Real Packet: Tamás HA8LHT’s All-in-One Windows Packet Radio, BBS, Node, and APRS Platform

TL;DR: Real Packet is a modern, standalone Windows packet radio suite developed by Hungarian radio amateur Tamás Kacsúr (HA8LHT), published on QRP.HU. It unifies the entire AX.25 digital radio experience into a single application, integrating an internal 1200 baud Bell 202 soundcard modem, an interactive connected-mode terminal, a store-and-forward BBS mailbox, an AX.25 and APRS digipeater, a network node explorer, and a live OpenStreetMap APRS tracking interface. Free and currently undergoing active beta testing, Real Packet eliminates the need for separate soundmodem drivers, virtual COM port splitters, and legacy 16-bit software.

What is Real Packet?

Real Packet is a native Windows amateur radio software platform that integrates a 1200 baud AFSK soundcard modem, an AX.25 connected-mode terminal, a BBS mailbox, a packet digipeater, and an APRS mapping engine into a unified interface.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                               Real Packet                               |
|                                                                         |
|  +--------------------+   +---------------------+   +----------------+  |
|  | Soundcard Modem    |   | Hardware KISS TNC   |   | GPS NMEA Port  |  |
|  | (1200 Baud AFSK)   |   | (Up to 115.2 kbps)  |   | ($GPGGA/$GPRMC)|  |
|  +---------+----------+   +----------+----------+   +--------+-------+  |
|            |                         |                       |          |
|            +-------------------------+-----------------------+          |
|                                      |                                  |
|            +-------------------------v-----------------------+          |
|            |             Unified AX.25 Packet Engine         |          |
|            +----+---------------+---------------+-------+----+          |
|                 |               |               |       |               |
|                 v               v               v       v               |
|            [Connected]     [Local BBS]     [Digipeater] [Live APRS]     |
|            [Terminal ]     [ Mailbox ]     [ & Repeater][  Mapping]     |
|            (SABM/UA/RR)    (Messages )     (WIDEn-N Digi(OpenStreetMap) |
|                 |               |               |       |               |
+-----------------|---------------|---------------|-------|---------------+
                  |               |               |       |
                  +-------+-------+---------------+-------+
                          |
                          v
                [VHF / UHF Transceiver]
                 (144.800 / 144.390 / 145.825 MHz)

In the 1990s, packet radio represented the cutting edge of off-grid amateur digital networking. Thousands of operators across the world assembled Baycom modems using AM7910 or TCM3105 chips, operated Digicom software on Commodore 64s, and used Graphic Packet (GP) on DOS computers to connect to local AX.25 Bulletin Board Systems (BBS), route messages through NET/ROM and TheNet nodes, and exchange DX bulletins without the internet.

However, the migration to Windows created severe software fragmentation. Running packet radio on modern PCs increasingly required chaining multiple fragile utilities: virtual serial port bridges (such as com0com or VPE), external soundcard modems (such as AGWPE or UZ7HO Soundmodem), and unmaintained 16-bit or early Win32 applications (such as WinPack, UI-View32, or legacy terminal emulators). The sheer complexity of configuring audio loops, virtual COM ports, and complex text config files drove many operators away.

Tamás Kacsúr (HA8LHT), creator of the Hungarian amateur radio magazine QRP.HU, designed Real Packet to solve this issue. Real Packet combines modem signal processing, connected-mode networking, store-and-forward messaging, and live tactical APRS maps into a plug-and-play desktop environment with zero external dependencies.

Core Modules and Capabilities

Real Packet provides a tabbed modular architecture that gives operators direct access to every major facet of the AX.25 protocol:

[Real Packet Unified Modules]
 ├── 1. Connected-Mode Terminal (Multi-station AX.25 live chat & session logging)
 ├── 2. Built-in BBS Mailbox    (Local store-and-forward message repository)
 ├── 3. Packet & APRS Repeater  (Standalone RF digipeater with duplicate filters)
 ├── 4. Interactive APRS Map    (Leaflet/OSM live tracking, GPS NMEA, & messaging)
 ├── 5. Network Node Directory  (Automatic routing table & gateway explorer)
 └── 6. Station Heard Database  (Indexed packet counters, modes, & timestamps)

1. Interactive Connected-Mode Terminal

The terminal subsystem handles connected AX.25 communication with remote stations, BBS mailboxes, and cluster nodes:

• Session Tab Management: Supports multiple concurrent connected sessions (such as HA5SIM-1 and HA6SIM-1) with independent conversation tabs.
• Protocol Frame Color-Coding: Visually highlights connection establishment (SABM), acknowledgements (UA), receive-ready flow frames (RR), disconnects (DISC), and unnumbered information (UI) payloads.
• Auto-Scroll & Logging: Captures session text with millisecond timestamps and exports clean transcript logs.

2. Built-in BBS (Bulletin Board System) Mailbox

Real Packet includes a built-in local BBS engine. When enabled, other stations on the frequency can connect directly to your station’s callsign-SSID over RF to read public bulletins, browse local message directories, or leave private messages in your mailbox while your station runs unattended.

3. Dedicated Packet & APRS Digipeater

The software acts as a full-featured RF repeater and digipeater:

• AX.25 Frame Relaying: Relays standard connected and unconnected AX.25 frames across local simplex paths.
• WIDEn-N APRS Digipeating: Decrements standard WIDE1-1 and WIDE2-2 hops while inserting its own callsign into the digipeater path.
• Duplicate Frame Filter: Maintains a rolling memory buffer of recently heard frame hashes to prevent packet storms and infinite ping-pong loops between adjacent digipeaters.

4. Live OpenStreetMap APRS Interface

• Vector Map Display: Incorporates Leaflet and OpenStreetMap rendering (supporting aprs.fi, aprs-map.info, or standalone RF-only local maps).
• Live Station Icons & Tracks: Renders received stations with authentic APRS symbols, heading vectors, speed data, and historical path tracks.
• Tabbed APRS Messaging: Provides two-way direct APRS messaging with delivery acknowledgements (ack/rej).
• GPS NMEA Integration: Connects to USB or Bluetooth GPS receivers to parse $GPGGA and $GPRMC NMEA sentences for accurate mobile beaconing.

5. Node Directory and Routing Explorer

As Real Packet monitors on-air traffic, it automatically analyzes routing headers and extracts active network nodes, digipeaters, and gateway paths into an interactive directory. Operators can click any discovered node to inspect its route hops or initiate a connection.

6. Station Heard Database

The software maintains an internal database indexing every heard station:

• Tracks station callsign, SSID, first heard timestamp, last heard timestamp, and total packet count.
• Categorizes station type (Node, Packet terminal, APRS tracker, or iGate).
• Details the exact digipeater path and intermediate hops used by each packet.

Integrated Soundcard Modem vs Hardware TNC

One of Real Packet’s main advantages is its self-contained physical layer:

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Real Packet Physical Layer Options                                    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Option A: Built-in Soundcard Modem                                    |
|   [Sound Card Input] ➔ [PLL Audio Demodulator] ➔ [DCD Squelch Filter] |
|   [Sound Card Output] ➔ [TX Level Linearizer] ➔ [Audio Attenuator]    |
|                                                                       |
| Option B: Hardware KISS TNC                                           |
|   [Serial COM Port] (Up to 115,200 Baud) ➔ [Hardware TNC / Modem]    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

1. Built-in 1200 Baud Bell 202 Soundcard Modem

Real Packet includes an internal software digital signal processor (DSP):

• PLL-Based Demodulator: Decodes standard 1200 Hz (mark) and 2200 Hz (space) audio tones directly from your PC soundcard input.
• Adjustable DCD Hysteresis: Features adjustable Data Carrier Detect (DCD) thresholds to prevent false triggers on background receiver hiss while catching weak, fluttery signals.
• TX Output Linearizer: Lets operators fine-tune audio output drive levels to prevent clipping and harmonic distortion in transmitter audio stages.
• Visual VU Metering: Real-time signal strength and audio level bars simplify gain calibration without an oscilloscope.

2. Hardware KISS TNC Support

For operators running dedicated hardware modems (such as a Kantronics KPC-3 Plus, Mobilinkd TNC, or specialized high-speed modems), Real Packet connects to standard serial COM ports with baud rates selectable up to 115,200 bps.

Comparison: Real Packet vs Established Packet Suites

Hardware Setup and Interfacing

Deploying Real Packet requires standard amateur radio digital mode interfacing hardware:

+-------------------+          +--------------------+          +--------------------+
|   Windows PC      |          | Hardware Interface |          |   VHF/UHF Radio    |
|                   |  Audio   | (Digirig Mobile /  |  K-Plug  | (e.g. Yaesu, Icom, |
| Real Packet Suite |=========>| SignaLink USB /    |=========>| Kenwood, Alinco,   |
| (Built-in Modem)  |  Serial  | BTech APRS Cable)  |  DataIn  | Baofeng, UV-K5)    |
+-------------------+          +--------------------+          +--------------------+

1. Direct Soundcard Connection (Digirig or SignaLink)

1. Connect your USB audio interface (such as a Digirig Mobile, TigerTronics SignaLink USB, or DRA Series) to your PC.
2. Launch Real Packet and click Setup ➔ Audio/TNC.
3. Select your input microphone endpoint and output speaker endpoint.
4. Set PTT triggering to RTS, DTR, or soundcard VOX.
5. Adjust receiver gain until the on-screen audio meter sits comfortably in the green zone during active packet bursts.

2. Using an External KISS TNC

1. Connect your hardware TNC via USB or serial cable.
2. In Real Packet Setup, switch mode from Sound Card to KISS Port.
3. Select the assigned COM port and choose the matching baud rate (such as 9600 or 115200 bps).

Project Status and Beta Feedback

Real Packet is under active engineering development:

• Current Version: v1.561 beta (Regular updates published on QRP.HU).
• Pre-Release Testing: Laboratory testing and field trials are currently underway across Hungarian VHF/UHF repeaters and simplex frequencies.
• Community Feedback: Developer Tamás (HA8LHT) actively solicits user bug reports, feature suggestions, and station logs at [email protected].
• Download Access: The installer is free to download directly from qrp.hu/real-packet/.

Frequently Asked Questions

What operating systems does Real Packet support?

Real Packet is built natively for Microsoft Windows (Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server).

Does Real Packet require virtual COM port software?

No. Real Packet includes its own internal soundcard modem and AX.25 protocol engine, eliminating the need for com0com, VPE, or AGWPE bridges.

Can Real Packet operate as a standalone BBS?

Yes. Real Packet features a built-in BBS mailbox that allows other stations to connect and exchange store-and-forward messages over RF.

Is Real Packet free to use?

Yes. Real Packet is completely free for amateur radio operators with no subscription fees or hardware lock-in.

Who developed Real Packet?

Real Packet is developed by Hungarian amateur radio operator Tamás Kacsúr (HA8LHT), editor of QRP.HU.

Sources and Further Reading

• Real Packet Project Page on QRP.HU
• QRP.HU Amateur Radio Portal
• HA8LHT QRZ Profile
• AX.25 Link Access Protocol for Amateur Packet Radio
• APRS 1.01 Protocol Specification

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