[ARRL-OK] Packet radio

Mon, 19 May 2003 14:13:15 -0500

Hi Mac,

No doubt!  I know that it was a lot of work for those hardy individuals, 
like you, who maintained the networks for nothing more than the "fun" of 
it.  I shall always appreciate their efforts now, and in the 
future.  People like you  show a sincere sense of duty and service, and I 
applaud your efforts and work!

73,

Kim Elmore, N5OP

At 06:58 PM 5/19/2003 +0000, you wrote:
>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...
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>___________________Information __________________________
>>ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager - John Thomason, WB5SYT [email protected]
>>Oklahoma Section Web page http://members.cox.net/arrl-ok
>>______________________________________________________
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>>_______________________________________________
>>___________________Information __________________________
>>ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager - John Thomason, WB5SYT [email protected]
>>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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>_______________________________________________
>___________________Information __________________________
>ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager - John Thomason, WB5SYT [email protected]
>Oklahoma Section Web page http://members.cox.net/arrl-ok
>______________________________________________________
>
>To leave ARRL-OK , send mailto:[email protected]
>with the BODY of the message containing:
>
>unsubscribe arrl-ok
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>
>Arrl-Ok mailing list
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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.