[Packet] AEA PK-88 Help

[Robert Donnell]

Hi Eric,

By way of introduction, I'm Bob, and almost 15 years ago, I started working for AEA in customer support.  A little over 4 years after that, I left, and ended up where I am now.  So I may have forgotten more about the PK-88 than I remember, but there's still some knowledge of the product tucked away in my brain.

Once you have achieved serial communications with the PK-88, you'll be able to learn a couple of things, pretty easily.  One is the date of the firmware program in the PK-88.  If you didn't see it initially, turn the TNC power off and back on - the date will be part of the sign-on banner.

If the TNC doesn't sign on and has only the power and MULT LEDs lit, or you see text in your terminal program that says "Please press an asterisk (*)" or words to that effect, do so.  It means that the TNC is in it's factory default condition, and it needs to receive an asterisk to determine the serial port baud rate, etc.  If you do find yourself with the TNC in this state, I strongly recommend that you change your serial port settings for 8-bit no-parity, prior to sending the asterisk.

With the firmware release date, I can tell you a bit more about the PK-88 that you have, generally, what features and bugs it might have.

If you enter the command "DISPLAY Z" and press <enter> the TNC will disgorge all of its settings, which is most of its commands.  But you really only need a few to get started.  The MYCALL command is used to set your callsign into the TNC.  The CONNECT command is used to initiate a connection to another station.  CONVERSE (or a common short form, "K") will take you from command mode (where what you type into the TNC is consider a command to it) into Converse mode, where what you type is sent on the air.  DISCONNECT, or "D", in short form, will cause your TNC to issue a disconnect command to a remote station you are connected to.  A very important keystroke is the "Control-C" keystroke - its main purpose is to get you out of Converse mode and into Command mode, so that you can issue a CONNECT command and so forth.
There are a bunch of other commands, but you'll use virtually all of them far fewer than those I just listed.
Also, unless you got a package deal that includes the radio and the cable to connect between the TNC and radio, you will need wiring info, or to purchase a pre-fabricated cable.  MFJ and Packetradio.com both have offerings in pre-built cables.
If you can't find a manual somewhere, I may still have one in my archive - I'd have to look.

73, Bob, KD7NM

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "kc8wzb" <kc8wzb at gmail.com>
Reply-To: A discussion list of the Packet Radio communications mode <packet at mailman.qth.net>
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 16:18:33 -0500

>Afternoon all,
>
>I'm new to the list so let me introduce myself.  My name is Eric Mynes.  My
>call sign is kc8wzb.  I've been a ham for about 3 1/2 years now and am
>interested in packet operation.  My first TNC was an AEA PK-88.  As far as I
>can tell it is a good little TNC.  The only real problem is, because I am
>new to packet operation, that I don't know the command set.  I didn't get
>the manual with the TNC when I received it.  So, if someone could help, I am
>looking for either a manual, it can be photo copied, or a website/document
>that lists the command set for the AEA PK-88.
>
>73s,
>Eric
>
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