WICEN Packet operator Instructions for MEX v4.2 Generic.
Last updated- 30 November 2008
By now you should have downloaded your MEX software.
You
should be running MEX v4.2 Generic. This is a non event specific distro.
The National APRS frequency of 145.175 Mhz should be used for any traffic unless your advised otherwise.
Some useful tips.
- When at all possible
put
a omnidirectional Vertical antenna up for packet on a portable mast.
There are several good reasons to not rely on your mobile whip.
- All traffic is
to be sent to VK5WIE using the MEX format.
- Make sure you are
running the current version of the MEX
distribution.
- The recomended messaging software package is MEX v4.2 and can be downloaded from the
links below.
- There will be some
major
operational changes most likely on
the APRS network. Mobile tracking posits as well as Home posits and
Igate traffic will be greatly affected or compromised in some way
to make WICEN traffic flow well.
- Each time you goto a location and setup you will have to review your STAGE number and
callsign settings if needed.
The
MEX for DOS downloads explained
The EXE file you have downloaded is a
self-extracting
floppy disk creator. This is something that has confused a few in the
past. When you have downloaded MEX you will need a blank floppy disk
(1.44Meg DOS disks only) . Insert your floppy into the drive and run
the EXE file you downloded either from DOS or from Windows. It will ask
you for a drive letter for your floppy. Usually it would be A. Then the
whole package will create a bootable floppy on this drive. A complete
operating system as well as the MEX package preconfigured will be
created on your floppy along with some other useful utilities.
You can boot your Laptop from this floppy and it
will
run MEX for you in a pretty self explanatory way. It will ask you for
information regards your callsign, TNC type and serial baud rate on
your com port. If you just sit back and let it time out each option
will default to the most common setup using a TNC2 or clone at 9600Bd
on COM1. It will still need your callsign.
If it does not work
further HELP can be
found by choosing the H for HELP option on startup option screens.
There are lots of TNC and KISS driver options. Some drivers dont want
to work on some laptop com ports so we have included some further
options for drivers. The help file is also accessible by typing HELP
from the DOS promt on the floppy
If you find that your laptop refuses
to boot from this floppy ( some laptops like the
occasional early Toshiba dont like the operating system we use ) then
you can boot your own operating system into DOS
and then run MEX by typing A:\RUN.BAT
This will use your operating system to run MEX from the floppy. NOTE:
Running MEX from the WINDOWS graphical user environment will not
usually work and will often get you in all sorts of trouble even if it
appears to work.
If you want to make a Hard Disk
Install there
is a new option in the initial bootup menu. Read and follow these
instructions. If your running WIN2000 or XP then you must execute the
INSTALL.BAT yourself. It will not install from this menu. Use the
Windows Start Menu -RUN option to execute the install.bat from the MEX
bootable Floppy. This will create a Mex install on your HD in a folder
called MEX .
Windows XP and 2000 issues. There
appears to be some issues with Mex running under XP and 2000. It wont
run properly due to the way the operating system treats the Packet
Driver. The best work around is to use the RUN option and run up
COMMAND.COM . This is different to CMD.EXE as a DOS prompt. Once you
have a Dos Prompt up with COMMAND.COM then run the RUN.BAT
file or MEX.BAT file if you have a HD install and you should be away.
