I disagree that packet radio is dead, but I suppose it is all a matter of
viewpoint. As I read Karl's message, I see LOTS of packet activity
coming in on our local 1200 baud AZSE 10 meter port. People still get a
kick out of exploring the network and a 10 meter port with access to
other parts of the world is a good way to do this.
Sure the amateur packet bbs system has seen better days and the decline
has been observed here for a number of years. Currently there is nearly
ZERO local usage, but a fair amount (averaging 10 new callsigns a day)
arriving in off the internet. However, packet radio is still an
excellent resource for those new to the mode and wanting to start
learning about the digital world. There's good money to be made with
digital networking, and packet lends itself well as at least a beginning
in this field.
Lately the PBBS has been alive with messages comparing the merits of
FlexNet vs. BPQ as well as Sixpack vs. KISS, the contents of some of
which have been very educational to me. If we had more such messages
displayed on our world-wide PBBS's of a tutorial nature, it would help to
go a long way to revive interest in the basic technology. For years
those of us in "the in-group" have preferred to exchange email strictly
via the internet. Perhaps we could help restore interest in PR by
getting in the habit of dual addressing messages on this group. By that
I mean set up our address books to reply to the group with a copy for
world-wide distribution to our local PBBS.
73 de Jack
Karl F. Larsen wrote:
> Ham Packet Radio is Dead
>
(SNIP!)
