 serial cable, used to connect the KAM XL to a computer  A 12 V dc power supply or power adapter.

Front panel of the KAM XL

The KAM XL has several LED indicators, and a power switch.

A row of closely spaced green LEDs, located in the upper left part of the panel, is the tuning indicator “BARGRAPH”. It will indicate when the receiver is tuned properly, for decoding a received signal.

Starting at the left, the lower row of LED functions are:

PORT 1 Transmit (RED), PORT 1 Receive (GREEN), Lock/Connect (tri-color), Valid/STA (GREEN), Speed (tri-color), Mail (YELLOW), PORT 2 Transmit (RED), PORT 2 Receive (GREEN), Connect (GREEN), STA (GREEN), POWER (GREEN).

The Power switch is located near the right end of the front panel.

Rear panel of the KAM XL

The KAM XL rear panel has six connectors, which are:

Power jack (2.1 mm): for external power supplied from a dc power source (+9 to +18 V dc), center positive.

Radio Port 2 (DSUB-9 female): accepts the cable from a radio, for 1200-baud packet operation.

Radio Port 1 (DSUB-9 female): accepts the cable from a radio, for HF or packet operation.

Telemetry (DB-15 female): an analog input port for connection to external sensing devices, which

provide voltages (from 0 to +5 V). Two control line outputs are also available on this port.

AUX (DSUB-9 male): an RS232 DTE-type port, for data input from a GPS receiver, weather station, (or similar device), or for RS232 communication to another device.

COMPUTER (DSUB-9 female): RS232 (DCE) for connection to a computer serial port, for control of and communication with the KAM XL.

CONNECTING THE KAM XL TO A POWER SOURCE

A suitable power supply, such as a regulated dc power supply, an ac to dc power adapter, or a battery, should provide +9 to +18 V dc at 100 mA (or more).

The power jack accepts a coaxial type plug, with a 2.1-mm center. The center of the plug is the positive power connection.

Caution:

Exceeding the maximum input voltage or applying power with reversed polarity, can cause problems operating the KAM XL or may cause damage to the unit or the power supply. When using a fused power lead, do not use a fuse larger than 500 mA.

CONNECTING THE KAM XL TO A COMPUTER

To operate the KAM XL, the following is required:

A terminal device, or computer with an RS232 (or compatible) serial port that is available (not in use by any other device).

A terminal communication program that will load and run in the computer’s operating system, and can

be configured to communicate through a serial port on that computer.

Note: If unsure about how to determine what serial (COM) ports the computer has, or how to make a serial port available, consult the computer documentation and/or computer dealer.

The KAM XL does not require any specific computer program, and many different communicationor terminal programs will work.

A simple (DOS) terminal program called PACTERM is available from the Kantronics web pages. It is best used in DOS-only (by exiting windows to DOS), and can be used with standard COM-1 or COM2 serial ports.

Users of computers with Windows operating systems have other alternatives, such as TERMINAL in Windows 3.1, HYPERTERM in Windows 95/98/Me, and Windows NT/2000/XP systems.

The Computer

Any computer that has an available (not used by any other device) RS232 serial port, and a terminal program that can access that serial port, can be used.

Technical note: make sure the serial cable is wired as shown in the installation section below. Standard type serial cables, such as those used to connect an external telephone modem to the computer serial port, are correctly wired. If necessary, a cable can be assembled (wired as indicated using shielded cable).

The Serial Port of the Computer

On current models of PC-type computers, the serial port is usually a MALE DB style connector, with 9 or 25 pins. A FEMALE connector is needed on the computer-end of the serial cable, to connect

to the computer's serial port.

To use the KAM XL with a non-PC type of computer, use a serial communication program and a serial modem cable normally used to connect a “HAYES” type high-speed telephone modem, to that computer.

If the computer does not have an RS232 serial port available (or does not have one installed) but does have USB ports, adapter devices can be found that will add an RS232 port through the USB connection. However, this requires Windows 95 OSR2 with USB support, or a newer Windows

operating system, Macintosh (MAC) systems.

When requesting help from computer dealers or others, who may not be familiar with a packet radio modem, refer to your KAM XL as an "external modem device," not as a "TNC," a less familiar term.

The Serial Cable

Use a standard RS232C serial cable, the same cable that would be used to connect an external-type telephone modem to the computer serial port, or make a cable with the same wiring to connect the KAM XL to a serial (COM) port on the computer.

When purchasing a cable, you should specify that:  The serial cable (RS232C) should be shielded, with at least 5 wires connected and  3 m in length.

See note 2 in the RF Interference section concerning shielded cable assemblies.

 The modem end of the cable should have a male DSUB-9 connector (to connect to the KAM XL)

and the computer end of the cable should be a female DSUB-9 or DSUB-25 connector (depending upon whether the computer’s serial (COM) port has a male DSUB-9 or DSUB-25 connector).

25 pin to 9 pin adapters are also commonly available, if a cable with the proper ends is not found.

When making a serial cable, these parts are needed:

 A male DSUB-9 connector assembly (connector plug and metal or metalized plastic shell)  A length of shielded cable ( 3 m) containing at least five wires. See note 2 in the RF Interference

section concerning shielded cable assemblies.

 Either a female DSUB-9 or DSUB-25 connector. Assembly depends on the connector on your

computer's serial (COM) port

Serial Cable wiring:

If the computer serial port has a 9-pin connector, make these pin-to-pin connections:

Computer end

Modem end

Function

1 < 1

DCD

2 < 2

RXD

3 > 3

TXD

4 > 4

DTR

6 < 6

DSR

7 > 7

RTS

8 < 8

CTS

5 5

SG (signal ground)

Shield

If the computer serial port has a 25-pin connector, make these pin-to-pin connections:

Computer end

Modem end

Function

2 > 3

TXD

3 < 2

RXD

4 > 7

RTS

5 < 8

CTS

6 < 6

DSR

7 5

SG (signal ground)

8 < 1

DCD

DTR

Shield

Note: The shield must be properly terminated 360 to the connector. See note 2 in the RF Interference section concerning shielded cable assemblies.

 TXD is data from the computer to the modem  RXD is data from the modem to the computer  RTS is a flow control signal from computer to modem  CTS is a flow control signal from modem to computer  DSR is a control signal from modem to computer  DCD is a control signal from modem to computer  DTR is a control signal from computer to modem  SG is signal ground

The purposes of the pins (by name)

 FG - FRAME GROUND: This pin is attached to the chassis of the equipment as a safety ground  TXD - TRANSMIT DATA: This line carries data output from the computer, to the KAM XL  RXD - RECEIVE DATA: This line carries data input to the computer, from the KAM XL

 RTS - REQUEST TO SEND: This hardware flow control line is controlled by the terminal

program in the computer, and is used to signal when it can or can not accept serial data from the KAM XL

 CTS - CLEAR TO SEND: This hardware flow control line is controlled by the KAM XL, to signal

when it can or can not accept serial data from the computer

 DSR - DATA SET READY: This line is set high by the KAM XL to indicate that it is powered

 DCD - DATA CARRIER DETECT: the KAM XL to signal the status of the current I/O stream to

the computer uses this line. If a connection to another packet station exists on the current I/O stream, this line will be active (positive voltage). If the current I/O stream is not connected (to another station), the line will be inactive (negative)

 DTR - DATA TERMINAL READY: Although interconnected via a buffer IC to the processor,

this line is currently ignored

Some terminal programs use or can be configured to use software flow control, and only three of the connections are used, TXD, RXD, and SG (signal ground). However, all terminal programs, whether using software flow control (using XON and XOFF) or hardware flow control (using RTS and CTS lines in the cable), should work with the five wire connection in the cable as described above.

The computer or terminal is usually referred to as DTE (data terminal equipment). At this end of a serial cable, TXD and RTS are output lines, and RXD and CTS are input lines.

The modem is referred to as DCE (data communication equipment). At this end of the serial cable, TXD and RTS are input lines, RXD and CTS are output lines.

For data to flow from one device to another (DTE to DCE), output lines of one device are connected to input lines on the other and vise-versa.

Installing the RS232 Cable

With an appropriate serial cable, connect as follows:

Step 1. Make sure that both the computer and KAM XL are powered OFF.

Step 2. Plug the male DSUB-9 end of the serial cable into the "Computer" port of the KAM XL.

Step 3. Plug the female DSUB-9 or DSUB-25 connector end of the serial cable into a serial port on the computer. The connectors can then be locked in place with their mounting screws.

Caution: Do not connect the serial cable from the KAM-XL to the computer’s parallel port. A parallel port (i.e., printer, or LPT port) usually has female DSUB-25 connectors. The KAM XL cannot communicate through a parallel port.

Once the cables have been connected and secured, the equipment can be powered back on.

To verify that the serial cable is correctly wired and connected, use a terminal program or other communication software in the computer, and configure it to communicate through the appropriate serial port to establish communication with the KAM XL.

The Terminal Program

The serial port configuration in the terminal program should be set for 8 data bits, no parity, and one stop bit. Terminal interface baud rates supported by the KAM XL are 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200 and 38400. In general, use the fastest baud rate that the terminal program, the computer serial port, and KAM XL will support. The terminal program should be set for "full-duplex" communication.

For operation with terminal programs using “half-duplex” communication, set the TNC command called ECHO to OFF.

Some current model PC-type computers still come with high-speed serial ports already installed. In older type computers, a serial port card with high-speed buffered UARTS should be installed to use baud rates above 9600 baud. Serial port cards with high-speed buffered UARTS are available through many parts suppliers and will improve the reliability of high-speed communications. Request a serial port card with "high-speed buffered UARTS" (identified as 16550, or equivalent), when ordering from a supplier.

If the computer did not come with an RS232 serial port installed, one must be added to be able connect to the KAM XL. There are many makers of accessory serial port adapter devices to plug into a USB jack. When acquiring one of these adapters, make sure it is designed to work with the operating system in your computer, with drivers from the operating system supplier, or with drivers from the device maker. Once installed and operational in the computer, the serial port device is addressed by the operating system as a standard RS232 serial port number.

CONNECTING THE KAM XL TO TRANSCEIVERS

To communicate with other stations, the radio ports of the KAM XL must be connected to a HF or VHF radio (or both), depending on the type of communication desired. Radio Port 1 is for HF packet and the other non-packet modes, and is normally connected to a HF SSB transceiver. Port 2 is for Packet only mode, and is normally used with a FM transceiver (VHF, UHF, or HF 10 meter).

Parts for connecting the Transceiver

For the construction of a cable assembly from the KAM XL to a radio, 2 cable kits are included, containing a male DSUB-9 connector plug and metalized plastic shell, and a length ( 0.91 m) of shielded multi-conductor cable.

Connectors for the radio end of the cable are not included with the KAM XL.You will need to get the proper connector to match the jack on the radio, to which you will connect the completed cable from the KAM XL.

KAM XL Radio Port 1:

 Will typically be connected to a HF (SSB, CW, or FM) transceiver, but could be used with a VHF

FM transceiver.

 In a cable between Port 1 and a radio, at least four pins must be connected; transmit audio, receive

audio, PTT, and ground.

 Transmit audio output should be connected to the microphone input (or transmit data input) on the

microphone jack of the radio.

 Receive audio input should be connected to the external speaker output (or receive data output)

from the radio.

 PTT should be connected to the transmitter keying line on the microphone jack.  Ground should be connected to a chassis ground of the radio.  If CW will be transmitted from the KAM XL, its CW key output line (pin 4) should be connected

to the CW key input on the radio (the same connection where a hand operated key would be connected.)

 A shielded cable must be used with the shield properly terminated 360 to the connector.

Instructions for making a cable assembly using the supplied foil shielded cable and metalized plastic back shell follow:

1. Strip cable outer covering back enough to expose enough metalized plastic foil. Do not cut or

rip foil.

2. Carefully loosen the drain wire and foil from around the insulated wires.

3. You will need to build up the diameter of the cable, where it enters the back shell, with any

type of tape or sleeve, so that when the metalized plastic shell halves are screwed together they will hold the cable as strain relief and press against the metal foil.

4. Discard the metal strain relief pieces—they are of no use.

5. Connect wires as needed to terminals of connector.

6. Carefully fold the metalized foil back over the cable and Z-fold it so the metal side of the foil

is exposed to the connector back shell at the entrance area. Spread the foil over the cable so you get as much coverage as possible (you will not get 360 coverage, but do the best you can).

7. Place the drain wire in the gap where you can not get foil coverage.

8. Now place the metalized plastic shell halves together over the connector and cable. When you

screw the two halves together there should be enough compression to hold the cable in place and there should be solid contact between the metal side of the foil and the metalized back shell.

KAM XL Radio Port 2:

 Will usually be connected to a VHF or UHF FM transceiver.  In a cable from Port 2 to a VHF radio, the same connections apply as from Port 1; transmit audio,

receive audio, PTT, and ground. Note that CW output is only available on port 1.

 A shielded cable must be used with the shield properly terminated 360 to the connector.

See the instructions for making the cable assembly under Port 1.

Detailed descriptions of the radio ports on the KAM XL are located in the appendix sections.

The Transceiver(s)

There are hundreds of models of FM transceivers, with many different wiring configurations and connections. Refer to the documentation for the transceiver to determine how it can be connected to other devices, or TNCs such as the KAM XL.

Specifically, determine what type of microphone connector or data plug to use, and which pins should be connected in a cable between the radio and other devices.

AUX PORT (RS232 – DTE)

The AUX port is an RS232 serial port, for connection from the KAM XL to other devices. It is configured as a DTE port, the same as a computers serial port.

It can be used for input from a GPS device, weather station, for interconnection to another TNC communicating in NET/ROM mode in a node stack, or for communicating with other devices with RS232 serial ports.

If the command GPSPORT is set to a baud rate greater than zero, the AUX port acts as input for NMEA type data from a GPS receiver, or other device.

If the command NBAUD is set to a baud rate greater than zero, the AUX port is used to interconnect with other TNCs in NET/ROM mode, at the specified baud rate.

CONNECTING A GPS DEVICE

To capture data from a GPS device, connect its DATA output to the AUX port on the back of the KAM XL.

If the GPS receiver has a cable that can be connected to a computer serial port to report its position data, the same serial cable can be connected directly to the AUX serial port of the KAM XL, without changes.

Since cabling may vary from one GPS vendor to another, that cable is not supplied with the KAM XL.

To make a cable for connecting a GPS device to the KAM XL, at least 2 connections are required, GPS data output and signal ground.

Connect GPS data output to pin 2 on the KAM XL AUX connector. Connect GPS data ground to pin 5 on the KAM XL AUX connector.

The GPS data input to the AUX port on the KAM XL is enabled with its GPSPORT command.

Interface Communication modes of the KAM XL

Terminal Mode

Terminal mode is the text-based command interface that allows operation of and communication with the KAM XL from a terminal program or “dumb” terminal unit. In this mode, only one communication mode can be used at any time, which could be Packet mode on either or both radio ports or one of the non-packet HF modes instead.

However, when a non-packet mode is being used on the HF port, the VHF port can still be accessed by other stations to use any of the active functions, such as the APRS digipeater, GPS data beacon, PBBS, KA-Node, or K-Net node.

Kantronics Host Mode

Host mode provides a way of having more control of KAM XL, from a program that makes operation easier and with more functionality than when using a simple terminal program. This allows sending commands and receiving command responses, communicating over the radio ports in two modes at once (connected and monitored 1200 baud packets and a non-packet HF mode.)

Communication between a program and the KAM XL in HOST mode uses frames of data. Each data frame has a header which indicates the frame type (command, data, etc.), the radio port that data is intended for or from, and sent or received data. The KAM XL retains all of its commands and functions in Host mode.

Host mode uses Hardware flow control only, and requires that the serial cable that connects the KAM XL to the computer include the RTS and CTS lines (as well as TXD, RXD, and signal ground).

Exiting Host mode

If a Host mode program has been used to operate the KAM XL, it may leave the KAM in Host mode when it exits. If a standard terminal program is then used (set to the same interface baud rate) to communicate with the KAM XL, instead of a “sign-on” message, some characters and SØØ will be displayed. This is the Host mode current-status message.

The Host mode program should have an option to return the TNC to COMMAND or TERMINAL mode, when that program exits. If the program is set to do this, other “standard” terminal programs can then be used.

If the terminal program allows entry of high-numbered ASCII characters, a sequence of characters can be sent to exit Host mode so the terminal program can then be used. First, send a FEND (frame-end) character (ASCII code 192), then the letter q (upper or lower case is ok), and finally another FEND character. A FEND character can be entered manually, by pressing and holding the ALT key, entering 192 from the number key pad on the right side of the keyboard (or in Hyperterm under Windows, holding the ALT key and entering 0192), and then releasing the ALT key. The KAM XL will exit Host Mode, will return to TERMINAL interface mode, and will display the usual Kantronics “signon” message.

KISS Mode

Amateur packet radio communications can use the TCP/IP suite of protocols instead of AX.25 by switching to TNC to KISS interface mode and running software that supports the KISS code designed by Phil Karn (see references at end of this section). The KISS protocol specifies the communication between a TNC and a host (e.g., computer).

KISS Mode allows the TNC to act as a modem and packet assembler/disassembler (PAD). In KISS Mode, data processing is shifted from the TNC to a computer running special software supporting the KISS code designed by Phil Karn. Very few of the KAM XL’s commands (and none of its other functions), are available when it is in KISS mode. The operating functions that are available depend solely on the computer program used.

KISS code supports higher-level protocols (i.e. TCP/IP) for sharing computer resources in a network fashion. Examples of TCP/IP programs are NET, NOS, and JNOS. Also, some networking software (G8BPQ) requires the KISS Mode of operation.

Technical Note: In the KISS Mode, the TNC simply passes all received data to the computer, and the computer program is responsible for all processing of that data, including decisions concerning routing, digipeating, and other control decisions.

The TNC converts the packets of synchronous data being received from the radio link into packets of asynchronous data to be passed to the computer over the serial port, and converts the packets of asynchronous data from the computer into the synchronous format suitable for radio transmission. The TNC retains the responsibility of determining proper timing for channel access.

To place the KAM XL in KISS Mode, at the command prompt (cmd:), type INTFACE KISS and press return. Then, send a RESET command, or cycle power (off/on) to the KAM.

The KAM XL will remain in KISS interface mode, until it receives the KISS exit code, or it has been hard reset.

Exiting KISS mode

The TCP/IP program should include the command to EXIT KISS mode in the TNC. See that programs documentation for the proper command.

To enter the EXIT KISS command manually (from a regular terminal program), send a three character sequence which includes a FEND (frame-end) character (ASCII code 192), FF (ASCII code 255), then another FEND character. A FEND character can be entered manually, by pressing and holding the ALT key, entering 192 from the number key pad on the right side of the keyboard, and then releasing the ALT key. The ASCII code 255 can be entered by pressing and holding the ALT key, entering 255 from the number key pad on the right side of the keyboard, and then releasing the ALT key.

The KAM XL will exit KISS Mode, will return to TERMINAL interface mode, and will display the usual Kantronics “sign-on” message.

Otherwise, perform a HARD RESET. This will reset all commands to their factory default settings, and allow the KAM XL to be re-initialized as a new unit.

References on KISS Mode

Karn, P.: "TCP/IP: A Proposal for Amateur Packet Radio Levels 3 and 4", pp. 4.62-4.68 ARRL Amateur Radio Computer Networking Conferences 1-4. Newington, CT: ARRL, 1985.

Chepponis, M. and Karn, P.: "The KISS TNC: A Simple Host-to-TNC Communications Protocol", pp. 38-42, 6th Computer Networking Conference, Newington, CT: ARRL, 1987.

XKISS (Extended KISS) Mode

The KAM XL also supports the G8BPQ multi-drop KISS Mode, called extended KISS (XKISS). With this mode, the TNC can be connected to a G8BPQ node along with other TNCs on the same serial port, to provide multiple radio ports to the node. Otherwise, XKISS works the same as KISS. For information on this mode of operation, see the documentation for the XKISS software used.

COMMUNICATION MODES IN THE KAM XL

The KAM XL is a multi-mode controller and/or Terminal Node Controller (TNC)

Packet Mode

Packet radio modems, or packet modems, are generally referred to as TNCs. This "label" or "moniker" was adopted when the Tucson Area Packet Radio Group (TAPR) developed their first "TNC-1" packet radio modem kit in the early 1980s. The TNC is the workhorse of packet radio. As a listening device it hears an audio signal from the radio, changes the data to digital form, determines if the data is a good packet and sends it to whatever device is attached, usually a computer. As a relay device it also checks the packets it receives and determines if the packets need to be resent, then does so if appropriate. As a sending device it receives digital data from the computer, packetizes the data, and converts it into audio tones, which are sent out to the radio. The set of rules that all packet TNCs follow is called the AX.25 protocol.

AX.25 Protocol for Amateur Packet Radio:

The most commonly used protocol in amateur packet radio is AX.25. The details of its inner workings can be found in a book titled "AX.25 Amateur Packet-Radio Link-Layer Protocol", which is available from the ARRL.

Connected vs. Unproto

There are two ways to send data in packet radio, connected or unproto (unconnected).

In the Connected Mode, a “connection” is established to another station. Packets are sent to that specific station, and acknowledgments are expected in return that the packets were received correctly. If an acknowledgment is not received, the TNC will re-send the data (depending on the setting of AX25L2V2, it may send a poll first). The RETRY parameter will determine how many times this is done before the connection is aborted due to bad conditions.

When acknowledgment is received, the TNC can then send more data. Therefore the Connected Mode, barring impossible conditions, assures that the other station will receive all characters correctly and in the proper order.

When the TNC sends a packet in the Unproto Mode, no acknowledgment is expected or required, and no retries are attempted. This mode is often used for calling CQ, for transmitting beacons, and for informal roundtable chats.

Monitoring and Calling CQ

When the MONITOR command is ON, packets heard from other stations can be displayed. The display of monitored packets includes “header” and “data” parts. At the beginning of the header, two callsigns are displayed separated by a ">". The first callsign is the station that transmitted the packet, and the second callsign is the destination station that the packet is intended for. Unproto packets may have any destination, but typically use CQ.

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Kantronics KAM-XL User guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual