I tested the RadioMail app with a PiTNC. This is a TNC that is coupled with a Raspberri Pi.
Setup takes a while to configure, but the Raspberry Pi and PiTNC combo works as a small packet modem for RadioMail.
See notes below for configuration details. If you find any errors / omissions / typos, please let the group know. In particular, I’m sure there is a more elegant way to use netcat and avahi rather than two separate terminal windows.
73 de KD6RZX!
Tom
RadioMail using a PiTNC Hat
Get a fresh image of RaspiOS, and load it onto a microSD card.
Image files can be found at raspberrypi.com
Do the usual updates and upgrades
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
Install Java
sudo apt-get install openjdk-11-jre
Install Avahi Utilities
sudo apt-get install avahi-utils
Edit Avahi configuration
sudo nano /etc/avahi/avahi-daemon.conf
Scroll down and find the lines with publish-hinfo=no and publish-workstation=no. Change the values from no to yes and save the file.
Restart and test the Avahi daemon
sudo systemctl restart avahi-daemon
sudo avahi-browse -a
(Note: the terminal window may appear ‘stuck’ as the $ line does not reappear while running this type of process. After testing, do a <ctrl-C> to end the process.)
Setup serial port
sudo raspi-config
(Select Interfaces and then Serial. Set No for ‘Login Shell’ and Yes for ‘Port Hardware’. Apply the changes and exit.)
Get pitnc.zip from www.tnc-x.com/params.zip
Extract the to files to a folder you’ll remember, like /home/pi/pitnc , and set the ‘Execute’ permissions on the two extracted files to ‘Only Owner’.
(Note: In File Manager, set the ‘Execute’ permissions properties to ‘Only Owner’ for both pitnc_getparams and pitnc_setparams.)
Test serial port modem
sudo /home/pi/pitnc/pitnc_getparams /dev/serial0 0
(Note: the file path shown above /home/pi/pitnc/ may be different, depending on where you extracted the pitnc_getparams file.)
Link your iPhone with the Raspberry Pi via Bluetooth
Right click the Bluetooth icon at the upper right of the desktop, and set as ‘Discoverable’. Open the Bluetooth settings on the iPhone, and connect to the Raspberry Pi.
In a new Terminal window, open port 8001 for the connection between the iPhone and the TNC.
nc -k -l 8001 > /dev/ttyS0 < /dev/ttyS0
(Note: the terminal window may appear ‘stuck’ as the $ line does not reappear while running this type of process. This is OK – leave it in that state, and open a new Terminal window for the next step.)
In a new Terminal window, publish the port, so it can be found in the RadioMail TNC list.
avahi-publish -s "My TNC" _kiss-tnc._tcp 8001 "pn=1200"
(Note: The TNC name can be changed to a different value if you wish, but keep it short.
(Note: the terminal window may appear ‘stuck’ as the $ line does not reappear while running this type of process. As above, this is OK.)
Configure RadioMail.
Settings – Kiss TNC – Default TNC – Select “My TNC”
(Note: the name of the TNC will be the value you used when publishing the port above.)
Once your radio is connected to the TNC, and you have set the radio to the correct frequency for the CMS you wish to connect to, you can poll (check mail) by using the RadioMail app.