G8BPQ NODE Commands
User Commands
This document gives basic usage information for each command. There is another (rather old) document here which gives a lot of information on interpreting the output of some of the commands.
General Commands
These are the commands that a typical user might need.
?
Displays a list of commonly used node commands.
APRS
The APRS command has a number of subcommands – ENABLEIGATE DISABLEIGATE MSGS SEND SENT STATUS RECONFIG
Some are user mode commands, and some (SEND, ENABLE, DISABLE and RECONFIG) need SYSOP status
MSGS displays received APRS messages, and SENT displays sent messages.
SEND has two parameters, call and message, eg SEND G8BPQ Hello
If given without a valid subcommand displays APRS stations heard. The output can be filtered with a port number or partial callsign, eg
APRS 1 or APRS G8
Attach
With some ports that only support a single user, such as WINMOR or Pactor, you have to get exclusive control of the port before connecting. Use the ATTACH command for this.
ATTACH 2
C Callsign
Bye
Disconnect from Node, Same as Quit.
Connect
The connect command initiates a connection to another station. To call a station in the Nodes list, enter C Call or C Alias. To call a station not in the Nodes list you have to specify the port, and you can if required specify digipeaters to be used.
If you want to connect on a port that would normally need an ATTACH, you can do the attach and connect in one step by specifying a digipeater of WINMOR or PACTOR. This is mainly for use by software such as Airmail that con connect via digipeaters but can’t use a connect script.
Normally the system will make an L4 (NETROM) connect to a call that is in your NODES table. You can force a level 2 connect by specifying a port number and preceding the call with a !
Connect to Node or Alias C BPQPMS
Downlink connect via digis C 2 G8BPQ v DIGI1 DIGI2
Pactor "Attach and Connect" C 3 G8BPQ v PACTOR
Force L2 connect to Node C 2 !G8BPQ
The Telnet Server has additional forms of the Connect command. See Here for details.
Normally a user will be disconnected when the connection is closed. You can instruct the node to remain connected to the current node when the new connection is closed by adding an S (for STAY) to the end of the connect command.
CQ
Sends a beacon to address CQ. Can only be used in LISTEN mode, and only if LISTENing on one port. See LISTEN command below
IDLEtime
Sets the Idle session timeout for this session.
Info
Display information about this Node.
L4t1
Sets the Level 4 (Netrom) retry timer for this session
Links
The LINKS command lists the currently active AX.25 Sessions (Both user access and node-node links)
LISten port(s)
Enters Listen mode on the specified port(s). When in Listen mode you will see a trace of traffic on the port, and if you are only listening on one port the node will accept a connection to your call. The SSID must be inverted in the normal Netrom fashion, so if you connected to the Node as G8BPQ a user has to call G8BPQ-15. So long as you are only listening on one port you can use the CQ command to send a beacon to indicate that you are listening for calls. While in Listen mode you can’t connect to other stations, and if someone calls you Listen is cancelled. Type LISTEN OFF to exit listen mode.
Mheard port
Lists stations heard recently on the specified port. Output can be filtered with a partial callsign, eg MH 2 G8
There are three variants of MH – MHV which lists in a more structured (verbose) way, and MHU and MHL which display timestamps in clock time (UTC or Local) instead of the default of time since last heard.
A user with SYSOP status can clear the list with the MH p CLEAR command.
Nodes
The NODES command displays information from the NETROM Nodes table. There are a number of options.
N on its own displays the whole table in alias order
N C displays the whole table in callsign order
N T displays round trip time and packet count for all stations that the node has sent packets to.
N CALL or N Alias displays information for the specified call+ssid or alias.
N CALL* will display information for all SSID’s of the specified call.
N VIA CALL will display all stations reachable via the specified neighbour.
NRR Call
Sends a Netrom Record Route message to the specified node. If the node is reachable and supports NRR, a message will be displayed showing the path that the message took to the target node and back.
PAClen
Sets PACLEN for this session
PASSWORD
Enters SYSOP Mode. See here for details.
Ports
Displays a list of the ports configured on this node.
Quit
Disconnect from Node, Same as Bye.
RADio
Used by the Rig Control Interface. See here for details.
Routes
The ROUTES command lists the nodes that this station has a direct link to (Neighbours).
Stats
The STATS command displays a number of counters. S on its own displays the system counter and port counters for the first 7 ports. S P displays ports stats only for the 7 ports starting from P. S S displays just the system counters.
UNproto
Enters UNPROTO mode, where you can send UI messages. The command format is UNPROTO Port CALL [Optional Digis]. When in Unproto Mode anything you type will be send as a UI frame to the port and destination you specified. This could be used in conjunction with the LISTEN command to have an multiuser conversation. Use Ctrl/Z to exit UNPROTO mode
Users
The USERS command lists the stations currently using the node.
Version
Displays the version number of the Node software
Specialist Commands
These are the commands that are more likely to be used by a sysop, but do not require a password.
AGWstatus
Displays the status of the AGWPE emulator.
ARP
Display the IP ARP Table. Only available if the Node is running the IP Gateway feature.
AXResolver Port
Displays the AXIP Resolver table for the specified port.
AXMheard Port
Displays the AXIP Heard list for the specified port.
IPRoute [Filter]
Display the IP Routing Table. If Filter is specified onyl entries starting with the specified string will be displayed. Only available if the Node is running the IP Gateway feature.
NAT
Display the IP NAT Table. Only available if the Node is running the IP Gateway feature.
PIng a.b.c.d
Send an ICMP Echo Request (“Ping”) to the specified IP Address. Only available if the Node is running the IP Gateway feature.
TELstatus Port
Displays the Telnet Server connection status for the specified port.
John Wiseman, G8BPQ
October 2018
Updated December 2020