Packet BBS Service

• 2024-09-29 - Pre-release of SCCo Packet Installer v163C
• 2024-01-29 - General Release of SCCo Packet Installer v162M

The Santa Clara County ARES/RACES network provides a standard amateur radio packet BBS (Bulletin Board System) service. The service provides full-service BBS functionality (messages and bulletins) throughout Santa Clara County even if the entire Internet is completely down. The service can also send and receive e-mail to/from Internet e-mail addresses. But the service is not in any way dependent on the Internet.

Packet BBS Service Description

Packet Frequency and BBS Listings

Packet BBS Forwarding Links

Packet Network Addressing

The Packet BBS Service can be accessed using any of the following technologies. Click on the following links for detailed station configuration and usage information.

• AX.25 over VHF Amateur Radio
• AX.25 over IP or UDP
• TCP/IP over WiFi/Mesh Amateur Radio (if the mesh network is connected to the SCCo ARES/RACES network)
• TCP/IP over WiFi Part 15 Radio
• TCP/IP over LAN

A county standard packet station is the recommended system for packet use. It is required for Credentialed operators and those being deployed for mutual aid.

• Computer running a currently supported version of Windows.
• Terminal Node Controller (TNC)
• Kantronics KPC3+ TNC
• RS232 Serial cable to PC; 25pin/M to 9pin/F, or USB (newer KPC’s)
• Custom cable to Radio; 9pin/M to [whatever_your_radio_has]
• Cable to 12VDC
• Outpost Packet Message Manager Software (current SCCo released version)
• PackItForms Outpost Addon (current released version)

Outpost and PackItForms are the standard client software used in Santa Clara County ARES/RACES.  Outpost provides an easy to use, e-mail-like user interface for sending, receiving and managing packet messages.  PackItForms provides an HTML representation of many standard county forms and optimizes the sending and receiving of forms-based information over a packet network. 

Download Packet Client Software

Configuration and Set-up Instructions

• Standard Outpost Configuration Instructions - 08/04/2018 (PDF - 427 KB)
• Standard TNC Parameter Settings - 10/31/2022 (PDF - 509 KB)
• JNOS Settings for Outpost - 06/17/2014 (PDF - 127 KB)
• How to Request Tactical Call Signs - 11/03/2022 (PDF - 836 KB)
• How to Request BBS Logins for Telnet Access - 03/14/2020 (PDF - 237 KB)
• How to Configure and Use Outpost for Telnet Access - 03/14/2020 (PDF - 426 KB)
• How to Configure Outpost for Inbound Message Numbering - 09/11/2010 (PDF - 93 KB)
• How to Configure Outpost for Automated ICS-309 Printing - 09/11/2010 (PDF - 97 KB)

Operating and Usage Instructions

• How to Send a Packet Message with Outpost - 09/19/2013 (PDF - 150 KB)
• Standard Packet Message Subject Line - 08/03/2022 (PDF - 175 KB)
• Standard Packet Check-In/Out Message - 01/21/2024 (PDF - 180 KB)

• BBS Info
  • JNOS BBS Information
  • Other current BBS software implementations
    • BPQ BBS web site, by G8BPQ
    • FBB BBS web site, by F6FBB
      • FBB Forwarding Protocol Specification (used by most BBSs)
  • BBS Specification (includes definitions for standard, plain-text MBL/RLI forwarding protocol, plus XFWD compressed forwarding protocol)
    • BBS Specification, 2012 version, by W0RLI
    • BBS Specification, 1998 version, by W0RLI
• AMPRnet Info (AMPRnet is a worldwide IP-based network for amateur radio. It support packet BBS and other services.)
  • AMPR.org
  • AMPRnet Wiki
  • AMPRnet Portal
  • AMPRnet Map (partial)
  • AMPRnet Mailing List (44net)
• ALT Codes (for symbols and international characters)
  • How to Use ALT Codes
  • AltCodeUnicode.com (use the pull-down menus at the top to filter the list)
  • ALT Code Reference Chart (PDF)
  • UTF-8 Miscellaneous Symbols
    • Use the ALT key with the decimal number

Join us for the Weekly Packet Practice on Mondays and Tuesday evenings. Everyone is welcome.  Consult the Weekly SPECS/SVECS Packet Practice page for complete details.

Training

 

User Group

 

Technical Support