27-Mar-07: The KPC-3 was discontinued in 1996 with the KPC-3+ as the recommended replacement.  See the Kantronics links below for specifications, information on these TNCs.

Some emergency communications teams who are researching using the KPC3+ as a "BBS in a Box" for backup packet communications in the event of the loss of their full-up PC-based BBS.  This particular TNC supports multiple concurrent connects.  See the BBS Notes below for details.

http://www.kantronics.com/products/kpc3.html

http://www.kantronics.com/legacy.html

The following is a typical listing of the KPC3Plus as could be seen by Outpost.

cmd:c kn6pe-1

cmd:*** CONNECTED to KN6PE-1

[KPC3P-8.2-HM$]

99845 BYTES AVAILABLE

THERE ARE 2 MESSAGES NUMBERED 36-37

Welcome to the Cupertino OES/ARES/RACES PBBS

YOU HAVE 1 MESSAGE(S) WAITING

ENTER COMMAND: B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help >

lm

MSG#  ST SIZE TO     FROM  DATE              SUBJECT

36    PH 66   KN6PE  W6TDM 01/21/07 10:01:43 Are we ready?

ENTER COMMAND: B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help >

r 36

MSG#36 01/21/07 10:01:43 FROM W6TDM TO KN6PE

SUBJECT: Are we ready?

PATH: KN6PE

Jim, please let me know if there is anything left to do.

ENTER COMMAND: B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help >

k 36

MSG#36 01/21/07 10:01:43 FROM W6TDM TO KN6PE

MESSAGE DELETED

ENTER COMMAND: B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help >

b

*** DISCONNECTED 

The KPC2 and KPC3-5 version of the firmware is similar in that it adds the extra string #### BYTES AVAILABLE at connect time and with each List command.  

cmd:C CERT-5
*** CONNECTED to CERT-5
[KPC3-5.0-HM$]
4605 BYTES AVAILABLE
ENTER COMMAND: B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help >
LB
MSG# ST SIZE TO FROM DATE SUBJECT
13 B 276 CERT W1WAB 04/26/08 23:22:59 NTS104: EAGLE NET NTS AVAI
4605 BYTES AVAILABLE
NEXT MESSAGE NUMBER 18
ENTER COMMAND: B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help >
R 13
MSG#13 04/26/08 23:22:59 FROM W1WAB TO CERT
SUBJECT: NTS104: EAGLE NET NTS AVAILABLE @ W1WAB-5
!RDR!LIMITED NTS TRAFFIC CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE EAGLE NET
[8:30PM; NI4CE SYSTEM- 145.430; PL 100] ON THE
W1WAB-5 BBS @ 144.390.

NTS TRAFFIC ALSO ACCEPTED VIA EMAIL AT W1WAB@ARRL.NET.

Bill W1WAB
AEC-Hillsborough
NTS - EAGLE NET

ENTER COMMAND: B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help >
B

*** DISCONNECTED
cmd:

IMPLEMENTATION

SID = [KPC3-5.1-HM$]

SID = [KPC3P-8.2-HM$]

SID = [KPC9612-7.0-HM$]

Outpost looks for the "[KPC3" and "[KPC9" phrases of the SID as the means for identifying these TNCs.  Once identified, all three BBSs are handled identically.

The KPCx PBBS Prompt is  fixed, and Outpost defaults to "Help >". 

CONFIRMATION

Operational

CONSIDERATIONS

None

SPECIAL CONFIGURATIONS, SETTINGS
The KPC3 and KPC3+ both work identically from an Outpost point of view.  The KPC3 PBBS was the basis for the original Outpost development, and continues to be a reportedly popular PBBS in the packet community.  

If your KPC3+ and KPC9612+ has firmware version v9.0 or greater, the important PBBS difference is that these TNCs support multiple concurrent user connects to the PBBS.  Some teams are researching using the KPC3+ as a "BBS in a Box" for backup packet communications in the event of the loss of a PC-based BBS.  The TNC commands needed are:

MAXUSERS n (n = 1 - 26), default = 10
PBUsers n (n = 1 - 10), default = 1
USers n ((n = 1 - 26), default = 1

A working configuration for 5 concurrent users would be:

MAXUSERS 5
PBUsers 5
USers 5

These commands control the maximum number of connects allowed to the PBBS.  This command causes a soft reset if "n" is different from its previous value.  Your settings may be different if you intend to allow KA-Node access or digipeating to occur simultaneously.  You may need to play with these settings depending on the amount of memory your TNC has.

KPC3P-E6ED7265-8.2 - [KPC3P-8.2-HM$]

BBS Commands

B(ye)         PBBS WILL DISCONNECT

KPC-9612 vers7.0 - [KPC9612-7.0-HM$]

BBS Commands

Same as above, but excludes the E(dit) Command