[FADCA] Digital and Emergency Planning

2 Mar 2002 21:42:45 -0800

Bud, thank you for summarizing the original query and focus of the discussion (disaster communications from the "effected area" to the nearest entry point to the internet to handle traffic to and from the SEOC when the phone lines and other service's radio systems are not working in the "effected area" or are not capable of handing the volume and diverstity of traffic) and the real subject of my intended discussion. Thank you also for bringing in participants that are doing development work.

I am encouraged by the discussions and the interest I see to increase the capabilities we  have.  I suspect there are more resources (stations with VHF and/or UHF ports as well as internet ports) that might be willing to fullfil one  of Amateur Radio's stated reason for existance (emergency/disaster  communication support).

I encourage everyone with an interest in any portion of this  discussion to participate. There appears to be a need for some additional message threads or discussion groups regarding some of the different programs as well as Operating Systems.

I think we need to focus our discussion on:

1.  What are our current resources in place today? (What ports - frequencies - do can  they provide?)

2.  Where are they located?

3.  What are their existing coverage areas?

4.  What capability do they have?

5.  Can we test them to determine the problems to overcome as well as begin to  prepare operators to use them?

6.  Is there anyone that can work with the SEOC to facilitate the application and/or utilization of the resources we can provide?

7.  What do we need to put into  place and where is it needed to provide state-wide coverage?

8.  Are there any "interior area" existing resouurces - what I  have seen listed are "coastal" resources.

Russ, N4KOX

On Sat, 02 March 2002, "bud Thompson" wrote:

> 
> Deltona
> Saturday Mar 2 0655EST
> 
> Hi, All -
> 
> I suggest this thread not be about LINUX vs. Windows/MS, etc. We can start
> one if needed, (please include me) but this particular thread (the best one
> we have had in years on FADCA!) is confusing enough as few have much
> previous knowledge about the Winlink 2000 (WL2K) and Airmail system and
> programs.
> 
> That said, I'm glad to see we have some LINUX folks available when I need
> some help on some other projects here one of these days!
> 
> This topic started when Russ had a problem with telnet he could not solve
> with Windows bud did solve with LINUX - but he was working on some ideas for
> supporting emergency communications with digital stations in the Last Mile
> (where there is no wire line connection).  I brought in that I was working
> on (promoting) the use of the Airmail terminal program for tactical
> operations which, when tied in with the WL2K system for which it was
> designed, would let us make the Internet/telnet connection.  My point was,
> and still is, that for emergency planning, we will have far too few
> (trained) hams to participate than we might need, and a greater number of
> them will be more familiar with Windows-based programs than with LINUX.
> 
> In most cases, plans for emergencies include the use of laptops -whether
> user- or government-owned, and so far as I know there is not a complete
> system in Florida where the laptops are ready to go for ham use with LINUX.
> We will have enough of a problem successfully promoting the use of ham
> digital, much less an OS that folks don't now have. I know in Seminole
> County where we now have ten county-supplied laptops and TNCs, my suggesting
> we move to a LINUX-based OS would not meet with positive results.
> 
> If somewhere in the transfer chain outside the Last Mile other operating
> systems are employed because they are "better" , that is totally transparent
> to the ham operating his/her laptop in a shelter.
> 
> The thread we have going -Emergency Support Using Digital in the Last Mile -
> is a good one. I suggest we keep it to this without regard to computer
> operating systems.  If there is another scheme available other than
> WL2K/Airmail - bring it on.
> 
> In this regard, I really appreciate that Rick, KN6KB and possibly Jim, KE6RK
> have joined in on the comments. They are part of the WL2K development team
> and will keep me honest in my discussion of how the system may be employed
> for our purposes
> 
> - Bring it on.
> 
> 73,
> bud Thompson, N0IA
> 
> 
> 
> 
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