Differences

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--- packet:xrouter:howtos:whatspac [2025/02/20 14:43] – [Step 6: Connection Script] g8pzt
+++ packet:xrouter:howtos:whatspac [2025/02/21 15:19] (current) – [Channels Display] g8pzt
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 WhatsPac is a new browser-based application for Packet Radio chat, that can run on desktop PC's, tablets and phones.
-Unlike existing packet chat systems, WhatsPac offers much more than plain text. It allows both real-time and non-real-time chat, emojis, themed "channels", a packet terminal, and one-to-one chats. It can even support the sending of small images, and there will be lots more features to come! Here's what the "Channels" display looks like on a desktop browser:
+Unlike existing packet chat systems, WhatsPac offers much more than plain text. It allows both real-time and non-real-time chat, emojis, themed "channels", a packet terminal, and one-to-one chats. It can even support the sending of small images, and there will be lots more features to come!
-{{whatspac01.png|WhatsPac Channels Display}}
+WhatsPac began in May 2024 as a collaboration between Kevin M0AHN and Paula G8PZT, the author of XRouter. It was built upon XRouter's RHP (Remote Host Protocol) and REST APIs, so WhatsPac and XRouter are a natural fit for each other.
+===== What Does it Look Like? =====
+There are 3 main parts to WhatsPac:
+  - One to One Messaging
+  - Discussion Channels
+  - Terminal / Packet Monitor
+==== Channels Display ====
+Here's what the WhatsPac "Channels" display looks like on a desktop browser (shrunken to make way for the wiki menu):
+{{whatspac01.png?600|WhatsPac Channels Display}}
+==== Messages Display ====
 And here's what the "Messages" display looks like:
 {{whatspac02.png|WhatsPac Messages Display}}
+==== Terminal / Packet Monitor ====
 Finally, here's the "Terminal" display...
@@ Line 268: / Line 286: @@
 NOTE: The first "cmd" MUST consist of a callsign or alias only. For example "KIDDER" not "C KIDDER". All subsequent commands are as they would be typed into a node's command line.
-==== Troubleshooting The Connect Script ====
+==== Step 7: Connect to the Server ====
+You are now ready to connect WhatsPac to its server.
+Click on {{whatspac23.png|WhatsPac Messages Button}} or {{whatspac24.png|WhatsPac channels Button}} on the left hand navigation pane, and ensure that "**Xrouter Packet Engine**" is followed by a green blob.
+Then press the connect button: {{whatspac22.png|Pressing the connect button}}
+Wait for the script to finish, and both "lights" should now be green:
+{{whatspac25.png|Successful Connection to WhatsPac Server}}
+===== Troubleshooting The Connect Script =====
 While WhatsPac is trying to connect to its server, it displays a button entitled "**Show Monitor**", as follows:
@@ Line 274: / Line 305: @@
 {{whatspac20.png}}
-Clicking this button reveals what the connection script is doing:
+Clicking this button reveals what the connection script is doing, and where it gets stuck:
 {{whatspac21.png}}
-==== Finally =====
+===== Using the WhatsPac Terminal =====
+You may use the WhatsPac terminal for setting up and troubleshooting the connect script, or for general packet radio operations.  To select the terminal, press {{whatspac26.png|WhatsPac Terminal Button}} in the left-hand navigation pane.  The following screen should appear:
+{{whatspac28.png}}
+Click on the **Connect** button, then fill in the following dialog:
+{{whatspac29.png}}
+Click on the blue **Connect** button, and you should get connected:
+{{whatspac30.png}}
+You can now type commands into the white line at the bottom.
+===== Using The Packet Monitor =====
+The "**Packet Monitor**" pane (part of the terminal is for observing packet traffic.  To activate the monitor, pick a port from the selector, and click "**Start Monitor**".
+{{whatspac31.png}}
+You should now see something like this, where the transmitted traffic is in <color #cc0000>**red**</color> and the received traffic is in <color #00cc00>**green**</color>:
+{{whatspac32.png}}
+===== Finally ======
 Have fun, and we hope to see you on WhatsPac!