Epson manual Setting the MFJ-1278B to Normal Operation, How do I Invoke Multi-Connect?, Conperm

MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE ADVANCED OPERATION

Multiple connection capability is a very powerful addition to the MFJ-1278B. It is very useful for traffic net operation, multi-user bulletin boards, path checking and so forth.

Multiple connection operation is not the same as multi-way operation. With multiple connect, you may establish several point-to-point "links" with various stations. Multi-way, which is not available, would enable multiple stations to be simultaneously interconnected to each other, with each station seeing all data passed from any station in the group, error free.

Multiple connection operation is another step on the road to proper networking, and networking should eventually allow multi-way operation.

Setting the MFJ-1278B to Normal Operation

The MFJ-1278B defaults the multi-connection-related commands to the following parameters:

CONPERM	OFF
STREAMCAll	OFF
STREAMDouBLe	OFF
STREAMSWitch
USERS	1

This sets up the MFJ-1278B to act just like a "normal" TNC does, that does not support multiple connections. The key to obtaining this traditional operation is to set USERS 1.

How do I Invoke Multi-Connect?

If USERS is not 1, you are telling the MFJ-1278B to allow multiple connections to your stations from other stations. In addition, TRANSPARENT mode will operate differently, in that incoming data will be prefixed with the current STREAMSWitch character and identifier (such as "A"). Thus, truly transparent operation is not possible with this software release supporting multiple-connections.

The STREAMSWitch character, defaulted to "", should be set to a character you won't normally use. Note that this character may be set to a hex value between $0 and $FF. This may allow you to use 8-bit characters (AWLEN 8) if your terminal or computer is capable of generating such "characters." This could help prevent confusion in interpreting incoming data from other stations if they happen to send data that includes your selected STREAMSWitch character.

Although not fool proof, enabling STREAMDBL may also help in sorting out STREAMSWitch characters included in the received data from a valid stream switch generated by the MFJ-1278B.