TermTCP

A terminal TCP client for BPQ32 packet radio nodes, written in C with an ncurses TUI. Connects via BPQTermTCP protocol, displays split output/monitor panes, supports real-time RF frame monitoring with port filtering, multiple simultaneous sessions, and built-in forms for ICS-213 and packet check-in.

Features

• ncurses TUI with split output and monitor panes
• BPQTermTCP protocol (compatible with QtTermTCP)
• Up to 4 simultaneous sessions with live background receive
• RF monitor with per-port and frame-type filtering
• Auto-populates port names from the BPQ server on connect
• Scrollable output and monitor windows with history
• Input history (Up/Down arrows)
• Session logging to timestamped files
• Function key bar (F1/F3–F10) at bottom of screen
• ICS-213 General Message form with F2 background send
• PKTNET Packet Check-In form
• Multiple host configuration with quick connect
• Unicode box-drawing borders on all menus

Dependencies

• GCC
• ncurses with wide character support (libncursesw6)

Install dependencies on Debian/Ubuntu

sudo apt install gcc libncurses-dev

Build

make

The binary is ./termtcp.

Other make targets

make clean      # Remove build artifacts
make debug      # Build with debug symbols
make install    # Install to /usr/local/bin/

Manual compile

gcc -Wall -Wextra -O2 -std=gnu99 -D_XOPEN_SOURCE_EXTENDED \
    -o termtcp termtcp.c -lm -lncursesw

Configuration

Config is stored in ~/.BPQTermTCP.ini and created automatically on first run. Edit it to add BPQ nodes:

[Host1]
Host=10.0.2.7
Port=17023
Username=kb8pmy
Password=yourpassword
Name=Home Node

[Host2]
Host=10.121.15.68
Port=17023
Username=kb8pmy
Password=yourpassword
Name=Water Tower

Port names, monitor settings, and port mask are saved here automatically when you change them in-program.

Usage

./termtcp

Press Ctrl+A to open the menu, then select an option.

Key bindings

Key	Action
Ctrl+A	Open menu
Ctrl+A C	Connect to a host
Ctrl+A D	Disconnect current session
Ctrl+A N	Open a new session
Ctrl+A X	Close current session
Ctrl+A 1–4	Switch to session 1, 2, 3, or 4
Ctrl+A O	Config / host editor
Ctrl+A M	Monitor options
Ctrl+A L	Toggle session log
Ctrl+A F	Forms submenu (ICS-213, PKTNET check-in)
Ctrl+A H	Help
Ctrl+A Q	Quit
F1	Connect
F3	Monitor options
F4	Config / host editor
F5	Toggle log
F6	Forms submenu
F7	New session
F8	Previous session
F9	Next session
F10	Quit
Up / Down	Input history
PgUp / PgDn	Scroll output window
Home / End	Scroll monitor window
Enter	Send line to server

Multiple sessions

Open up to 4 connections simultaneously. All sessions receive data in the background — switch between them with F8/F9 or Ctrl+A 1–4. The status bar shows [current/total] session count. Close the current session with Ctrl+A X (if it is the last open session, the program exits).

Forms (Ctrl+A F)

• ICS-213 General Message — fills in all numbered fields, sends via F2 in the background using silence-based prompt detection
• PKTNET Packet Check-In — pre-formatted check-in template

Monitor options (Ctrl+A M)

• Toggle TX, supervisor, nodes, and UI-only frame filtering
• Toggle monitor pane visibility
• Select which RF ports to monitor (Tab to switch to port list)

Port names are auto-populated from the BPQ server when you connect and saved to config.

BPQ Protocol Notes

• Uses BPQTermTCP protocol (same wire format as QtTermTCP)
• Sends trace options on connect to enable RF monitoring
• Port list requested automatically via P8=1 on connect
• Monitor frames delimited by 0xFF 0x1B / 0xFE byte markers
• Port info delivered as 0xFF 0xFF packet on connect
• NODES broadcasts filtered client-side via >NODES in AX.25 header

Version

Current: 0.0.60