[FADCA] Informal Report - WCF Digital Conference Oct 5

[bud Thompson]

Deltona
Sunday Oct 6 0805EST


Report on 1st Digital Conference - West Central Florida ARRL Section

Consider this an informal report - call it "bud's spin". I'm sure the WCF
folks will provide a more detailed and accurate report. I don't think I
dozed off as there was so much energy in the room -I didn't want to miss
anything.

The conference was a qualified success - qualified in that no new switches
were installed nor old ones turned on during the three and a half-hour
meeting. However, there were a lot of folks turned on to digital messaging
and ham networking.  Most of the operational interest was in support of
emergency preparedness.

Charlie counted 25 people near the end of the meeting. There may have been a
couple that were there for a while and left. If memory serves there were
three county Emergency Coordinators and the WCF Section EC. I sensed three
or more folks who are heavy into commercial networking applications - high
tech guys at work.

FADCA was well represented - Doug Ferrel, KD4MOJ District 8 Director, Chuck
Hast KP4DJT District 4 Director, N0IA District 3 Director, and a guy who's
call I missed who introduced himself as District 6 Director. I don't think
his is the name on the present FADCA web site. (This reminded me that there
is a problem in who is really Director for District 6 - we need to address
that.) Freeman Crosby W1NPR - who did a great job getting the maps together
and who brought a projector that made my presentation easy, and Charlie
Crook N3PPC, the hard working half of my team. (Remember this is a quick
report- I hope I didn't miss anyone.) Of great interest to me was finally
meeting Tom Ringate (K0ZKF). I enjoyed our visit over dinner.

Doug KD4MOJ, brought one or two helpers from Tallahassee, so I'm relieved
that he has some help. (I've learned these switches cannot be one-man
shows!) We talked in private in some detail regarding their not having a
suitable hut at the base of the 450-ft tower. He indicated there was a
cleaner opportunity at a hospital that would put antennas at 200 ft or so. I
 suggested they concentrate on that and get a LAN up ASAP. Doug will contact
Russ on this opportunity to see how it fits in with linking eastward and
southeastward.

For the first half of the meeting there was a general discussion on the
various needs for including and enhancing digital messaging in emergency
communications plans and operations. After a break this continued and some
additional details were discussed. Using the Layered Network Map as a plane
of reference, plans were discussed to (1) get the Tampa Bay area switches
back on the air, (2) start northeastward, eastward, and south to make
backbone links, and (3) looking at tying the internet in as a more obvious
layer.

In regard to the old concern of how to get digital messages to Tallahassee,
we generally agreed on the following. (1) Establish a Tallahassee LAN and
bring the network links to it. If the State EOC wants to take advantage, all
it has to do is install a BBS on the LAN - even a firmware-based PBBS. (2)
Establish a process by which any Last Mile area can be bridged by ham radio
and get any needed information to the SEOC via e-mail if the SEOC has an
e-mail address for this purpose.

Chuck KP4DJT reported that LINUX FPAC can use sound cards to replace TNCs.
That could really simplify the hardware at network switches. He reported
that the sound cards could work at baud rates beyond what we can afford to
purchase high-speed radios!

Gary Sessums, KC5QCN (?), who is Hillsborough County ARES Emergency
Coordinator, reported having just installed a radio/TNC on the SEDAN network
at the EOC. He wants to bring the Layered Network in as well. In a
conversation after the meeting, he reported that Tom Nolan, the SEDAN
Administrator, would be interested in working with the Layered Network in
any way for the Good of The Order. Chuck KP4DJT explained the
protocol-transparent nature of a LINUX FPAC router that caught everyone's
attention.

During the break, I participated in a discussion that led to plans for a
cross-state link between Tampa and Orlando. WCF indicated it can deliver
sites near Tampa and Winter Haven. The discussion also included the
possibility of a high-speed (>>> 9.6kb) link initially. We generally agreed
that in the meanwhile, we should install an Internet / landline link between
Tampa and Orlando.

Tom Ringate reported that he recently turned on his packet station after
three years(?) and the switch he had been using was still there and ticking
away! (It is possible no one has visited that site for three years or
longer!) He also reported on the history of why some of the switches no
longer are on the air. He suggested a complete physical inventory of all
switches in the area would be a good place to start getting the Tampa Bay
area network back into operation. He indicated an interest in resurrecting
the WormHole.

Near the closing hour we agreed that something concrete needed to come out
of this first Digital Conference. (Well, no one complained when I made the
suggestion.) This extended the meeting until nearly 1730, but we came up
with three items with a three-month target date:

    1.  Complete the link between Orlando and Melbourne (a no brainer, so
was easy for me to volunteer!)

    2.  Establish a Working Task Force (emphasis on working) to make a
census / inventory of the Tampa Bay area switches to see what it will take
to get them operational, talking to each other, and what links are needed to
get north, east and south out of the area.

    3.  Establish a LAN/switch at Wauchula. (I think that was #3)

 The WCF section may likely hold a Digital Conference on an annual basis.

We agreed to a Digital Forum at the ARRL Section meeting in December.

My thanks and appreciation the WCF Section for getting the ball rolling!

73,
bud N0IA