Reference
  TNC Settings

FNpack provides the capability for packet stations to operate in a controlled net mode where a designated Net Control Station manages traffic flow to obtain high efficiency on a shared radio channel.

Stations wishing to participate in net operation should set 'Net Control Operation' options on the Operating Prefences screen. Checking the 'Allow remote net startup' box allows net operation of this station to be activated remotely by a net control station.

Net member stations can leave their 'Net Control Operation' preferences set in this manner at all times. They will see no difference in FNpack behavior until a net control station activates the net.

Alternatively, net member stations can place their station in the net control mode manually by selecting the 'Operating in Controlled Net' checkbox. The net control station should check both the 'Operating in Controlled Net' and 'This station is the net control station' checkboxes.

Brief information exchanges between the net control station and other stations on the net are called Net Directives. ( Net directives use the connectionless unproto packet format.) Net directives addressed to the net control station are sent to the 'Net Control Station callsign.'   In the example shown here the net control station is using tactical callsign SGARES and is reachable via the WB1BRE digipeater.

Checking the 'Alert when net directive received' checkbox allows an audible alert to be sounded when a net directive is received.

When a net control station activates the net the following display will appear on the upper portion of the Main screen at all net member stations:

This display contains instructions sent from the net control station to all other stations on the net, and responses from net member stations.   This sample display illustrates a query from the NCS for net member stations to advise if they have traffic to send. Responses from stations other than the NCS will show the callsign of the station sending the response.   The counter at the left indicates how many new instructions/responses have been received recently. The counter can be reset by clicking on it.   Only the latest instruction/response is shown in the text box. Previous instructions/responses can be viewed by scrolling the textbox.

In addition to the display on the Main screen, a small auxiliary screen will be opened when the net is activated. This screen allows net member stations to send brief responses and requests to the net control station.

Responses and requests are sent by pressing buttons on the auxiliary screen. In addition, a text box allows net members to enter custom responses.   "at new location" is an example of a custom response. Custom responses can be a maximum of 40 characters.

[The blank button may be used to add an additional response by manually inserting responses on the InfoNet2Msg= line in the parms.inf file]