Kantronics KAM Plus User manual

KAM Plus
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Kantronics
RF Data Communications Specialists o
Printed on
recycled paper

The KAM Plus is a Kantronics hardware and software design incorporating the AX.25 Level 2
Version 2 Packet protocol as adopted by the American Radio Relay League. This manual contains
information from earlier KPC-1, KPC-2, KPC-2400, KPC-3, KPC-4, and KAM manuals and
addendums, modified as appropriate.
We have attempted to make this manual technically and typographically correct as of the date of the
current printing. Production changes to the TNC may add errata or addendum sheets. We solicit
your comments and/or suggested corrections. Please send to Kantronics Co., Inc., 1202 E. 23rd
Street, Lawrence, KS 66046.
Printed in the U.S.A.
©Copyright 1993 by Kantronics Co., Inc. All rights reserved.
Contents of this publication or the firmware described herein may not be reproduced in any form
without the written permission of the copyright owner.
Kantronics
RF Data Communications Specialists
1202 E. 23rd Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66046
Order number [phone]
Service ITechnical Support [phone]
9 am - noon, 2 pm - 5 pm Central Time, Monday-Friday
FAX number [phone]
BBS number [phone] 300 - 14,400 (MNP, V.32BIS) N,8,1
24 Hour Operation

READ THIS PAGE BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE PRODUCT
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MANUAL
The product with which this manual is associated contains SOFTWARE on Programmable
Read Only Memory (PROM) or diskette which is protected by both United States copyright law
and international treaty provisions.
If you install or use the product associated with this manual, you will be deemed to be bound
by the terms of the SOFTWARE license shown below. If you do not wish to be bound by such
license, return such product and all associated documentation unused to your supplier for
refund ofthe amount you paid.
License Agreement
1. License. In consideration of payment of the License Fee, which is included in the price of
the product, the Licensee (you) is granted by the Licensor (Kantronics Company, Inc. -
Kantronics) a non-exclusive right to use the SOFTWARE and associated documentation. No
ownership rights to the SOFTWARE or its Documentation are transferred from Kantronics to
you.
2. Term. This License Agreement is effective until terminated. You may terminate this
Agreement by destroying the PROM or diskette and documentation. You may not rent or lease
the SOFTWARE, but you may transfer the SOFTWARE and accompanying written materials
on a permanent basis provided you retain no copies and the recipient agrees to the terms of
thIS Agreement. Kantronics may terminate this Agreement without notice if you violate any
terms or conditions of the Agreement. In the event of termination ofthe Agreement, provisions
relating to Kantronics' disclaimers of warranties, limitation of liability, remedies, or damages
and Kantronics' proprietary rights shall survive.
3. Object Code. The SOFTWARE is delivered in object code only. You shall not reverse
compile or otherwise reverse engineer the SOFTWARE.
4. Limited Warranty. This product is covered by the standard Kantronics Co., Inc. Limited
Warranty, which is enclosed.
5. General. This License Agreement constitutes the complete Agreement between you and
Kantronics.
The SOFTWARE and/or Documentation may not be exported or re-exported in violation of any
export laws or regulations of the United States of America or any other applicable jurisdiction.
This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of the State of Kansas,
United States of America.
Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government of the United States is subject to restrictions
as set forth in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer
SOFTWARE clause ofDFARS 252.227-7013.
Kantronics may in its sole discretion, provide you with upgrades of the SOFTWARE and/or
Documentation if you have provided Kantronics your completed Warranty registration with a
copy of your receipt showing the amount you paid.
LICENSEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THIS
AGREEMENT AND AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS. LICENSEE FURTHER
AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT
OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN LICENSEE AND LICENSOR AND SUPERSEDES ANY
PROPOSAL OR PRIOR AGREEMENT, ORAL OR WRITTEN, AND ANY OTHER
COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT.
Any questions concerning this Agreement or any other matter relating to Kantronics Company,
Inc. products or business practices may be directed to:
Customer Service Department
Kantronics Company, Inc.
1202 E. 23rd Street
Lawrence, KS 66046

Who should read this manual?
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This manual is intended as a quick reference guide to assist new users in getting started as
quickly as possible with the RAM Plus. If you are already familiar with connecting a TNC to
your computer and radios, you may want to set the INTFACE command to TERMINAL and
proceed directly to the RAM Plus Reference Manual.
Before You Start
Please take a moment to read the License Agreement in the front of this manual before you
install or use your RAM Plus. Your installation and/or use of the RAM Plus constitutes your
agreement to be bound by the terms of the License Agreement.
Your RAM Plus comes with one male DB-9 cable (YHF), one 8-pin DIN cable (HF), one
DB-25 cable (computer), one 2.1 mm power jack, and two Y-adapters. You will need to supply
the connectors required for your radios (mic jack or accessory plug). Wiring instructions are
included in this manual. To help you explore your new Kam Plus, we've included Pacterm,
a simple terminal program for the PC on a 5-1/4" disk. You are free to make copies on 3-1/2"
disks if necessary. Once you've explored the RAM Plus, you will likely desire to purchase a
full-featured program such as Host Master. Pacterm will not be updated.
About Your KAM Plus
Front Panel
The front panel of the RAM Plus has two switches, 8 status LEDs and a ten segment bargraph.
There are seven LEDs used as operating status indicators. The front panel is divided into
two sections, with the left three LEDs indicating HF operation and the next four LEDs VHF
operation. The remaining LED indicates the status of your internal mailbox (PBBS).
HF Section Indicators
XMIT/RCV - This LED lights when the RAM is keying the PTT line on your HF radio, or
when HF packet data is being received.
CON/LOCK- This LED lights ,,,,hen you have an HF packet connection on the current stream
or when you are linked to another station on AMTOR or Pactor.
STA/VAL - This LED lights when you have unacknowledged HF packets, valid AMTOR data
being received, or when operating Pactor at 200 baud. If Pactor speed drops to 100 baud, this
LED will go out.
BARGRAPH - The bargraph is used to properly tune an HF signal.
KAM Plus Apri/15,1993
<S;)Copyright 1993. Kantronics Co .• Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Duplication of this manual or the firmware without permission of Kantronics Co .• Inc. is prohibited.
GETTING STARTED
G1

VHF Section Indicators
XMIT - This LED lights when the RAM is keying the PTI' line on your VHF radio.
RCV - This LED lights when you are receiving a signal on the VHF port.
CON - This LED lights when you have a VHF packet connection on the current stream. In
addition, when operating with a standard terminal program and operating a non-packet HF
mode, this LED will blink ON/OFF for approximately 10 seconds if the RAM receives a VHF
packet connect request.
STA -This LED lights when you have unacknowledged VHF packets.
MAIL - This LED stays lit when someone is connected to your PBBS and will flash anytime
there is unread mail in the PBBS that is addressed to you.
Power Indicator
POWER - The single LED on the right side ofthe front panel illuminates when power is
applied to the RAM Plus.
Switches
ON/OFF - Provides power control for the RAM.
AM/FM - Switches the limiters in or out ofthe demodulator circuits. The KAM Plus may
function better with your specific station in either mode - use the position that provides the
best operation for you. Depending on your specific station and mode of operation, the RAM
Plus may function better with this switch in either position.
Rear Panel
VHF RADIO HF RADIO COMPUTER
The rear panel of the RAM Plus has four connectors located on it. The purpose of each
connector is described below:
+12 VDC (Power) - Connect this jack (center pin positive) to a 12 VDC power supply. The
power supply must be capable of 300 ma, and the DC voltage under load should be between
9 and 15 volts.
VHF RADIO - This DB-9 connector accepts the cable (provided) from your VHF radio for
packet operation. It is also used for receiving WEFAX pictures by connecting the receive audio
from your HF radio.
HF RADIO - This 8-pin DIN connector accepts the cable (provided) from your HF radio. All of
the non-packet modes are operated through this connector.
COMPUTER - This DB-25 connector connects your RAM to the serial port of your computer.
The RAM Plus communicates with either RS-232 or TTL levels (jumper selectable) using
standard ASCII characters for all commands.
GETTING STARTED
G2 April 15, 1993 KAM Plus
©Copyright' 993, Kantronics Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Duplication of this manual or the firmware without permission of Kantronics Co., Inc. is prohibited.

Wiring your KAM Plus
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Power Cable
Connect a 12 volt DC power supply to the 2.1 mm jack (supplied) by connecting the positive
terminal to th, center of the jack and the negative terminal to the shell. Plug the power jack
in to the rear panel of the RAM Plus.
KAM Plus to Computer Cable
To connect your KAM Plus to your computer, use the supplied cable. Attach the male connector
(the one with the pins) to the connector marked "COMPUTER". The female end of this cable
connects to your computer. Plug this end into the COM1 serial port. If your computer requires
a 9-pin connector instead ofthe 25 pin, you can purchase an adapter from Radio Shack or your
local computer vendor. You may also use a standard 9-pin to 25-pin modem cable available
through most computer dealers.
For connection to other types of computers, refer to the manual for your software or terminal
program. The KAM Plus will communicate with your computer with a minimum of three wires
connected - Txd, Rxd, and SG, although your software (terminal program) may require other
wires connected. Refer to the RAM Plus Reference Manual for a complete description of the
connections used in the KAM Plus.
The KAM Plus is shipped from the factory configured to use RS-232 levels through the serial
port to your computer. If your computer uses TTL levels (such as the Commodore 64/128), you
must move the configuration jumper inside the RAM Plus. Refer to the Reference Manual for
the location of this jumper.
WARNING: The supplied serial cable contains all 25 wires and is designed to be used with
your KAM Plus. This cable may not be suitable for other equipment. Check your equipment
manuals to determine that no damage will result.
Initializing the KAM Plus
Now that the KAM Plus is cabled to your computer, the next step is to initialize. Connect
the serial cable to the RAM Plus and to your first computer serial port (COM1). Boot your
computer as you normally do. Place the PACTERM disk (shipped with your KAM Plus) into
the A drive on your computer and type A:PACTERM and press return. When the program
starts, you will see a menu page. Press the backspace key on your computer and you'll be
placed in the ONLINE mode of the Pacterm program.
Once the program is operating, turn on the RAM Plus by depressing the ON/OFF switch on
the front panel and observe that the green power LED lights. At this point the KAM Plus will
he~:in sending you a message. Since Pacterm is set to communicate at 1200 baud on COM1,
you will see some garbage characters and then you'll see the message
PRESS (*) TO SET BAUD RATE
When you see this message, press the *(asterisk) key on your keyboard. Do not type the ( )
characters, just the *. You must press the *within two (2) seconds of seeing the message
printed. If you performed this properly, the RAM Plus will prompt you to ENTER YOUR
CALLSIGN=>. If you didn't press the *quickly enough, the KAM Plus will continue to cycle
through all the speeds again, so be patient and try again when you see the message.
Once you have hit the *at the right time, the KAM Plus prompts you to ENTER YOUR
CALLSIGN=>. Type your amateur radio callsign and press return. The KAM Plus now sends
its sign-on message:
KAM Plus April 15, 1993
©Copyright 1993, Kantronics Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Duplication of this manual or the firmware without permission of Kanlronics Co., Inc. is prohibited.
GETTING STARTED
G3

KANTRONICS ALL MODE COMMUNICATOR PLUS Version 6.1P
(C) COPYRIGHT 1988-1993 BY KANTRONICS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
DUPLICATION PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF KANTRONICS.
cmd:
Now that you have initialized your RAM Plus, you are ready to try your first connect. Since
you have not connected the radio to the TNC yet, you'll simply connect to your personal
mailbox built in to the RAM Plus. This will help you to become comfortable with your KAM
Plus operation before connecting your radios. At the cmd: prompt, type CONNECT call-1
(replace "call" with your amateur callsign) and press return. Your RAM Plus connects you to
the mailbox. Your screen should look something like this:
cmd:CONNECT WK5M-1
cmd:*** CONNECTED to WK5M-1
[KAMP-6.1-HM$J
100000 BYTES AVAILABLE
THERE ARE NO MESSAGES
ENTER COMMAND: B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help>
Now you can enter any of the mailbox commands shown (B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help). Later you will
want to read the PBBS section of the Reference Manual for more details. If you type the HELP
command and press return, you'll see the RAM Plus mailbox help file and then the standard
mailbox prompt:
ENTER COMMAND: B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help >.
Now disconnect (just like you will disconnect from any other user). First, return to Command
mode by typing CONTROL-C on your keyboard. To do this, hold down the control key (usually
marked CTRL) and type the letter C. Release the control key. You should now see the cmd:
prompt. Next you must type the DISCONNE command and press return. You will receive the
message *** DISCONNECTED and a new command prompt.
Congratulations. You have now completed your first connect.
KAM Plus VHF Port to Radio Cable
The next step in connecting your KAM Plus into your station is to make the cable from the
KAM Plus to your VHF radio. In order to transmit and receive, you must connect the following
pins from the DB-9 connector on the KAM Plus to the appropriate pins on your radio:
Pin 1 Transmit audio (white wire) connects to the microphone input of your radio.
Pin 3 Push-to-Talk (brown wire) connects to the PT1' or STBY connection on your radio.
Pin 5 Receive audio (pre-wired mini-plug) connects to the external speaker jack of your
radio.
Pin 6 Ground (black wire) connects to the ground of your radio.
The actual connections to your radio will vary depending on the type of radio you are using.
Please refer to the appropriate diagrams below for the proper wiring for the most commonly
used radios. If needed, the Reference Manual contains more information.
After you have completed this cable, connect it to your RAM Plus and secure the DB-9
connector with the screws. Connect the microphone plug to your radio and plug the mini-plug
into your external speaker jack.
GETTING STARTED
G4 April 15, 1993 KAM Plus
©Copyright' 993, Kantronics Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Duplication of this manual or the firmware without permission of Kantronics Co., Inc. is prohibited.

Adjusting Receive Volume
Toproperly adjust the receive volume on your VHF radio, first, turn on your computer, start
your terminal program and turn on the KAMPlus. Next, turn on your radio and open the
squelch control (fully counter-clockwise). Slowly turn the volume up until the RCV LED on
the KAMPlus just lights. Increase the volume control slightly from this point. Next, turn the
squelch control clockwiseuntil the LED goes out. Your radio are now properly adjusted for
receive volume.
KAM Plus HF Port to Radio Cable
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The final step in connecting your KAMPlus into your station is to make the cable from the
KAM Plus to your HF radio. In order to transmit and receive, you must connect the following
pins from the 8-pin DIN connector on the KAMPlus to the appropriate pins on your HF radio:
Pin 1Transmit audio (white wire) connects to the microphone input of your radio.
Pin 2 Ground (black wire) connects to the ground ofyour radio.
Pin 3 Push-to-Talk (brown wire) connects to the PTT or STBY connection on your radio.
Pin 6 Receive audio (pre-wired mini-plug) connects to the external speaker jack of
your radio.
If you want to operate CW,you must also connect Pin 4 from the KAM Plus to your CW Key
jack exactly as you would connect a straight key. (If your radio has a built-in electronic keyer,
you must disable it.)
For FSK operation (ifyour radio supports it) you must connect Pin 5 from the KAMPlus to the
FSK input on your radio.
The actual connections to your radio will vary depending on the type ofradio you are using.
Please refer to the appropriate diagrams below for the proper wiring used for the most common
radios. These diagrams show the wiring for AFSK (not FSK) operation and do not show the CW
keying line. NOTE that this wiring may be used for Packet, RTTY,ASCII, AMTOR, and Pactor.
KAM Plus May 4, 1993
©Copyright 1993, Kantronics Coo. inc. All Rights Reserved.
Duplication of this manual or the firmware without permission of Kantronics Co., Inc. is prohibited.
GETTING STARTED
G5

leom Wiring
Icom Base Radios (HF or VHF/UHF)
8-pin Mic Connector
pre-wired cable to speaker jack
1 TX Audio (white)
Female Connector
(Wiring Side)
2AT Style Hand-Held
2.5 mm stereo plug to mic jack
pre-wired cable to speaker jack
Tip TX Audio (white)
Tip PTT (brown)
3.9Kn
W2A Style Hand-Held
2.5 mm stereo plug to mic/speaker jack
Ring TX Audio (white)
Ring PTT (brown)
Tip Rx Audio (purple)
Sleeve Ground (black) sleeve
GETTING STARTED
G6 April15,1993 KAMPlus
©Copyright 1993, Kantronics Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Duplication of this manual or the firmware without permission of Kantronics Co., Inc. is prohibited.