[ARRL-OK] Packet radio

Mon, 19 May 2003 18:58:53 +0000

I can assure you that my wife (KA5BJS) is glad that I
no longer run the Packet BBS.  In addition, I used to
copy the W1AW bulletins every day and post them
to the BBS for distribution.  It took many hours to
Sysop the BBS and do the bulletins.  I was also the
manager for several years for the swap-n-shop that
was conducted every Saturday on th 146.82 repeater.

Now my wife complains about the time I spend at
the keyboard and monitor with email and the stuff
I buy on eBay!!!

73  ---  Mac, K2GKK/5

----Original Message Follows----
From: "Kim Elmore" <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ARRL-OK] Packet radio
Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 13:50:55 -0500

Thanks to Mac and Terry (hi again, Terry!).

I guess the bottom line is that packet essentially served its purpose and is 
being replaced by different technologies.  With cheap, widespread Internet 
access, it's no longer needed.  I think I'll miss it, even though packet 
certainly had its share of annoyances.

I always enjoyed using it even though, aside from some emergency 
communications, I never did much keyboard-to-keyboard stuff with it. 
However, I recall running TCP/IP with a few other hams around the Denver 
area and I diligently maintained a NETROM node.  TCP/IP never caught on for 
various reasons, mainly because it required knowledge of the protocol, a 
TCP/IP address, and Phil Karn's (free) software.  We were careful with our 
settings, and made sure they weren't too aggressive. Even so, it 
unfortunately irritated those who ran only AX.25 because the packets could 
not be monitored easily.

That said, I think I'll keep my TNC and the knowledge needed to use it.  Who 
knows?  Some day, access to the Internet may be seriously compromised by a 
backhoe, or a fire, or heaven-knows-what and we'll need to set up an ad hoc 
digital network for a bit of emergency comms.  It could happen, I suppose.

73,

Kim Elmore, N5OP

At 04:30 PM 5/19/2003 +0000, D C Macdonald wrote:
>One more side note on this matter, I still use the call/ID
>(K2GKK-5) of the BBS that I used to run as the tag on
>my travel trailer, just for old times' sake.
>
>
>73  ---  Mac, K2GKK/5
>
>
>----Original Message Follows----
>From: "Terry R. Hackworth" <[email protected]>
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: <[email protected]>
>Subject: Re: [ARRL-OK] Packet radio
>Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 11:24:33 -0500
>
>Hi Kim and other interested packet opps,
>
>Mac said it rather well, and you and I discussed this topic one time in the
>past.  Another issue resulting in a demise of the network was the purchase
>of most of the tower sites in Oklahoma by out of state operators.  They
>inturn raised the tower lease fees to astonishing levels, ask non-payers to
>leave, etc.  The company I worked for maintaining paging transmitters has
>left 3 or 4 sites due to these increases, with more to follow.
>
>I have visited with some of the packet boys in Eastern Oklahoma and they 
>say
>it is dead over there also.  Recently the very large network in several
>states, "TEXNET", ceased operation and disolved it's membership.  I have
>donated over a 1,000 feet of 7/8" heliax to the effort and except for a 340
>foot run I don't know where it is at anymore.  That goes for a few radios
>and tnc's also, but heck they would just be stacked up with the rest of my
>junk now.
>
>My take is why battle retries, poor networks, and all the equipment
>necessary to carry on keyboard to keyboard QSO's.  The need for BBS's and
>the like have been swept up in the internet craze.  Same goes for the DX
>Cluster's.  I still would like to put a cluster on the air, but I still
>cannot get any boradband internet service in my area without indulging one
>killobuck for satellite broadband, that I'm not willing to do.
>
>So with Mac, Norm, and myself, and possibly a few others, most of the old
>time packet proponents have move on to something else, moved out of the
>area, or in some cases have unfortunately became SK's.  I do not forsee
>packets return in this area of the country with one possible exception.
>Should the government begin to charge fees for email, or something like
>that, then I think packet might pop back up again.  Otherwise, it's 20 or 
>so
>year run will be over.
>
>Just my thoughts.  Take care...
>
>
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>ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager - John Thomason, WB5SYT [email protected]
>Oklahoma Section Web page http://members.cox.net/arrl-ok
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>Oklahoma Section Web page http://members.cox.net/arrl-ok
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                           Kim Elmore, Ph.D.
                        University of Oklahoma
         Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies
"All of weather is divided into three parts: Yes, No, and Maybe. The
greatest of these is Maybe" The original Latin appears to be garbled.

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