APRStel.TXT       APRS Telephone modem access
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Document version: 8.3.5
Document dated:   5 Mar 99
Author(s):        Bob Bruninga, WB4APR <bruninga@nadn.navy.mil>
ABSTRACT
APRStel.TXT       Providing DOS users with the worldwide APRServe data
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APRStel represents an all new capability for APRSdos.  It allows modem
download of the LIVE worldwide tactical APRServe internet feed.  Due
to size limits, the data is downloaded live into about a dozen BACKUP files
that the user can display at will.  The download takes about 3.5 minutes so
many users can be supported.  New commands are:

alt-SETUP-PORTS:  Now you can re-configure APRSdos ports on-line.  Change
                  to MODEM to do a download.  You cannot have the Modem
                  and TNC open at the same time.

FILE-GET:         Causes modem to dial an APRStel server (Maryland default)
                  and download all files.

FILE-LOAD:        Load any of the new files to view activity anywhere

FILE-HANGUP:      Useful to assure that the modem hung up properly

alt-S-TNC:        This will re-init either the MODEM or TNC.  It may be
                  necessary to do this if the MODEM was off when you
                  selected alt-S-PORTS for the modem.

READ:             Any messages from APRStel to you will be on your READ
                  screen

Here are the BACKUP.BK files currently:  NWEST, NOCAL, SOCAL, ROCKIES
                                         TEXAS, NPLAINS, MIDWEST, GTLAKES
                                         NEWENG, EAST, ATLANTA, ATLANTIC
                                         FLORIDA, SOUTH, WORLD

WORLD:  The final file downloaded is the WORLD map and it shows two types
of stations.  All stations outside 1600 miles of the USA and all stations
who are using APRStel no matter where they are.  Being the last file, it
will be left on the map screen at the end of the session.  Hit the SPACE
BAR to see it.  From there FILE-LOAD any of the other areas of interest.

APRStel detects whether a station is running APRSmax or regular APRS and
scales the size of the downloaded files accordingly.  Regular APRS can
only display about 100 stations, but APRSmax can display about 250.

APRStel also sends and receives message traffic.  You will receive any
traffic for you from an area, but since it is a dump-and-go process,
there is no time to receive acks and thus, no guarantee that your
outgoing messages are delivered end-to-end.

The APRStel server is currently experimental and uses an old-fashioned
rs-232 dumb-terminal TCPIP terminal server.  It is doubltful if anyone else
anywhere still uses this kind of access, so there will probably be no
other APRStel sites.  Probably is little need either, since each user
is only logged on for 3 minutes and the cost of a cross country call is
cheaper in many areas than across town.

But since APRStel.exe simply monitors APRServe the same way it would
monitor a TNC, it can be connected locally to a TNC and it can thus
feed local users the local picture.  This may be useful to some people
to monitor their home station from work, for example, if they have the
spare phone line.

This MODEM capability is new, and I suspect there will be bugs in getting
the Handshaking right, so since long distance calls are involved, you
should always double check that APRS hung up the phone!  Hit FILE-HANGUP
to force it if needed.

de Bob