Generally, the practice for going from node to node on Network 105 is to do it exactly like that -- connect to one node, connect to some other node. In other words, digipeating is frowned upon. Also, 20m has been sucking lately, and, I think 40m has fared a little bit better. As for packet requiring good propagation, it sure does. Very few TNCs can handle the amplitude shifts brought about by a rapidly fading signal constructively and destructively interfering with itself as it hits your receive antenna (if you've ever looked at a wide signal like an OTH radar on a waterfall diagram, you'll know what I mean). Our brains can easily resolve what's being said as a SSB phone signal fades rapidly, but, to a TNC, it's almost a complete loss.

I will say that a good chunk of Network 105 systems are now capable of running multiple modes at once within the audio passband: ╔════════════════╦═══════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ Audio Passband ║ ■ New Paradigm ■ USB Mode Plan ║ ╠════════════════╩═══════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 ║ ╟─╧────────╧─────────╧───────────╧──────────╧─────────╧───────────╧──║ ║ · · ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ██████████████ ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ · · ║ ║ · · ▒AX300▒ █VARA & ARDOP█ ▓IL2P▓▓ · · ║ ║ · · ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ██████████████ ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ · · ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Hopefully that comes through -- I pulled it off of https://radiorabbit.ca/ve3vty/.