[AMRadio] You might be (and probably are) an Amateur Radio operator, if:

[Geoff Edmonson]

On 03/02/2011 05:33 PM, rbethman wrote:
> APRS - The abomination "Initially" called *Packet Radio*
>
> Renamed to APRS, Amateur Packet Radio Service.

Automatic Position Reporting System

> The purpose of which *I*
> saw as a misplaced piece of technology when the first "TNCs" came out.
> I had a friend that was a licensed Technician Class, whom had to rush to
> my house and have me help him connect his 2mtr rig to the TNC and a
> computer.

It's another form of communication.  Digital as it may be, it is the 
successor to RTTY, AMTOR, FSK.
A technology (packet) that emerged about the same time that acoustical 
modems were connecting computers via digital communications over 
phone-lines...

> It took about 2 to 3 minutes of watching this "method" of
> *communications* to decide I wanted NOTHING to do with it!
>
> If you aren't in the "loop", don't sweat it!  You didn't miss ANYTHING!
>

As the years and technology progressed, digital communications has 
evolved and packet radio was very much the front-runner to the very 
technology you are using NOW, Bob, for internet access.  So, in a weird, 
twisted, warped sort of way, whether you realize it or not, you -are- 
using digital modes to communicate... even email ;-)

73 = Best Regards
-Geoff/W5OMR/m