*Installing and Setting up AGWPE* *(Using the SoundCard)* (or, to re-configure a current installation, simply delete *all* of the 'ini' files) *NOTE* If you are upgrading any version of AGWPE to the latest version as of this writing; (v2000.60) *AND*, if you continue to launch using C:\AGWPE\AGWPE.EXE -- you will still be launching the old version!!! ***You must change the shortcut icon to C:\AGWPE\AGWPAC~1.EXE in order to successfully launch v2000.60. 1. download,create directory,unzip,create a shortcut,then launch agwpe. (software is available at: http://www.elcom.gr/sv2agw/ ) (i simply made a directory (C:\AGWPE) and unzipped the files into it. -- also, if you screw up, look in this directory and simply blow-away the agwpe.ini and the port0.ini files....you may end up doing this a few times until you get it all working the way you want) 1.a now launch agwpe. all that will happen is the agwpe icon will now sit on the task bar. you will now have 2 agwpe icons, the original shortcut icon, and the 'new' taskbar icon. *Configuring AGWPE* 1.a right click on the 'new' little taskbar icon to launch the popup window. 1.b left click and select 'winsock interface' (the pop up window autmatically shuts down) 1.c right click to re-launch the popup window. 2. left click and select 'properties' 2.a select 'new port' *Now do this* *Under TNC Setup* 3. select serial port com1: (or whatever serial port you want) 3.a select 'SoundCard' 3.b select SerialPort/Modem baudrate 1200 (this is a must!) 3.c Tnc Radioport Description: 144.390Mhz 1200baud APRS *Under TNC Commands: 4. Select On-The-Air baudrate 1200baud 4.a Everything else is the default parameter 4.b click OK 4.c close the program down and then re-launch AGWPE 4.d Note: a 'new' little 'tnc' icon will now be in the far right lower corner of your screen. *if you dont have the 'new' little modem icon... something is messed up and you should delete the 'ini' files in C:\AGWPE and then reconfigure* *Tips* 1. again, if agwpe is running and happy.. you will see 2 (two) tiny 'agwpe' icons on the lower part of your screen....(in addition to--but not to be confused with the 'shortcut icon'... if you count the shortcut icon... then there are three (3) icons altogether....) (Explanation: in addition to the shortcut icon, there will be the usual little icon that sits on the task bar after you launch agwpe... and the tiny little 'modem' icom described above shows up in the lower right hand corner of your screen if, (and only if) agwpe get its way with your hardware...) (double check,,,,,, you should see *all three* icons if agwpe is up and running properly) 2. if you dont see the tiny little modem down in the far lower right, then agwpe is not running properly and it isn't going to work.... *Again, if you dont see it...here are some things to check for: 2a. check to make sure that com1 (or com2 if you have it selected in agwpe) is open and clear... 2b. check to make sure that no other program is using the sound card (or a selected comport). (i always have to shut down 'hot-sync manager' for my palm pilot on one computer if i want to run agwpe... as hot-sync manager always hogs com1.. and i also have to shut down a chat program called 'pal talk' as it boinks the sound card...) *Other Features* Printer Port Push to Talk: to make the printer port do the PTT you must first download: drivers.zip 1. unzip this file and you will find a file called agwlptsc.zip inside. 2. unzip this file and you will find agwlptsc.VXD inside. 3. copy this file to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM. 3a. make sure to select LPT1 under 'Select Serial Port' in the 'properties' of agwpe setup. 3b. make sure you have selected SerialPort/Modem baudrate 1200 (this is a must!) 4. you must reboot your computer at this point. *Notes* (My Single Port Setup) my C:\winaprs\ports\agwpe_~1.prt file looks like this: __________________________________________ // Created by WinAPRS on 11/30/1999 NAME AGWPE/SoundCard TYPE TCP PARSER AGWPE BAND VHF HOST 127.0.0.1:8000 AGWTNC 0 __________________________________________ ****************************************** __________________________________________ Decoding Packets with the SoundCard and AGWPE: *Setting up the SoundCard* First: Starting SoundRecorder 1. GoTo: Start/Programs/Accessories/Entertainment/SoundRecorder 1a. Then: launch SoundRecorder 2. Click on 'Edit' 3. Click on 'Audio Properites' 4. Check 'Use only Preferred Devices' 5. Check 'Show Volume Control on Taskbar' 6. Click 'Okay' (you now should see the SoundRecorder speaker icon on the lower right of your screen) 7. Close SoundRecorder for now and make a ShortCut to it. 8. Right click on the Desktop and select 'new', then select 'shortcut' 9. In the 'command line' type 'C:\WINDOWS\SNDREC32.EXE' 10. Click on 'next' then choose a name you like, then click 'finish'. Second: Setting up SoundRecorder 1. Click and launch SoundRecorder 2. Read *all* the 'help' files thoroughly and totally familiarize yourself with the operation of SoundRecorder. Click on 'Edit' and 'Audio Properties' setup the volume control settings. I have mine set at about 3/4 scale. Make sure you can record and playback audio files with your SoundCard Microphone before proceeding any further. 3. Once you have SoundRecorder setup and running the way you like, I would suggest saving these parameters with a freeware program called 'QuickMix' available from http://www.msaxon.com/quickmix/index.htm. Launching other programs and rebooting Windows98 will sometimes change the parameters of the soundcard.... using QuickMix and re-loading a saved parameter file will make running AGWPE a lot easier. Third: Connecting the radio to the SoundCard: 1. for starters just connect the audio. ('Radio Spkr Out' to 'SoundCard Line In, or Mic In') (its best to use a simple 3 conductor Radio Shack (stereo) cord for this purpose) 1a. for those wanting a neater way to interface the soundcard with the radio try this: electro kit has a 16 dollar kit at: http://www.sanduskyohio.com/lectrokit/ 1b or,,, try the RIGblaster--- a rig to sound card interface available at: http://www.westmountainradio.com/faq.html (this is the solution i would recommend, it is an EXCELLENT unit) The RigBlaster Soundcard Interface will also come in handy for doing PSK-31, RTTY, and SloScan TV etc. on the HF frequencies. *** I highly recomend the RigBlaster. 2. after connecting the radio to the sound card, do a test by launching SoundRecorder. [Start/Programs/Accessories/Entertainment/SoundRecorder] or click on your shortcut icon. 2a. set your radio to 144.39 and click on the 'record' button while adjusting the volume control on the radio. you should now be using the little 'scope' in soundrecorder to somewhat set the proper receive audio. (you can also manipulate the squelch control if packet activity is low) 2b. if you cant record and playback the packet audio in soundrecorder, then agwpe is not going to work either. launching soundrecorder and using it successfully also insures the cables are connected properly. TroubleShooting: 1. Make sure no other program is using the soundcard! (also make sure no other program is using the com port!) 1a. Make sure the sound card audio is set properly. 1b. Make sure the radio is setup properly; (use an external speaker with a 'Y' connector if possible so you can hear the packets) 1. set frequency to 144.39 -- or ? 2. vfo mode 3. no pl's 4. simplex 5. volume setup properly 6. squelch setup properly More TroubleShooting: Checking for Conflicts: 1a. click on [start/settings/taskbar&startmenu...] 1b. then, click on 'startmenu programs' 1c. then click on 'advanced' this window *may* show you what kind of junk is up and running every time you reboot your computer. at this point you should clean/remove/or disable anything that might be hogging the soundcard or comport... (i had a problem with PalTalk hogging the soundcard everytime my machine rebooted) this is NOT all inclusive... and you may have other problems. Verifying you have AGWPE working with the SoundCard: 1. Go to: http://www.elcom.gr/sv2agw/ 1a. Download AGWMONITOR.zip 1b. Create directory, c:\agwmoni directory, unzip, and create a shortcut to it. 1c Launch AGWMonitor and select FILE/Properties 1d. Check all the boxes....also put in your callsign. Double check everything. 1e. At this point, you should be seeing packets being decoded in the agwmonitor window. TIPS: 1. Make sure to select a larger font. As i remember it has a very tiny font selected. I use a courier/regular/size 9 2. At this point, running agwpe and agwmonitor together and you still cant decode packets.... you must have something amiss in your soundcard setup, your agwpe setup, or you have a conflict with the soundcard or with the serial port being used for push to talk. also check radio to soundcard wiring or receive audio settings..... i have found.... that getting it to decode the very FIRST time is the trick........ once you first acheive success... its works every time... 3. Make the following test: **Thanks to Roger Barker, G4IDE for the following** "A very simple check of the functionality of the AGWPE tcp/ip interface can be made as follows:- 1. Start the packet engine. When George's face has disappeared, right- click on the Packet Engine icon on the task bar, and make sure that "Winsock Interface" is checked. 2. Right-click again, select About. It should say "SocksAPIServer Active" and "SocksAPIConnections 0". 3. Run the Win95 Telnet program. Quite a lot of people don't realise it exists - it's TELNET.EXE in the main Windows folder. 4. Connect, Remote System..., Host Name: 127.0.0.1, Port: 8000. 5. If you get a message "Could not open a connection to 127.0.0.1" there's something wrong with your tcp/ip set-up. Otherwise you shouldn't see anything happen in Telnet. 6. Right-click the Packet Engine icon again, and select About. It should now say "SocksAPIConnections 1". 7. In Telnet - Connect, Disconnect, and another check on SocksAPIConnections should show that it's gone back to 0." More Info to Above: The SocksAPIConnections under 'About' after 'right-clicking on the AGWPE icon on the task bar makes a 'count' of the current applications addressing AGWPE. for instance, if you have (1)WinAPRS, (2)AGW Monitor, and (3)Telnet all running... the 'count' would be '3'. You can manipulate the 'count' by opening and closing these programs. I'm not sure if this is of any true value, but it is something else to be aware of and check out. **Also, extra 'ports' configured then opened in Winaprs show up as a 'count'. See 'Advanced' section below. ****Configuring WinAPRS to work with AGWPE**** If you have had complete success with all of the above installations, configurations, and tests described above, you are now ready to setup Winaprs to work with AGWPE. *Winaprs 1. Launch WinAPRS 1a. click on 'settings 1b. click on 'ports list' 1c. select the proper port (AGWPE). 1d. click on 'open' NOTE: If winaprs 'finds' AGWPE okay, you will see: 'Status' ACTIVE, and 'Comment' AGWPE V2000.60 If you dont see this, then something is fouled up -- re-check everything, if necessary reboot and relaunch agwpe... as a last resort blow away all the ini files in C:\AGWPE and start over.... :( ADVANCED: 1.AutoStarting WinAPRS from AGWPE: a. Right click on AGWPE and select 'STARTUP PRGS' b. Click on 'ADD' c. The rest is simple. I have WinAPRS and AGW Monitor in my Autostarting group. 2. MORE ON USING THE PRINTER PORT FOR PUSH-TO-TALK IN AGWPE: This is especially useful for freeing up a Comport or for using AGWPE with your WinAPRS laptop setup and having your GPS unit on Com1. a. GoTo: http://www.elcom.gr/sv2agw/ b. Download 'drivers.zip' c. unzip drivers.zip and then unzip enclosed file agwpptsc.zip. d. copy the file agwlptsc.vxd file to the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. e. reconfigure the PTT parameter in AGWPE to use LPT1 for PTT. f. now, then reboot the computer. Note: I made a simple pigtail adapter from my COM1 PTT to convert to the LPT1. > db9-pin7 goes to db25-pin2 > db9-pin5 goes to db25-pin20 (gnd) 2. CONFIGURING WINAPRS TO USE 2 DIFFERENT TNC'S OR 1 TNC & 1 SOUNCARD ALLOWING THE MONITORING OF TWO OR MORE FREQUENCIES AT THE SAME TIME: This is useful for using winaprs to monitor 144.39mhz and simultaneously and post 'spots' from the local DX Cluster frequency to the 'world map' in winaprs (split screen) or to simply monitor 144.39Mhz any other 'special' frequency that you may be interested in. 1. connect a known working TNC to an open-unused serial port. 1a. Using a terminal program, put the TNC in KISS mode. 1b. Configure AGWPE for a 'second' port. 2. (Make sure your TNC is set to the same baud rate as selected in AGWPE) 3. Re-launch AGWPE and now you should see two (2) little modem icons in the lower right corner of your screen. NOTE: be aware, agwpe knocks the TNC out of kiss mode on exit, unless you un-check the 'box'. this could drive you crazy until you figure it out, so make note of it. 4. now you must create a new .prt file in c:\winaprs\ports below is a copy of the two '.prt' files i am using. *My Double Port Setup* __________________________________________ // Created by WinAPRS on 11/30/1999 NAME AGWPE on APRS 144.39Mhz TYPE TCP PARSER AGWPE BAND VHF HOST 127.0.0.1:8000 AGWTNC 0 __________________________________________ // Created by WinAPRS on 11/30/1999 NAME AGWPE ON PacketCluster TYPE TCP PARSER AGWPE BAND VHF HOST 127.0.0.1:8000 AGWTNC 1 __________________________________________ 5. After creating and installing these 2 files in C:\WINAPRS\PORTS directory, you must select these ports after re-launching Winaprs. ie: 1. Re-launch WinAPRS 1a. click on 'settings 1b. click on 'ports list' 1c. select the two (2) ports one at a time: >PORT #1 (AGWPE ON APRS 144.39MHZ) >PORT #2 (AGWPE ON PACKET CLUSTER) 1d. click on 'open' after selection. NOTE: As of this writing, the current version of WinAPRS still Xmits on *BOTH* ports simultaneously! so be careful! Some DX Cluster Sysops might become aggitated. I have talked with Mark on this and this will be fixed in an upcomming version. NOTE: AGW Monitor can be configured to monitor *both* ports. This is cool for keeping an eye on the dx cluster and watching the complete action on aprs at the same time.