Timewave DSP-232, Operating Manual, Page: 34 / 271

Chapter 4 Terminal Interfacing
Chapter 4
Terminal Commands
Overview
We know you’re ready to get on-the-air, but before you do you should familiarize yourself with the DSP-232’s
“operating system,” a few important commands, some error messages, and its list of available commands.
Most of the commands have a standard (default) value that provide good performance for the mode you select and
for an average amateur radio station. Almost all of the commands have initial or default values that are loaded when
the DSP is first turned on, but there’s no rule that says “you must keep these defaults.” You can—and should—
change the default values as required for your individual operating needs, type of equipment, and local operating
practices or protocols.
Don’t be daunted by all the commands that are available to you—an average user needs to understand or change
only a handful of them and once set, usually don’t need to be reckoned with again. (See
EXPERT
.) This chapter
describes the commands used to control how the DSP-232 communicates with your terminal or PC. Mode specific,
MailDrop, and GPS commands are listed and explained in their respective chapters elsewhere in this manual.
There are five TNC control modes you need to be familiar with to make the DSP-232 communicate with your
terminal. These are: the Command mode, Converse mode, Transparent mode, Host mode, and KISS mode. Below is
a brief desicription of each of these modes. Later in this chapter are the actual commands that you will use to enable
the TNC to communicate with the terminal.
Command Mode
Command mode is for configuring and setting the parameters for your TNC. To get to the Command mode if you
are in the Converse mode, enter a <CTRL> C. If you are in any of the other operating modes, you can get to the
Command mode by entering three <CTRL> C’s in quick succession.
Once in the Command mode you will see this—
cmd:
. You type the system parameters at the
cmd:
prompt. You
will see what you type on the screen, and if you type something wrong, the system will try to help you through the
mistake. For example, if you type the wrong type of arguement, such as a numeric value instead of a text arguement,
the TNC will respond with—
What?
If you type a numeric value that is out of the command’s range, the system
will respond with—
Range?
See the parameters and arguements explaination below for more information on how
to deal with the command arguements. To get a complete list of the TNC’s parameters type Disp Z at the
cmd:
prompt.
Converse Mode
Converse mode is for communicating with someone on the air. Whatever you type on your keyboard will be
transmitted by your radio. To enter the Converse mode, type
CONVERSE
or
K
at the
cmd:
prompt.
Once in the Converse mode you will see a cursor on the left-hand side of your screen. As stated previously,
whatever you type will be transmitted. You can make changes as to the way your typed messages are transmitted.
For example, you can change the settings so that an entire line will be transmitted after a carraige return as opposed
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