No worries - understood and appreciated. :-) Sent from my iPhone
> On Dec 15, 2020, at 12:13 PM, Ron Bosch <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Ravi, > Sorry about my griping :-), it wasn't directed at you particularly, but at > the general sentiment I see on the boards, that seems to permeate the > discussion. Not intending to dissuade anybody from trying any way to > operate, but more to say that way you choose to operate is better than not > using any particular way. > > Ron > KE4DRF > >> On Tue, Dec 15, 2020 at 10:05 AM Ravi Ratnala <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hey Ron, >> >> Thanks for the reply, although your second paragraph seemed to come from >> from out of left field. I didn’t “gripe” about paying for software, and I >> certainly didn’t (and wouldn’t) “deride” any individual for asking to be >> compensated for his/her work. I was simply trying to make an informed >> decision. Perhaps you were just opining rhetorically . . . . >> >> The remainder of your response was actually helpful, so thanks for that. >> Just learning that VARA FM/HF is a one-time $70 - as opposed to a recurring >> annual fee as I thought - increases its value to me, tenfold. And from your >> tests, it sounds like Ardop isn’t quite the competitor I’ve read it to be. >> >> I was hoping to hear from KJ as well, regarding my question about the >> prevalence of deployment of VARA on our local RMSs. I suppose I should just >> install the latest Winlink and spend some time poking around under the hood. >> >> When I get it up and running, I trust that I can spam you guys with test >> messages, without reproach. :) >> >> Thanks again, >> 73 de N5OL >> >> >>>> On Dec 14, 2020, at 5:47 PM, Ron Bosch <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>> >>> Ravi, >>> Sorry I missed the net today as well, I would have loved to put my $0.02 >>> in. From my perspective, I run most of my digital ARES check ins, and all >>> of my digital traffic handling, via Vara FM and HF. ARDOP in PERFECT band >>> conditions is as fast as Vara HF, but when band conditions are crap, Vara >>> HF is consistently more reliable, and about twice as fast. The ONLY reason >>> I use ARDOP or Packet for anything to do with Winlink is to fill out the >>> capability. I have repeatedly run tests on multiple bands by hitting the >>> farthest gateway I can using Vara HF and then working backwards to see >>> where I can make an ARDOP message go, and on average ARDOP is reliable on >>> gateways at about 1/2 the distance of Vara HF. On VHF/UHF, the only value >>> of Packet was digipeating, and the latest Vara FM upgrade gave us a >>> digipeater capability. The only two advantages I can see that are left for >>> Packet and ARDOP are: >>> 1. They are open source, so support is distributed >>> 2. They are free >>> >>> That being said, it constantly amazes me the folks who will spend $3K on a >>> radio gripe about $70 for software, and that no one seems to have much >>> problem with a company that will sell you an admittedly far superior >>> proprietary modem for $1500, but deride a pretty amazing programmer for >>> asking $70. Like someone once said; "The workman is worth the value of his >>> work". >>> >>> To answer your question, you only ever have to pay the $70 one time for >>> both FM and HF. >>> >>> Ron >>> KE4DRF >>> >>>> On Mon, Dec 14, 2020 at 5:23 PM Ravi Patrick Ratnala via BVARC >>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> Well, sounds like I missed a good one today. I'm an old Winlink (well, >>>> RMS Express) user; been out of the game for a while, and I've missed a >>>> bunch of ARES drills / nets this year because they keep coinciding with >>>> family stuff. >>>> >>>> So yeah, I do have a question - I've been seeing a lot lately about the >>>> "new" VARA integration (particularly VARA HF), and it seems like a great >>>> way to streamline / normalize things between different rigs, aside from >>>> the purported performance increases. >>>> >>>> My question is, does the local ham community see VARA as the future? >>>> Meaning, is it well-supported by the RMSs in our area, and likely to >>>> remain so? FWIW, I intend to use this solution on both FM (VHF) and HF. >>>> >>>> I guess a second / corollary question is, how does VARA compare to Ardop? >>>> My understanding is that VARA requires a $69/year license to unlock the >>>> severely choked bandwidth in the demo version, while Ardop performs just >>>> as well as full-version VARA, but is free. >>>> >>>> And - does the $69 license cover both the VARA FM and the VARA HF >>>> licenses, or do I need to pay twice? >>>> >>>> In case you haven't guessed, I'm trying to decide if I really need to drop >>>> $69 (or $138) to play this particular game. >>>> >>>> Thanks, and 73, >>>> Ravi, N5OL >>>> >>>> >>>> On 12/14/2020 1:00 PM, KJ Anderson via BVARC wrote: >>>>> Today’s topic is on Winlink. The following is all provided by KJ5EMP, I >>>>> had to leave the net early for a meeting. Please feel free to reach out >>>>> to me, I’m happy to help. 😊 >>>>> >>>>> https://winlink.org/ >>>>> Download Winlink Express Here: >>>>> https://downloads.winlink.org/User%20Programs/Winlink_Express_install_1-5-33-0.zip >>>>> If using Winlink Express, with an internet connection fill out the form >>>>> presented on first startup after installation. See the help article >>>>> "Basic Configuration" for guidance. Be sure to include a password and >>>>> password recovery address. Click 'Update'. Winlink Express makes the >>>>> process easy. Your account is created! >>>>> Make sure you update your grid square info >>>>> KJ5EMP Strongly recommends paying the fee for the license key, it’s good >>>>> for all your installs on all computers >>>>> Top center of the software, select “Telnet Winlink” and you can >>>>> immediately send/receive emails without a radio connection (obviously >>>>> won’t work without active internet) >>>>> To see the relay stations near you: >>>>> Top center of the software, select “Packet Winlink” and open a session >>>>> A new window will open, in the top center of this connection window >>>>> select “Channel Selection” >>>>> Top center of the Channel Selection window, click on “Update Table Via >>>>> Internet” and you’ll see all the repeaters with RMS drains to the servers >>>>> around you. There will be many. >>>>> Tune your radio to the top station near you and listen, it will sound a >>>>> lot like APRS traffic (simplex, no tones) >>>>> Email servers around the world that are all connected >>>>> Can be used for many things other than email, including local weather >>>>> reports and position reports >>>>> Also used for emergency communication and the transmission of ICS >>>>> forms/radiograms >>>>> Relay (RMS) stations located in volunteers’ homes or at repeater sites >>>>> can upload/download to the servers or to each other >>>>> Individuals can send messages to the relays or directly to each other >>>>> Works with or without internet >>>>> Works via UHF, VHF, HF, all ham radio frequencies >>>>> Many different digital communication standards supported >>>>> (packet/vara/ardop/pactor/etc.) >>>>> Some radios have native TNC’s (Kenwood TM-D700, TM-D710) that don’t >>>>> require external modems, but limit you to a specific digital mode >>>>> (TM-D700 will do standard packet, but not pactor which requires its own >>>>> external modem) >>>>> https://harriscountyares.org/index.php maintains many of the Winlink >>>>> drains and runs a net every Sunday evening at 8pm local, including >>>>> digital check-ins >>>>> To learn more about formal traffic nets, and how to use the forms in >>>>> Winlink, take IS-100 and IS-200 from FEMA, EC-01 from ARRL (all free of >>>>> charge, but will take ~5 solid days to complete) >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------------------------- >>>>> >>>>> KJ Anderson >>>>> >>>>> 253-380-2636 >>>>> >>>>> www.linkedin.com/in/scrumnerd >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ________________________________________________ >>>>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club >>>>> >>>>> BVARC mailing list >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org >>>> >>>> >>>> Virus-free. www.avast.com >>>> ________________________________________________ >>>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club >>>> >>>> BVARC mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
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