Karl/Jack and the linux-hams group:
This caught me by surprise, as well as agreeing with Jack. Karl isn't
wrong in noticing that packet has changed in the last ten years. I
dropped packet radio back then since the signal to noise ratio was
extremely low. Remember those days of endless jokes, receipes, (etc)
that totally clogged the packet forwarding system?? Back then @WW didn't
even exist, we ran our C64s with 40 column displays, tape drives, all
the while watching packet radio turn into todays internet! Mostly
useless comms was happening back then. I returned to packet just 6
months ago. Dusted the equipment off, plugged it in and prayed for no
smoke. Packet has improved tremendously over the last 5 years, that at
even the paultry slow speed of 1200b, visiting the local BBS with mostly
messages that are applying directly towards ham radio is fantastic. I
get more info spending 15 mins on the air, then reading the NNTP groups.
Lot less bashing, foul language, commercialism -- well you get the
picture. With the availability of Linux, low cost soundcards and cheap
Motorola V/UHF gear that can easily be modified for 9600b or better, the
time is here for hams to develop their own network, independant of large
conglomorate phone companies and ISPs. Everything is available with
alittle work to develop a network dedicated to amateur radio. Even
running near T1 speeds is within reach as many of those early wireless
LAN cards are starting to appear on the used market. So, who's
interested in developing some highspeed linux?? Any takers?? Anyone to
organize such an effort?? I'm willing to start organizing such an
effort, but this will take people and time. Most of the equipment needed
maybe had for the asking, and the development tools are already free, so
time's a wasting! Comments??
73 .mark
=================================================
Mark Schoonover KA6WKE IS Manager
Trail Runner,HAM [EMAIL PROTECTED]
ka6wke@wb6dgr.#sca.ca.usa.noam
http://www.qsl.net/ka6wke ka6wke-1 145.05
Long: 32.85380 Lat: -117.00980 Grid: DM12LU
=================================================
>----------
>From: Jack Taylor[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
>Sent: Sunday, February 14, 1999 1:43 PM
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Re: Packet Radio is Over
>
>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!)
>
>
