[Xastir] Mish-mash of questions

[Andrew Errington]

On Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:04:11 Dale Seaburg wrote:
> Some of this will be slightly off-topic, but not entirely.  ;-)
>
> I am running xastir on some HP Tablet PCs, model TC1100.  Works great on
> my development Tablet PC, and on several others I have in beta testing.
> I want to also run Airmail under wine on these Tablet PC's to support
> EMCOMM for ARES work.  I have this functional on the dev PC, and it
> works well, but so far only using telnet to send/receive email.  I want
> to eventually use a VHF link for email (145.010).
>
> Also, I would like to untether the Tablet PCs from the TNC/radio, using
> either Bluetooth or WiFi.  At the moment I am leaning towards WiFi to
> give the best distance.  I've already experienced wifi out to 300-400ft
> with two bars still showing.  Now, I can get to my questions.
>
> 1.  What would be a suitable COM port redirector (or appropriate method)
> for establishing a comm link between xastir and a wifi-to-serial device
> hooked to the TNC/radio combo?

Haven't tried it, but netcat (Linux) might do what you want.  Here's a 
discussion about it: 
<http://lists.ozlabs.org/pipermail/linuxppc-embedded/2004-May/014291.html>

> 2.  In the Windows world, a COM port redirector is recommended to be the
> "wedge" on the PC side to something like Airmail.  I'm not sure of the
> handshaking in the networking "world" so xastir and Airmail will work
> together in this environment, if that is even possible.

Have you considered PSKMail instead of Airmail?
http://pskmail.wikispaces.com/home

> I'm not even sure of my own understanding of the mechanics and
> terminology involved of what I'm trying to describe.  I do know there
> are some very knowledgeable folk on this SIG who might be able to
> decipher what I'm trying to say, and offer some assistance.
>
> Assuming what I've described is feasible networking-wise, I would also
> like to use a single radio that would be able to be switched between to
> frequencies, depending on which service has need of the radio - APRS or
> Airmail.   As I see it the radio would default to 144.390 most of the
> time, until Airmail needed to be used, switching to 145.010.  Then, say,
> use the DTR (or maybe the RI) line to toggle the radio between the two
> frequencies.  I suppose the COM port redirector app could modified to
> include the freq. switching work.
>
> One of my goals is to minimize the cost of hardware, hence a single
> radio and tnc, and still be efficient and reliable, while allowing the
> user to be untethered from the vehicle which would have the tnc, radio,
> antenna.  This would give the user both situational awareness (xastir)
> and excellent EMCOMM (Winlink/Airmail) in one small, neat and clean
> package.  And, be reasonably affordable.
>
> Have I made any sense?  I hope so.  Kinda hard to describe what I think
> will work without having any practical experience using the
> wifi-to-serial and related technology.  I'm about to lay down some money
> for a wifi-to-serial device to experiment, but thought I'd ask before
> spending my hard-earned cash.  ;-)

IMHO the serial port is a red herring.  I would suggest having a small PC 
controlling the radio, situated next to or close to it, then using 
conventional networking technology to connect your various clients to the 
control PC.  The control PC is in charge of multiplexing the clients and 
sharing the radio between different applications.

Good luck.  It sounds like fun.

73,

Andrew
ZL3AME