AGWPE vs real TNC, and other AX25 questions

[KC2YWE]

Hey all -

Got my ticket last summer, and worked VHF all day. Back home this summer with a new antenna (from Arrow Antennas, a fantastic J-Pole) and got my shack re set-up.

But I've been having trouble with AGWPE this whole time. I couldn't really afford a proper TNC, and had some spare computers lying around (I'm a computer tech) so I have it set up and working.

However, I'm having a lot of problems with it. With my new antenna, I'm decoding a lot more - and now trying to digipeat them.

That's the problem, but it's more a symptom. The sound-card modem just doesn't do a very good job realizing when a new packet is coming, and it shouldn't be colliding. So whenever I try to digipeat, I collide like crazy. I'm sure nobody appreciates that, so I've turned it off.

If anyone knows how to sort that out (maybe some AGWPE settings?) I'd be more than grateful.

But my real question is, is it worth it? I can afford a TNC now, and I was thinking about picking up a TNC-X (MFJ-1270X) locally. Will it perform better? I appreciate the idea of not being dependent on a program, and my instinct says that I'll do a better job transmitting/receiving. I also suspect that a lot of my problems are due to the fact that I'm not set up properly, which presumably a (relatively-)plug-and-play TNC would fix.

Am I way off course?

[M0VKG]

I've had a few issues with AGWPE - it's great at what it does, but it's not the best-designed piece of software out there!

I've had more success with using MixW's TNC emulator - it even presents a fake serial port, so you can point things like UI-View32 and Winpack at it and use it like a proper TNC. Might be worth having a look?

Failing that, I've got an old Paccomm Tiny-2 on loan from our club, and despite being 20-odd years old works flawlessly - I reckon there's probably quite a few floating around on eBay.

[2e0sql]

Like Andy I've had my share of issues with AGWPE, in my opinion its great for basic APRS use but i'd never use it to run a digi mostly due to its lack of features.. I'd recommend you invest in a TNC.. Theres plenty on the market TNX-X, Tiny-2 or even a TinyTrak4 I believe they support KISS TNC protocol.

[G6NHU]

I ran MB7UIV for over ten years with AGWPE as the interface. Once it was set up, it worked like a dream and I never had a single issue with it.

Mind you, Tiny-2s can be picked up dirt cheap now - I'm talking about twenty quid or less on eBay.

[5B4AJB]

Tiny2's are brilliant little toys - good command set, works off a 9V battery, mind you, you can pick up a KAM for around $100 nowdays...

A TNC will allow you to switch off your computer and still allow digipeating, node, pbbs etc...

[edit]

By the way, the KAM has a software DCD option (squelch down receive) you can adjust the timings to a tee, if you're worried about collisions, software data carrier detect is the way to go...

[KC2YWE]

Hey all, thanks for the replies. I ended up getting a TNC-X, which aside from the USB not working (ugh... and no time to fix it before vacation), it works great. Smart enough to not step on the channel, which was the biggest problem I was having with AGWPE. Plus, I can use it in Linux and play with first-class AX25 networking - soundmodem isn't that great.

I'll probably get a tracker or digi board later, this time as a kit. But I didn't have the time to wait, I'm going on vacation on Saturday to Maine. Best radio I have all year - too noisy here in NJ...

Thanks all for your advice.