[FADCA] Re: Internet/FBB/LINUX/FPAC

[Dale Coleman]

At 10:14 AM 3/1/02, you wrote:

Hi Rick and the group,  your message is one the most interesting I have 
seen in quite a while.

>Dale, Bud
>
>Thanks for your input.
>
>There is currently only a few WL2K stations running VHF/UHF packet although
>the hardware and WL2K software easily accommodate this.  One thing I am
>working on is what we call SMS (for short message system).  This will be an
>alternate WL2K node (other than existing PMBOs) that is very simple (no
>local database and only one software module) that could provide an alternate
>link (primarily VHF/UHF packet but possibly HF) to the CMBO from any station
>running the SMS node software.  The node software would require a connection
>to the internet (dial up or full time) and of course a radio connection
>(user, backbone or both).

I would definitely be interested in helping in any way that I can on this 
project and would be happy to setup one of the VHF/UHF nodes.

I also have one of the top of the line dual port TNC3S German packet 
controllers that I would be happy to lend for testing if there is any 
interest. It has one 1200 and one 9600 baud modems in it now but this 
controller can go much faster.

Yet me run,  got to get back to playing around with my new PTC-IIe.

Thanks, Dale

>The bandwidth is not a concern at the CMBO.  e.g.
>I connect to the CMBO every 15 minutes and am processing about 500K bytes of
>messages a day.  Most of my connections to the CMBO run 2-10 seconds. The
>CMOB has a 1.5Mbit T1 connection and could handle many times the current 34
>WL2K PMBOs.     The type of messages (mostly text) that would be passed during
>an emergency take practically 0 time on the IP connection.  The SMS node
>currently talks to the CMBO "on demand" so there is minimal latency.  For
>example you could set up AirMail to make a packet connection to a node say
>every 5 or 10 minutes (or on demand if QTC was pending from the AirMail
>station) and the load to the CMBO would be pretty insignificant (assuming
>there are not hundreds of these connections simultaneously).
>
>We are still defining and working on this SMS node but all the components
>are there and we are doing some initial testing with very simple (palm OS
>type terminals). The SMS is currently compatible with the AirMail keyboard
>module but we would probably want to add compatibility with standard FBB
>(AirMail BBS<>BBS) and WL2K B2 protocols in a final implementation.
>
>I think as you and Bud discussed it looks like a good alternative to the
>"last mile" issue and could allow us to make best use of the internet and
>the available VHF/UHF networks while maintaining redundancy within the
>network.  I would be happy to work with you on this. Let me know if you have
>other questions or suggestions.
>
>Rick KN6KB
>Winlink Development Team

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