|
What I see in the WinLink and Encom is trying to
turn ham radio into an email server so everyone sailing around
in their sail boats can use it for email. I am not
against using something like this for emergency communications.
Joe Ivey
W4JSI
Age is mind over matter
If you don't mind,
it does not matter
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 1:54
PM
Subject: [digitalradio] The dirty little
secret behind ENCOM and WinLink
Reality
You have to stand back a bit from the roar
of cheerleading for WinLink
to be seen as a part of ENCOM, rah rah the only
meaningful part, to
see what the real secret behind interest or even
promotion of WinLink
for ENCOM truly is.
It's radio Spectrum, or
more correctly stated; access to RF Spectrum
without the troubles
associated with having to put up with too many of
those unpredictable,
unreliable, Amateur Radio operators by emergency
planners.
Why,
here's WinLink, this fully automated, fully integrated system
that provides
connectivity from your remote field networks to some
node outside of the
disaster area, instant connectivity to the full
world. No learning
about radios, no need for operators, and no
logistics issues with housing,
feeding, training, or even counting on
those silly Amateur radio operators
to show up. Heck, our Pimp, I mean
the ARRL BOD, is even working to insure
we can encrypt your traffic so
you can comply with all sorts of real and
imagined security issues and
legal issues.
Sad part, is
that the WinLink guys are spot on correct with what they
are selling, and
if I was working on preparing a disaster plan I'd
jump on it. Figure
two person teams to set up the radio gear at a
field sites, two person team
at EOC HQ, you're in business. Small
logistical footprint, high
return on establishing connectivity by
moving people and equipment into
disaster zone, EOC's can be
pre-positioned and activated during build
up to disaster by the way.
I'm not saying the above scenario is bad
per se, it would just be
better for the ARRL BOD to propose models of
disaster relief
operations for use of Amateurs, both as human resources,
and as owners
of valuable spectrum resources, and do it
publicly. Some won't like
the proposals, but an open debate on
this topic would go a long way to
selling it than some of the RAH RAH
Cheerleading, and phony baloney
efforts like RM-11306 to sneak it in.
Need a Digital mode QSO? Connect to Telnet://cluster.dynalias.org
Other areas of interest:
The MixW Reflector : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themixwgroup/
DigiPol: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Digipol (band plan policy discussion)
SPONSORED LINKS
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
|
