Charlie, I am assuming you really mean Winlink 2000 which is completely different than the older Winlink system that was strictly an RF only system that did not use the internet?
Your hypothetical scenario is a very real possibility and has happened to us on occasion with our traffic nets being taken out by a solar flare. Since the leadership in our Section has decided to move digital to Winlink 2000 in the mistaken belief that this the "only" approved digital network supported by ARRL, VHF packet is no longer a useful option for very long distances here. There is almost no interest in HF digital either. Partly because very few hams even care to operate modes other than CW and SSB, and partly because of the trend toward Technician class hams with no HF operating priveleges. Why would you consider a solar storm as shutting out 6 meter SSB and for that matter any other line of sight modes? It seems to me that 6 meter SSB (and higher) could be a useful method of sending point to point messages, particularly if you had an ARQ mode. If you could operate HF digital, then you would still have ground wave. In fact, a recent proposal by ARRL has resulted in an STA for operation on 500 KHz here in the U.S. This band, although very noisy, also has superior ground wave abilities. Antennas are a difficult issue, but shortened verticals would seem to be the right approach to avoid NVIS operations which could be rendered inoperative during a serious enough solar CME. While I agree you need to have more than one tool in the toolbox, we must not accept that every tool is equal. Some are more vulnearble than others to interruptions. 73, Rick, KV9U Charles Crizer wrote: >We are a backup service mostly but we could play a larger roll. That is up >to the localities involved. > >Internet usage in amateur circles, such as Winlink is valid as long as it >works. Any technology is viable as long as it works. We shouldn't condemn >something just because it 'might' not work sometimes. Sure a voice link may >be faster and easier but the served agency may prefer a digital solution for >archival purposes. If that is was they want we should see if we can build >it. > >But I'll pose this problem. A sever solar storm that completely shuts out HF >- 6M SSB. Nails the power grid across the country and knocks out or degrades >commercial satellite use. > >Within 6 hours we start loosing cell sites and within 12-72 hours central >offices start dropping out if not already knocked offline. Some secondary >damage to bridges knock out major fiber links between cities. > >Now what? > >We'll have to adjust our methods to the situation. Some areas may have a >Packet network that can handle traffic hundreds of miles. Some don't and >will put it together. Others will use PSK31, Pactor, or CW. (Or any mode >that can punch through. I don't know if PSK31 would or not.) > >Do we really want to limit what we can do because it sometimes might not >work sometimes? Of course not, lets keep putting things into our tool box. > > >Charlie Crizer, KF4MNE >Fairfax County (Alexandria) Virginia, US >QTH: 38-47.96N / 77-05.17W - FM18kt >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >[EMAIL PROTECTED] - Winlink2000/Airmail > > > > 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) Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
