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MARS MDS PROCEDURES

 

 

An assigned Alabama Traffic Rep goes to the Region Four MARS Data System (MDS) Bulletin Board (BBS) (also sometimes referred to as “Board” or “Switch”) to pick up incoming traffic to be taken to the Alabama traffic nets (4A1B and 4A2B).  Also, all Out-of-Region and priority and higher precedent Out-of-State traffic from the state nets is taken to the MDS board.  These boards currently operate using either AMTOR ARQ or PACTOR-1 ARQ modes.

 

The MDS Board servicing incoming Alabama traffic is NMUC (AMTOR SELCAL).  The PACTOR SELCALL is NN0MUC.  Outgoing traffic is generally sent to NMUC, but may be sent to any NAVMARCORMARS BBS including NMDR (NN0MDR), NMRG (NN0MRG) or NMUA (NN0MUA) as conditions may sometimes require.  All of these stations operate on assigned frequency NEC with an offset of –1.2Khz.  (Remember that your dial frequency will be the assigned (Matrix) frequency less an offset of –1.2Khz, assuming your mark and space tones are 2100 and 2300 Hz or 2125 and 2295 Hz.)  For example, If you are using a PK-232 just set the dial frequency to NEC less 1.2Khz.  If you are operating FSK or with other TNC audio frequencies settings, your dial frequency should be adjusted accordingly.

 

To contact the MDS board you will need a multi-mode Terminal Node Controller (TNC), which includes a AMTOR and/or PACTOR modem.  There are various TNCs available with PK-232, KAM+, and MFJ 1278 being the most common.  New TNCs are quite expensive, but used ones are often available at Hamfests and Web swap lists at very reasonable prices.

 

There is a variety of computer software (terminal programs) available to operate your TNC.  All of these programs merely act as a terminal to send commands to the TNC and display/print incoming data.  All of the actual modem processing is done by the TNC.  The software is written to somewhat automate and facilitate this process.  If you are unsure of which software will best suit your needs, check with other members who have a TNC model like yours.  We have many members who operate PK-232s who will be glad to help you, and I have used KAMs and MFJ-1278s.  Each operator that you talk to will have his own software preference, so listen to all of them and then adapt what you have learned to your own situation and style.

 

Generally the TNC default parameters will work fine, but remember to set your MYCALL, MYSELCAL and MYPTCAL to your MARS call.  For example, in AMTOR, station NNN0xxx would set his MYCALL to “NN0xxx” and his SELCAL to “Nxxx”.  The PACTOR MYPTCAL would be “NN0xxx”.  Also be sure that CW ID is turned off and the AMTOR Answer Back (AAB)* parameter is set to “DE NN0xxx Nxxx”.  

 

 

* The AAB parameter is used with the PK-232.  KAM calls this the WText Message command.  Check your TNC manual for the parameter which specifies the text to be sent in response to a WRU ("who are you") request.

 

 

 

 

Before connecting to the MDS Board you should be familiar with the following operations using your TNC/Software;

 

· Establishing a AMTOR or PACTOR ARQ connect

· Perform ARQ change over and disconnect

· Perform FEC transmit/receive control

· Load a text file message into a transmit buffer

· Send a message from a file or buffer

· Save a received message to a file

 

If you need help with any of these operations, consult your TNC and Software manuals and help files.  Additionally help is available from other members on our State nets or email to NNN0GAA Ten.  Also check the other info references at the bottom of this page

 

 

 

Retrieving Traffic from the MDS Board

  • Link to the MDS board using the connect command of the TNC/software that you are using.  Once connected, you will receive a welcome message and a command prompt.   In AMTOR the command prompt will be something like “NN0xxx DE NN0MUC QRU GA+?”.  Using PACTOR, the command prompt would be something similar to  “NN0xxx DE NN0MUC nn MSGS>”.
  • Request all traffic for ALABAMA by sending the command RTO NOGAA followed by enter key.  If there is traffic for Alabama it will be printed to your screen.  If there is none, you will receive a printed message to that effect.
  • Kill the traffic that you just received by sending the command KTO NOGAA, or K nnnn (nnnn = the message number(s)).  If you use the command KTO NOGAA you will receive a request to confirm that you wish to kill the traffic just received, usually something like "Please confirm, Y/N".  Reply with a “Y”.  You will then receive verification that the traffic was killed.
  • Sign off with BYE or simply “B” and wait for the board to break the link and put you back to standby mode.

 

Posting Traffic to the MDS board  

 

(Note that out-going traffic may be posted to any NAVMARCORMARS MDS Board.  A list of board locations and frequencies is available at: http://www.navymars.org/national/MBO.pdf

 

·        Format and save the traffic prior to connecting to the board.

 http://navymars.org/national/training/digital.htm, Chapter 3, Section I and II provides an excellent explanation on formatting MARS messages.

 

Also, it is important to follow NTP-8(D) paragraph 802.b which reads;

 

To preserve message accuracy, only the capital letters A through Z, the numerals 0 through 9, question mark, colon, dash, slant, paren, unparen, comma, apostrophe and period may be used in messages entered into the MDS. If other punctuation marks are needed, they may be sent in abbreviated form as specified in Chapter 6.

 

 

·        Assign your serial number.  (A commonly used system is to start each year with 001, 002, etc.)  If you are forwarding a message with another station's serial number, replace it with your station’s call and serial number (example DE NNN0xxx  001).

 

So, for a message addressed to stations in Maine and Texas, for example, the heading would look like this;

 

DE NNN0xxx 001

R ddhhmmZ mth yyyy

FM NNN0xxx AL

TO NNN0xxx ME

NNN0xxx TX

BT

UNCLAS

etc.

 

·        Posting the message to the MDS board.

o       Connect to the Board using the connect command of your TNC/software.  After receiving the welcome message and command prompt form the board you will list your traffic as follows:

 

Transmitting a send command advises the Board that you have traffic to post.  Transmit the send command (see table below), followed with a space and the word “MULTI". The send commands, by traffic precedence, are as follows:

 

Precedence

Prosign

Send Command

  Flash

Z

SZ

  Immediate

O

SY

  Priority

P

SX

  Routine

R

ST

 

So, for example, to upload a routine precedence message to the NMUC board for either single or multi-addee, the command to send would be ST MULTI.

 

When sending traffic to the NMDR board "AT NMDR" is added to the send command, so for the above example you would send "ST MULTI AT NMDR"

 

o       You will then be prompted to send a subject line, followed by the message and to end with ZZZZ.

o       Send a subject line (“1R MULTI”, for example) and then transmit your message file.

(The maximum number of messages per file is ten (10).  Remember to put two or three lines between messages and to end each one with “NNNN” and at the end of the complete file end with “ZZZZ”.)

After the message has been uploaded, you will receive a confirmation of receipt.

 

·         Follow with additional traffic as outlined above or sign off with a BYE or simply “B”.

 

 

Note:

Routing indicators, referred to in NTP 8(D) and other MARS documents, are no longer needed for MDS traffic when entered into the MDS with the pro-word “MULTI” (for example “ST MULTI”), however the state location identifiers must be correct for the message to be processed correctly.  Be sure to use the new state designators for each addee such as CWY for CO and WY, not the old CO/WY.

 

 

 

Afloat Messages:

Most ships no longer use HF radio for communications;  they use satellites and e-mail via satellites so they no longer need and do not have MARS stations on board.

 

Since we no longer contact ships via their MARS stations, Navy-Marine Corps MARS has developed an e-mail system for passing MARSGRAMS to Navy ships.  The message format and commands for entering these MARSGRAMS into the MDS is as follows:

 

Put all messages to ships into the MDS as:

 

ST NN0MDI AT NOASE

1R USS ANCHORAGE

 

Use the following message format:

(Sample message going to USS Anchorage:)

 

 

RR NOMDI

DE NNN0TGV 001

R 081234Z NOV 2005

FM MRS JANE DOE RIDGECREST CA/NNN0TGV SCA

TO PVT JOHN DOE AP/USS ANCHORAGE AP

DIV A2

BT

UNCLAS

TEXT

BT

NNNN

 

 

  

Additional Information:

 

·        NTP 8(D) Chapter 8, 9 and ANNEX E

·        http://navymars.org/national/training/digital.htm

·        General PACTOR information:  http://home.teleport.com/~nb6z/pactor.htm

·        General AMTOR information:  http://home.teleport.com/~nb6z/amtor.htm

  

 

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