G8BPQ TNC2 Emulator

This program (BPQTNC2.EXE) enables software which expects to see a real TNC connected to a serial port to be used with the BPQ32 node. The software uses the G8BPQ Virtual Serial Driver to create virtual COM ports. Up to 5 simultaneous connections are allowed.

Installation

First install the G8BPQ Virtual Serial Driver . Files BPQTNC2.EXE, BPQTNC2.DLL and BPQVSP.DLL should be copied to the same directory as your other BPQ32 software. Then decide which COM ports you want to be used by your applications. The Virtual Driver allows any port in the range COM1 to COM255, but you must avoid any real COM ports you may have, along with any other virtual ports (such as USB and Bluetooth Ports). Also check that the program you want to use to connect to BPQ32 supports the chosen ports. Most modern software allows the full range, but older stuff may limit you to COM1-COM9 or even COM1-COM4.

Then run BPQTNC2.

The first time it is run, all the COM and Type fields will be blank, and the BPQ Port fields will be zeros. Enter the port numbers you want to use in the COM fields, and set the corresponding Type fields to "V". The current version only supports Virtual COM ports - a later version will also allow you to use real COM hardware.Click the "Save Settings" button, then close and restart the program. This time the BPQ Ports boxes should contain the BPQ Streams to be used. If this is the first BPQ32 software to be started, then these will be from one upwards, but if you are already running other Apps (eg BPQTerminal) they may be higher.

Operation

You can now start the application(s) you want to use. Most of my testing has been with Hyperterminal, but any terminal program should work. The Tick Box to the left of the BPQTNC2 display should be selected as soon as the program connects to the COM port. The interface is similar to a TNC2, although not all TNC2 commands are supported. Try ECHO ON. Commands K or C SWITCH should connect you to the Node. The DCD checkbox should activate when you are connected.