Socket Connection - Character Set - Help

[oracle_faq]

Hello:

I am creating a socket using UTL_TCP package. After making a successful connection, I have to send data in ISO-8859 format. The message should look something like this.

STX followed by data in ascii followed by ETX.

STX and ETX are ascii for 2 and 3.

I have the data in STRING. example 'DOWNLAOD ME TO THE SERVER'. This string is currently in VARCHAR2 variable.

I would like to know how can I convert the above data to ASCII string and then prefix it with STX and suffix with ETX before I send it down the socket. I think I have to use utl_encode package but am not sure where to start.

Please help.

Thanks.