Message:24345 In: HARDS.USA
From: N9LYADate: Tue, 16 Jun 26 19:25:00 Z
Newsgroups: HARDS.USA
Subject: HARDS Newsletter
Message-ID: <5912_N9LYA>
Path: K7EK|VE3CGR|CX2SA|N6RME|AA6HF|GB7CIP|VE3KPG|N9PMO|N9LYA
R:260617/2119z @:K7EK.#NOKY.KY.USA.NOAM $:5912_N9LYA
R:260617/2105Z 81993@VE3CGR.#SCON.ON.CAN.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.25
R:260617/2100Z @:CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM #:833 [Salto] FBB7.00e $:5912_N9LYA
R:260617/2054Z @:N6RME.#NCA.CA.USA.NOAM #:41296 [El Dorado] $:5912_N9LYA
R:260617/2034z @:AA6HF.#SCA.CA.USA.NOAM [Palm Springs] $:5912_N9LYA
R:260617/1307Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:62693 [Caterham Surrey GBR] $:5912_N9LYA
R:260616/1948Z 24517@VE3KPG.#ECON.ON.CAN.NOAM BPQ6.0.25
R:260616/1948Z 7657@N9PMO.N9PMO.#SEWI.WI.USA.NA BPQ6.0.25
R:260616/1925Z 5912@N9LYA.#SIN.IN.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.25
========================================================================
K9BBS
June 2026 | Vol. 1, Issue 6
Hoosier Amateur Radio Digital Society
Keeping Packet Alive Across the Hoosier State
Packet Radio * 44Net/AMPRNet * Winlink * APRS * Digital Modes
========================================================================
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S SHACK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fellow HARDS members and digital enthusiasts -- welcome to the June 2026
edition of the K9BBS bulletin. Summer is here, band conditions remain
favorable for digital work, and the biggest weekend on the ham calendar
is closing in fast: ARRL Field Day, set for June 27-28 this year (the
fourth full weekend of June). If your packet or digital station has been
gathering dust, now's the time to get it back on the air before Field
Day weekend.
This month we look at what's changed across the 44Net AMPRNet mesh,
recap packet and Winlink activity heading into Field Day season, and
walk through setting up a WireGuard peer for 44Net -- a great option for
stations behind dynamic IPs or double-NAT connections.
As always, if you have news, a tech article, or an on-air report to
contribute, please drop us a message at K9BBS@winlink.org or check in
during the weekly digital net. 73 de K9BBS.
44NET / AMPRNET INDIANA UPDATE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
What Is AMPRNet?
----------------
The Amateur Packet Radio Network (AMPRNet) is a globally allocated IP
address block -- 44.0.0.0/8 -- reserved exclusively for licensed amateur
radio operators. Established in the 1980s for TCP/IP experimentation
over ham radio links, the network continues to thrive through a mix of
RF links, IPIP encapsulated tunnels, and WireGuard VPN connections
managed through the ARDC portal at portal.ampr.org.
Indiana 44Net Activity
----------------------
Indiana's 44Net allocation continues to see steady growth this spring.
Several nodes are routing live traffic across the mesh, including
Winlink RMS gateways, APRS-IS feeds bridged over 44Net, and experimental
VoIP links. More Indiana stations are migrating from legacy IPIP tunnels
to WireGuard peers, taking advantage of better NAT traversal and a
simpler setup -- see the table below and this month's Tech Tip for a
walkthrough.
Node/Call | Type | 44Net Addr | Status
------------------+---------------+------------+---------
N9LYA-8 (LYANOD) | LinBPQ | 44.48.0.42 | Active
W9OTR | Winlink RMS | 44.x.x.x | Active
KD9ABC-8 | APRS IGate | 44.x.x.x | Active
N9TEST-2 | Experimental | 44.x.x.x | Testing
NOTE: N9LYA-8's address reflects its actual 44Net allocation; other
entries are representative placeholders. Check portal.ampr.org for
current allocations.
IPIP Mesh vs. WireGuard -- What's the Difference?
-------------------------------------------------
Indiana nodes currently use two methods to reach the AMPRNet backbone:
* IPIP Encapsulation (legacy): The original AMPRNet tunnel technology.
Routes are distributed via ampr-ripd (RIP daemon), and the kernel tunl0
interface carries encapsulated 44Net packets over your WAN IP. Requires
a static or properly configured WAN endpoint and an active startup
script for ampr-ripd.
* WireGuard (modern): The ARDC portal supports WireGuard peers as an
alternative to IPIP. WireGuard offers better NAT traversal, encrypted
tunnels, and simpler routing. Highly recommended for new nodes or
stations behind dynamic IPs. MikroTik RB5009 and similar routers support
WireGuard natively.
NODE SPOTLIGHT: N9LYA-8 / N9LYA-1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This month we're highlighting N9LYA's station, which has grown into one
of the more fully loaded multi-mode digital setups in the state. The
BPQ32 node N9LYA-8 alone is running 15 active ports -- VHF APRS, dual
9.6k OpenNET digipeater channels, AX/IP/UDP internet linking, Telnet
access, automated rig control, and a full spread of HF digital modes
(Pactor, ARDOP, and VARA) across two HF rigs.
Port | Mode/Use | Freq or ID
------+-----------------------+-------------------
1 | APRS (Icom 2200H) | 144.390 MHz
2 | OpenNET 9.6k | 223.600 MHz
3 | AX/IP/UDP | Internet Linking
4 | Pactor (SCS) | 746PRO
5 | OpenNET 9.6k (TEKK) | 432.250 MHz
6 | Skipnet RPR/HF | 706MKIIG
7 | Telnet Server | --
8 | HF Skipnet NET105 | 14.105 MHz
9 | OpenNET 1.2k | 145.050 MHz
10 | Tracker (LSB) | 10.1473 MHz
11 | ARDOP | 746PRO
12 | ARDOP | 706
13 | VARA | 706
14 | VARA | 746
15 | Internal Loopback | --
64 | Rig Control | --
A second box on the network runs N9LYA-1 (44.48.0.41), a PC/FlexNet node
under DOSemu, linking into the EastNet Packet Network (grid EM68sr)
toward N2KGC and WB2CMF. Those two links are still being worked on the
connectivity side, but N9LYA's local FlexNet links are confirmed solid.
Got a node worth featuring? Send the details to K9BBS@winlink.org for a
future Node Spotlight.
PACKET RADIO CORNER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The BBS Is Open -- Connect Today
--------------------------------
The K9BBS packet BBS is live and accepting connections on 145.05 MHz
(1200 baud AFSK) and via the 44Net mesh for stations with a 44.x.x.x
address. Whether you're running a classic TNC-2 clone, a Kantronics
KPC-3+, or a software TNC like Direwolf, you should be able to connect
directly. First time? Just CONNECT K9BBS from your terminal and type H
for the help menu.
Recommended Software for New Packet Stations
--------------------------------------------
* Direwolf -- Free software TNC supporting 1200 and 9600 baud. Runs on
Linux, Windows, and Raspberry Pi.
* JNOS 2.0 -- Full-featured NET/ROM + BBS stack. Ideal for a dedicated
node.
* LinBPQ / BPQ32 -- John Wiseman's cross-platform node software.
Excellent for linking modes.
* Pat (Winlink) -- Modern Winlink client for Linux/Windows supporting
multiple RF modes.
* APRSISCE/32 -- Windows APRS client with full APRS-IS and RF support.
Field Day tip: VHF/UHF packet and Winlink contacts made during the Field
Day operating period can count toward your club's digital bonus points
-- check the current ARRL Field Day rules for the specifics before the
weekend.
WINLINK / DIGITAL EMAIL REPORT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winlink traffic across Indiana gateways remains steady heading into the
summer Field Day season. VARA FM and VARA HF continue to dominate in
terms of throughput, while Packet (AX.25) gateways still serve stations
using legacy hardware. If you're planning to claim Winlink-related bonus
points for Field Day, get your Winlink Express or Pat client tested and
your account current well before June 27.
Indiana Winlink RMS Gateway frequencies (partial list):
Callsign | Mode | Frequency | Location
----------+-----------+---------------+--------------
K9BBS | Pkt/VARA | 145.05 MHz | S. Indiana
W9OTR | VARA FM | 145.010 MHz | Indianapolis
KD9ABC | VARA HF | 14.108.0 MHz | Statewide
TECH TIP OF THE MONTH
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Setting Up a WireGuard Peer for 44Net via the ARDC Portal
---------------------------------------------------------
Last month's bulletin covered keeping a legacy IPIP/ampr-ripd node alive
with a systemd service. This month, for stations behind dynamic IPs,
double-NAT, or CGNAT -- common on many home internet connections --
WireGuard is the easier and more reliable path onto the 44Net mesh.
Here's how to get a basic WireGuard peer running against the ARDC
portal.
1. Request a WireGuard peer on the portal:
Log into portal.ampr.org with your ARDC/AMPRNet account, navigate to
your assigned 44Net subnet, and add a new WireGuard tunnel. The
portal generates a peer configuration showing the AMPRNet gateway's
public key, endpoint, and the 44.x.x.x address assigned to your
tunnel.
2. Generate your local keypair (Linux):
wg genkey | tee privatekey | wg pubkey > publickey
3. Build your local interface config
(e.g., /etc/wireguard/wg-44net.conf):
[Interface]
PrivateKey =
Address = 44.x.x.x/32
[Peer]
PublicKey =
Endpoint =
AllowedIPs = 44.0.0.0/8
PersistentKeepalive = 25
4. Bring up the tunnel and verify:
sudo wg-quick up wg-44net
ip route show | grep 44.
ping 44.0.0.1
MikroTik RouterOS, OpenWRT, and most modern routers support WireGuard
natively -- if you're running 44Net on a router instead of a Linux box,
the same portal-generated keys and endpoint drop directly into your
router's WireGuard peer configuration. PersistentKeepalive matters most
behind NAT; without it, the tunnel can go idle silently and routes stop
updating.
Bonus: once the tunnel is up, the portal pushes routing updates over the
WireGuard link automatically -- unlike the IPIP/ampr-ripd setup, there's
no separate RIP daemon to babysit.
CLUB INFO & NET SCHEDULE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Field | Value
----------------------+------------------------------------------------
Club Callsign | K9BBS
Weekly Net (Digital) | Sat 1:00 PM & Sun 8:00 AM Local
BBS Frequency | 145.05 MHz (1200 baud)
Winlink Gateway | W9OTR
Club Website | hfskipnet.net
44Net Coordinator | N9LYA -- n9lya4@gmail.com
Membership Info | Via website or Winlink msg
Mailing List | hards@kutche.net
Field Day 2026 | June 27-28 (4th full weekend)
Field Day Site | TBD -- watch hards@kutche.net
========================================================================
Hoosier Amateur Radio Digital Society | K9BBS | Indiana, USA
Published monthly. Content contributed by club members.
Licensed amateur operators only. 73 de K9BBS * June 2026
========================================================================
73 Jerry N9LYA
https://n9lya.com
n9lya4@gmail.com
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