Reference
  TNC Settings

To begin connecting to a destination click the Select Destination button on the main screen. Doing so will display the Connection Setup screen shown here.

Specify a destination station by typing the callsign directly into the 'To Station' box or double click on the callsign list at the left of the screen. After a callsign is entered press the Connect button to begin connecting to the destination station.

Establishing a connection to a destination station only establishes a connection; it does not send any previously composed message. (See Sending Messages for information about sending a message.)

Callsigns may be added to the callsign list by entering the callsign of the final destination, intermediate connections (eg intermediate nodes), and notes (optional) at the bottom of the screen and the pressing the Add button. Callsigns may be deleted from the list by selecting the callsign (click on the callsign in the list) and pressing the keyboard Delete key.

As this figure illustrates, several callsign and path combinations may be used. For example, two entries exist for the AA1KL-1 bulletin board; one entry reaches AA1KL-1 via node W1GRF-7 and the other entry reaches AA1KL-1 directly.

Notes may be used as helpful reminders. For example, the entry being added uses a note as a reminder that N5IEP is the Windsor Vermont Emergency Coordinator. In this example the destination station is N5IEP. Connection to N5IEP will be made through intermediate nodes WB1BRE-7 and KA1LDS-7.

FNpack provides for three intermediate nodes. When using more than one node the closest node to the originating station should be entered first in the intermediate connection list; the middle node should be entered next; and the node closest to the destination station should be at the bottom of the intermediate connection list. The entry shown will result in a connection being made first to WB1BRE-7, then to KA1LDS-7, and then finally to N5IEP.

Packet network performance deteriorates rapidly when multiple nodes are used. To the extent possible minimize the number of nodes in each path.