[FADCA] Sedan Guidelines

[bud Thompson]

Deltona
Friday March 9 1600EST

Here is what has been happening in the past four years in Florida
networking.

While activity in packet/digital is coming back to a degree, that has not
yet turned into a demand for a statewide network.

The FADCA group has been promoting re-establishing the old layered network
(ROSE - converting to FPAC) because we know that flat networks won't cut it.
I have been working on the emergency support angle to get the attention of
ARES/RACES groups - through the avenue of offering programs for radio
clubs - Radio club program chairmen are human- they need programs on any
topic whether they are interested or not.

Tom Nolan, the SEDAN administrator has developed an "in" with the STATE EOC
and is promoting expanding coverage by the SEDAN network throughout the
state.  His basic premise to local groups is "You find me a tall tower, and
I'll put your area on the SEDAN network free".

Hams are human - Free will make it work every time.

I make a presentation at a radio club and explain in (very) lay terms how
digis/nodes/bbs/switches work and how the FADCA layered network plan for
supporting emergency communications locally and around the state is better
suited than flat networks.  I don't blow any smoke where the sun doesn't
shine: I show how it takes more hardware and a greater number of sites -
though not as "tall" (or precious)  than a flat network.  I also don't offer
anything free except advice, configuration help, tuning of radios/tnc, etc.

So far, the SEDAN administrator won in three places where I had started the
process by giving programs - so far as I know he has never made a
presentation to a radio club in Central Florida..

. . . but hams  are human.

I just need to learn how to blow smoke.

Then, more than a year ago when I talked with Tom Nolan he said he might
abandon a specific site (it was very close to a neighbor SEDAN node). I
suggested if he were abandoning the site, I'd appreciate his helping us get
on it - he abruptly cut the discussion off and I've never heard another word
from him.

73,
bud N0IA

----- Original Message -----
From: <wchast@utilpart.com>
To: <fadca@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 3:43 PM
Subject: RE: [FADCA] Sedan Guidelines


> Grief!!
> This really tells the story of a flat network, that is all
> there is to it.
>
> This goes back to when Buck had a "falling out" with Tom Moulton
> and the RATS group, so instead of looking for something that
> got the job done, he moved the whole thing back to X1J and a
> flat network. You get what you pay for.
>
> The whole reason they keep it to keyboarding only is because
> anything else will bring it to a screeching halt, contention
> on a flat network from anything but LIGHT keyboarding will
> stop a well populated network even of keyboarders. We have
> tested and tested that scenario many many times here in Florida
> and have seen what a flat network can do. If you want to get
> 3-5 nodes on line for a quick action type thing it is better
> than nothing, but once you really start moving traffic over
> it you need to have a tiered network, regardless of what kind
> of traffic it is. I have seen heavy keyboard traffic take a
> flat network off the air (slow it to the point that it just
> as well be off the air) so all these people are proposing is
> going back in time.
>