This message announces the posting of version 0.91 of the WA8DED firmware for the TAPR TNC-1. It is being posted on SIMTEL20 on the ARPANET. Some Usenet guru will have to carry on from there for the usenet folks. This firmware runs on the TAPR TNC-1 and its clones, the AEA and the Heath HD-4040 TNCs. It is NOT an upgrade of the TAPR code. It is a completely new implementation of the AX.25 protocol, both the current version 2.0 and the older 1.x version supported by the normal TAPR code. It also supports up to four simultaneously open connections on one TNC. And it has a "host friendly" mode, which is intended to simplify the interfacing of the TNC to a Bulletin Board or other computer system. It has noticeably fewer protocol bugs than the TAPR code, and a much more informative Monitor mode. The command interface is NOT the same as the TAPR TNC code. It is therefore not just an improvement for your TNC, but a complete change of the interface. So you might not want it if you (or your computer) are used to the standard interface. The files being posted are: This message, TNCDED.MSG; The documentation file, TNCDED.DOC; and the binary of the code itself, in Intel Hex format, in TNCDED.HEX. The code occupies two 2764 EPROMs (actually about 1.2 EPROMs - plenty of space left in the second one). The EPROMs reside at C000 and E000 of the TNC, sockets U11 and U12 respectively. If you need to manipulate this file with a CP/M DDT, remember to use an offset with the I command so that you don't overwrite your DDT, BDOS and BIOS. Put C000 through DFFF into the EPROM for U11, and put E000 through FFFF into the EPROM for U12. The code and documentation are copyrighted 1985 by Ronald Raikes, WA8DED. They are submitted with his permission for non-commercial use by individual Radio Amateurs. All other rights reserved by Ronald Raikes. The program is written in 6809 assembler. The source code is not being posted, but is available from Ron by sending him an 8" SSSD CP/M format disk in a reusable mailer with return postage. Enclose a letter agreeing to the above personal use restriction. To ease the load on Ron, I will also make copies under the same ground rules. When I talked to him today, he sounded somewhat overwhelmed by the number of people contacting him about getting copies of the ROMs. I hope that by posting them here I will reduce that load on him, not increase it. Please use your discretion before adding to the crowd of people contacting him. But if you have to, ... You can reach Ron by packet through the forwarding mailbox network. Address him as WA8DED @ KD6SQ. He is not on ARPANET or Usenet. His US mail address is: Ronald Raikes, WA8DED 9211 Pico Vista Road Downey, CA 90240 If you want to mail me a disk, as offered above, I'm good in the callbook. 73, Bob, K1BC ARPANET: CLEMENTS@BBN Usenet: {ihnp4, decvax, linus}!bbncca!clements Amateur Packet Radio BBS net: K1BC @ K1BC, via W0RLI [Political statement: Boycott the TNC-2 until a maintenance release of TNC-1 comes out!] [Usual disclaimers and trademark notices] The following message ported from the WA6OSA Packet Mailbox: *** Message from WA6OSA to ALL entered Thursday 01-Aug-85 at 8:45 PM *** Subject: ++NEW IMPROVED++ WA8DED FIRMWARE FEATURES Version 0.9 of the WA8DED firmware for the TAPR TNC-1 compatables is now available. It is written in 6809 assembly language and is contained in two 2764 EPROMs. Some of its outstanding features are: 1. Up to four simultaneous connects (plus unproto). 2. Easy to read 'monitor' frame information in unproto mode. 3. Simple 'On Screen' Calibration. 4. Digipeats version 2 protocol. 5. Meaningful channel status display (separate status for each channel). 6. Supports modem baud rates up to 9600 baud. 7. New-Improved Host Mode (for computer interface). 8. Display of link state and number of free buffers. 9. XON-XOFF flow control 10.Auto-Unattended/Beacon Mode. Version 1.0 should be available around the first of September and is contained in two 2764 EPROMS. The W6IXU mailbox is currently using a beta version 0.9 of the WA8DED firmware.