Great Falls Area Packet Radio Resources
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
PLEASE NOTE !
Due to the location change of the GFAARC facilities - Packet
systems have been or will become unavailable - check here for changes - or contact
BOB N7CZ 
MSOWX UPDATE: There
is now a path from Great Falls to Missoula.
A Letter from BILL (KC7CIS) of Lincoln
about how the new system works
Click on a Callsign Below For More Information About That System.
Back to the Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Home Page:
w7eca.org
| CALL | ALIAS | TYPE | LOCATION | FREQ. |
| W7ECA-2 | GTF | X-1J NODE | OFF-LINE | OFF-LINE |
| *W7ECA-4 | #GTF | X-1J NODE | OFF-LINE | OFF-LINE |
| W7ECA | GFAARC | X-1J NODE | OFF-LINE | OFF-LINE |
| W7ECA-1 | GTFBBS | MSYS BBS | OFF-LINE | OFF-LINE |
| GTFLAN | NODE | OFF-LINE | OFF-LINE |
|
GTFDX |
PacketCluster Node |
West Great Falls |
145.010MHz |
|
WGTF |
PacketSwitch/Node |
West Great Falls |
145.010MHz |
|
LNC |
KA-NODE |
Sunset Mountain |
145.010MHz |
NOTES:
* This is a "BACKBONE" node and is for BBS forwarding only.
REFER TO THE TABLE ABOVE FOR CURRENT INFORMATION.
THE INFORMATION BELOW WILL BE UPDATED WHEN THE SYSTEMS ARE PLACED BACK ONLINE.
Located atop Kings Hill Ski Resort is the GTF:N7AGP-4 X-1J Network Node. You can connect to GTF, then use the R command to find out other NODES that GTF can connect directly to. This is referred to as "NODE HOPPING". Operating frequency is 145.010MHz.
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Also located at the GFAARC Club House is the GTFBBS:W7ECA-1 MSYS BBS system. This system is running MSYS BBS software and is a full service BBS. You can send and read messages to/from all over the world. Local messages are forwarded through other BBS systems. GTFBBS also receives messages from all over the world from other BBS systems. GTFBBS' sysop is Kelly AC7EW. Operating frequencies are 145.010MHz (remote users), 145.050MHz (local users), and 145.110MHz (keyboarder frequency access).
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Located at the GFAARC Club House on the north rim of Great Falls is the W7ECA-2 Node. This system is capable of switching between frequencies, or simply NODE HOPPING on the same frequency. Type HELP for online help for this system. W7ECA sysop is Kelly AC7EW. Operating frequencies are 145.010MHz, 145.050MHz, and 145.110MHz. You must specify a PORT# for connect commands on this system. Use the P command for a list of available ports.
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Located on top of a hill on the west side of Great Falls is the GTFDX:N7CZ PacketCluster. GTFDX is a full service PacketCluster which participates in the West Coast Mega-Cluster. PacketClusters provide DX spotting information, chat functions, messaging, and SkyWarn weather spotting support. Sysop is Bob N7CZ. Operating frequeny is 145.010MHz.
The club BBS has been disabled. It has been
suffering from a Y2K glitch. I have installed PacketSwitch for now. Kelly AC7EW is the new SYSOP of the BBS and will be installing
new BBS software as soon as possible.
For now, the system will function like a node on 145.010. The other 2M ports have been
disabled due to antenna issues.
Please direct any questions regarding the PacketCluster to me at n7cz@hamsnet.net
73
Bob N7CZ
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Also located in the same location as the GTFDX system is the WGTF:N7CZ-2 PacketSwitch/Network Node. This system can be used to NODE HOP or switch between frequencies. Sysop is Bob N7CZ. The operating frequency is 145.010MHz. Type H for help or P for ports information. DXC will connect you directly to the GTFDX:N7CZ PacketCluster system.
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Located High atop Sunset Mountain overlooking beutiful Roger's Pass west of Great Falls is the LNC:KC7CIS-2 KA-NODE. KA-NODEs function a little differently than your typical Network Node. (Like GTF for example) If you wish to connect to the node, you must use the LNC alias. If you simply with to "digi" through the node, then you can use KC7CIS-2 or LNC. (Example: C GTF V KC7CIS-2 In this example, you are entering the connect comand to your TNC telling it to Connect to GTF Via KC7CIS-2. When transmitted KC7CIS-2 will hear that the connect request is directed via itself, and retransmit the connect request with out having a direct connection to the KC7CIS-2 KA-NODE. This is known as "digipeating". Sysop & owner is Bill KC7CIS in Lincoln, MT.
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If you are interested in learning more about Packet Radio, Please contact Bob N7CZ.
MSOWX NODE
23 OCT. 1999
WELL THE MSOWX NODE AND ANTENNA WAS MOVED TO A NEW BUILDING JUST
ERECTED THIS YEAR ON POINT 6 IN MISSOULA. THOSE ATTENDING WERE
N7TYS, AC7AY, KC7HKW, AND MYSELF (KC7CIS). A 60 FOOT TRENCH HAD TO BE DUG
TO LAY THE CONDUIT IN FOR THE HARDLINE AND THE ROCKY FROZEN GROUND WAS
UNFORGIVING. IT WAS AN ALL OUT EFFORT FOR ALL THERE. ALL IN ALL WE NOW
HAVE A LINK FROM GREAT FALLS TO MISSOULA. THE "LNC" NODE HOOKS UP TO THE
MSOWX (W7PX-12) NICELY AFTER DARK. WE ARE LACKING HORSEPOWER AT THE LNC
SITE, AND HAVE BEEN OFFERED A NEW RADIO FOR THE LNC NODE WHICH WILL PUT
OUT 60 WATTS. WE ARE NOW PUTTING OUT ABOUT 12 TO 16 WATTS. I WILL
IMPROVE THE SITE AS MY FUNDS WILL LET ME. AFTER HOOKING TO W7PX-12 YOU
CAN NODE HOP OR REGISTER AT TYSBBS OR MSOBBS FOR MAIL AND BULLETINS.
WELL THAT'S THE SCOOP.73'S,
KC7CIS
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