====== Intro ======
Paracon is a command-line interface for packet radio operation.

Development: https://github.com/mfncooper/paracon

====== Connection to Local Network BPQ Node ======

Paracon can be used as an interface to your BPQ node as a command-line replacement for GUI terminals like [[QtTermTCP]].

Example use case: You typically use QtTermTCP from your computer at home, but you are in another location and want to check your home BBS for messages over the Internet. You have Paracon installed on a machine on your local network that is accessible via SSH.

===== Steps =====

You need to set up AGWPORT in the bpq32.cfg file (example based on [[https://packet-radio.net/bpq32-cfg-example-pi1bdgpi8bdg/|packet-radio.net]])
<code>
; AGW Emulator Params
;
AGWPORT=8005 ; Port Applications connect to
AGWSESSIONS=5 ; Max sessions allowed
AGWMASK=2 ; Application Mask. This os only needed for connects to the ;application,
; ; and can be specified in decimal or hex – ie 16 or 0x10
</code>

You also need a loopback port set up in bpq32.cfg:
<code>
;******************  Port 1 Loopback  ******************;
; LOOPPACK sport specification
PORT
 PORTNUM=1			; Optonal but sets port number if stated
 ID=LOOPBACK		; Defines the Loopback port name
 TYPE=INTERNAL		; Loopback is an internal type
ENDPORT
</code>


If you are not running Paracon on the same system (localhost / 127.0.0.1), you may need to open the firewall on the system running BPQ, e.g. ''sudo ufw allow 8005''. If you are accessing BPQ from outside of your local network, please run things through SSH or use another secure method.

Setting up in Paracon:

{{:paracon_setup.png?direct&400|}}

Connect to your local node address on the loopback port:

{{:paracon_connect.png?direct&400|}}

Then you should be able to access all the features of your BPQ node, including BBS and connecting to other nodes:

{{:paracon_active_connection.png?direct&600|}}