People have been calling me about what equipment and cables to get and where.

FIRST
You will need a 2m Radio (or dual band)
- Start with an 5 watt HT ONLY if you have a clear Line of Sight (LOS) shot to the Node/Gateway.
- More realistically, the power you will need is 20w-50w.
This can be accomplished with either:
a) A 2m mobile radio (or dual band) with higher power capability,
or
b) A 2 Meter Amplifier.

NEXT
You will need a TNC (Terminal Node Connector).

We recommend the Kantronics KPC-3+ or KPC-3 (no plus) TNC.
These TNCs meet the specific mission criteria for CT ARES.
The two chief ones are:
- Near Out of the box "Plug and Play".
- Enhanced Digipeat Capability (KA-NODE feature)

NOTE:
Sound Card Interfaces (SCI) are primarily used on HF with Winmor (part of RMS Express) and other "digital modes"

Description:
www.kantronics.com/products/kpc3.html
Available at: Ham Radio Outlet:
Cost $200
www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-000229

WOW!
On the Used Market, the KPC-3 (no plus) is a great bargain.
- Prices range: $40 -$ 85. (less at Hamfests).

Good News:
A friend of mine can get the last upgrade chips for the KPC- 3 (before the KPC-3+ release) and get your KPC-3 within a few upgrades of the current TNC for about $10.

THEN:
You will need...
CABLES (to Purchase or make yourself)

- Radio to TNC
www.byonics.com
Byonics Cable Guide:
www.byonics.com/cables/Byonics%20Radio%2...%20Cable%20Chart.pdf

Get the Anderson Powerpole version (these can be coiled up and ignored ).

- Computer to TNC (2 cables attached to each other)
ATTACHED to:

REVISED: (08/17/22)
USB to DB9 Serial Adapter

Use ONLY the FTDI Chipset
STAY AWAY from "Prolific Chipset" - they are cursed!

Make sure the cable is suitable for Windows 10 and Windows 11
- the cable I have been using on a Vista OS machine is not compatible with Win 10 or Win 11.

Examples of cables that work:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07589ZF9X?psc=1&ref=p...dt_b_product_details
and, if you like blinking lights...
www.amazon.com/dp/B00AHYJWWG?psc=1&ref=p...dt_b_product_details

AND, you will want a...
- DB9 (female) to DB25 (male) Serial Cable (NOT A "null" cable).