Most of the documentation for RDCP/Mac assumes that the TNC has been functioning with some other software and that all the core parameters have been set at one time or another. However, a TNC just out of the box or after after an EPROM upgrade will not function with RDCP/Mac since several of the internal settings in the TNC are not correct. These include:

• INTFACE
• MYCALL
• MYPBBS
• USERS
• Various communications parameters.

And perhaps several others.

This will describe a "first time, play with the new toy" method to get the computer, software and TNC communicating. It should be noted that this process should only be needed occasionally.

A new TNC doesn't know the call sign to use, it doesn't know how to communicate with the computer and it is set in a NEWUSER mode or INTFACE.

A couple of cautions before we begin:

If using a PowerBook with a single port, check the Chooser and make sure that AppleTalk is disabled.

Assuming RDCP/Mac is installed correctly (Check the "Read Me's), shut off your computer. Make sure the TNC is off and then connect the cable between the computer and TNC. Normally on desktop Macs you would use the "modem" port - the one with the telephone icon. Some PowerBooks only have one port. The cable MUST be a hardware handshaking type. Normally a good quality MODEM cable will function,but the key to correct operation is HARDWARE HANDSHAKING.

Start your computer and turn on your TNC. Once the computer is running, find the RDCP/Mac application, HOLD DOWN THE OPTION KEY on the keyboard and double click on the application to launch. You may release the option key when the first little dialog appears which should be the enter call dialog.

RDCP/Mac will continue with the splash screen and should display something like "Starting...(TERMINAL)"

Shortly the "TNC Window" will appear. There may be garbage showing in the lower portion of the window. That is a good sign. Don't be concerned if there is or isn't. You might want to grab the lower right hand corner of the window and expand it downward to display more area.

Now in the "Edit" menu, select the item "Communications..." This will set the communications between the computer and the TNC. On the dialog that appears set the following:

• Method = Serial Tool
• Baud = 9600 (can be anything you desire within your TNC model's capability - some TNCs can communicate faster. Check the ABAUD values in your Kantronics TNC manual)
• Parity = None
• Data Bits = 8
• Stop Bits = 1
• Handshake = DTR&CTS (very important)
• Port - an ICON - the port you are using to the TNC.

Click OK.

Until fully defined, the TNC default for RDCP/Mac is the KPC-3. Select the "TNC Definition..." item in the "Edit" menu and change to your TNC model or verify that it is set to the KPC-3. (In our example we will be using a KAM Plus) Click OK. You may want to return to this later to define your startup and shutdown scripts as well as other items.

The only window open should be the "TNC Window" and by now the bottom section of the window should be filling with garbage.

Move the pointer to the lower part of the window - the portion displaying the junk. Click the mouse to select that section.

Prepare to enter the * (shift-8) when the text "PRESS (*) TO SET BAUD RATE" appears as displayed below. Pressing the * will set the TNC to the settings we set above when we selected "Communications...". Namely, the ABAUD, PARITY, etc.

After the * is pressed, the TNC will ask "ENTER YOUR CALLSIGN=> " Here we entered n0key and pressed the return key. Don't be concerned if the characters appear twice. After the call is entered, the window should appear as below.

One more item is important. We need to set the INTFACE to TERM. At the "cmd:" prompt in the window type "INT TERM" (without the quotes and the case isn't important) and press return.

Other than some checks we did regarding the MYPBBS, MYNODE, etc., calls (the TNC defaults) the window should appear something like bottom few lines of the below..

One more item you may want to change while in this area is USERS. The default is 1/1 for the KAM. Study this command in your Kantronics manual. (We use 4/3 as an example.)

This would set the TNC settings for proper use with RDCP/Mac. At this point you could quit and restart RDCP/Mac. It should then correctly identify your TNC and open the necessary windows on this restart. With the internal battery backup, the settings you just made (INT, your call, etc.) should remain stored in the TNC even if power is shut off.

You could also (without quitting) just select the "Enter HODE Mode" in the "TNC Mode Controls" item of the "Control" menu. Then open the 0 (zero) stream windows for the available port(s).

Normally you won't need to do this procedure again until an EPROM upgrade.

This only covers the basics. A careful study of the Kantronics TNC manual will reveal other settings you may want to change and the "Hints" section of the RDCP/Mac documention provides some additional, but limited information.