[FADCA] May 1 Update - Florida Layered Packet Network

[bud Thompson]

Deltona
Wednesday May 1

NOTE: I posted this to FADCA early this morning with two dozen ccs:  =
Bill advised me to send it again as fadca.@mailman.qth may have seen it =
as a SPAM with all the ccs:

NOTICE:  The SEDAN meeting previously scheduled for May 4th in =
Tallahassee
was canceled.  We hope to be able to make a presentation on our growing
digital network capabilities  to the State and the SEDAN folks at a =
later
date.

In S.E. Central Florida - (FADCA District 3)

The Melbourne switch has been converted to FPAC and final
configuration/testing completed off site.  The switch will be installed =
at
the site next week.  This will provide 24/7 connectivity from Melbourne
south to Hollywood including access to the cross-state trunks to the =
gulf
coast.  Most important, it will provide Brevard County with a =
functioning
LAN for local use as well as access to the network.

W4RP (Melbourne) is the sysop for the Melbourne switch and will be
establishing an FBB BBS on the LAN.  KA4HNW is assisting.

Thanks to WB4MOZ and WD4KGY (W. Palm Beach FADCA District 2) for their =
help
in getting Melbourne back on the air.  They checked and repaired the =
TNCs,
and provided a computer for the new FPAC switch.

The Melbourne switch is sponsored by the PCARS club.

During times of early morning darkness the Melbourne switch should be =
able
to link northward to both the DeLand and Daytona Beach switches.  This =
will
complete the connectivity from Hollywood through to Jacksonville along =
the
Florida East Coast over these periods.

All three network switches in E. Central Florida (FADCA District 5) are
working as before - with two still located at temporary sites.

KK1B (Orlando Amateur Radio Club contact)  is going to check into the =
move
to the new site for the Orlando FPAC switch.

An antenna party is scheduled at DeLand for May 7th.  The DeLand FPAC =
switch
hardware should be moved to the site before June 1.

Once the Orlando switch is relocated, the link between Melbourne and =
Orlando
should be good 24/7 - and connectivity throughout the Florida East Coast
network should be solid from Hollywood to Jacksonville.

KN6KB (Rockledge FADCA District 3) has been developing and beta testing =
a
Small Message System (SMS) which permits keyboarding through the network =
to
the SMS where there is internet access, and sending and receiving =
messages
directly to/from the Winlink 2K internet server in Cleveland.  This can =
lead
to tactical operations in a LAN using small personal data terminals =
(Palm
Pilots, etc.) and battery-powered radios.

N4XEO (Ft. Pierce FADCA District 3) has established a Classic Winlink HF =
ARQ
MBO which will be tied to the packet network.  This will provide =
additional
bandwidth (HF) for longer links.

I have received some interest in the network from KD4WOV (Taveres)  =
Perhaps
we can expand the network westward and northward into Lake County soon.

It is likely we will have a packet training session sponsored by the
Seminole County ARES/RACES sometime soon.  This would be held in the =
Sanford
area, most likely on a Saturday.   Anyone who might be interested in
attending from elsewhere should let me know.

Elsewhere along the Layered Packet Network: (Get out your map of =
Florida.)

KD4MOJ (Tallahassee FADCA District 8) Is establishing an FPAC switch in
Tallahassee.  N4KOX (Orange Park FADCA District 7) will work with KD4MOJ =
to
provide additional switches that will tie Tallahassee to Jacksonville.  =
This
would ultimately lead to a trunk/spur southward  through Gainesville and
Ocala to tie to the E. Central Florida switches at DeLand and/or =
Orlando.

KP4DJT (Tampa-  FADCA District 4) - is working on LINUX FPAC which has
undergone much more development and use (in France) lately than DOS =
FPAC.
He sees great possibility for increased flexibility with the LINUX =
version
and will be reporting results on his investigation soon.

KF4UTH (Ft. Myers - FADCA District 6) is generating some interest in =
packet
among the hams in that area.  We have a tentative date for my making a =
club
meeting presentation there on June 25.

Pass this information along to your local ARES/RACES Emergency Emergency
Coordinator - They need to know that digital communications at the LAN,
District, and Regional level can be of great value in their emergency =
plans.
They also need to know the Integrated Digital Network is coming to a =
site
near them soon!

73,
bud Thompson N0IA
Director FDADC District 5
386 574 4124



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