[FADCA] Layered Network Updates

[bud thompson]

Deltona
Wednesday Oct 22 1740E

Get out your map of Florida-

Backbones from Orlando through DeLand to DAB are 9.6kb.  DAB to ST.
Augustine to Orange Park are next for 9.6kb in Central/North Florida.

There are other 9.6kb backbones in the state.

The Melbourne switch is down and is being relocated to the best packet site
in Melbourne.  It is expected to be operational by Nov 2nd.  We should be
able to temporarily link Melbourne to Orlando on the 223.420 WAN until
Orlando is relocated.

We have a possibility of the best location in Orange County to site the
Orlando switch.  (Half way between the new Melbourne site and Deland!)  UHF
between the two will be 9.6kb and the 223.420 WAN ports will be dropped.

There will soon be a test node/digi at Clermont that should lead to a switch
being sited there - which will provide more than a half way hop between
Orlando and Tampa.

There are other places in Florida where locals are working on beefing up or
adding to the Layered Network.

What are you doing to foster digital operations?  Help!


                 *    *    *   *

But, wait! There is more...


The WL2K development team ( www.winlink.org ) has recently gone public with
TelPac (QST October 2003  Page 39) a packet link to the WL2K Ham
Radio-to-E-mail system. By now at least 70 TelPac stations have been
established, several in Florida on the Layered Packet Network LAN.  It is
anticipated that each LAN on the Florida Layered Packet Network will/should
have a TelPac node.  This alone will bring a lot of RVers/Sailors back to
packet!

Of course all this is also in direct support of EMCOMMS.

KN6KB and W5SMM (Both residents of Melbourne) of the WL2K development team
are developing a (terminal) program (e-mail client) termed Paclink.  This
will let a ham with a packet radio, TNC, or sound card, and a commercial
e-mail account use the e-mail editor (e-mail client - Outlook, Outlook
Express, Netscape, Eudora) for packet ham-to-e-mail messaging.  EOCs, and
other served agencies will be able to communicate with each other using
e-mail w/o the internet!  Thorough TelPac nodes on the Layered network, they
will be able to use conventional Internet e-mail to targets  outside the
Last Mile.

If all this doesn't quite make sense - join the club!  Technological
advances are taking place so fast it is difficult to keep up!

Now that you have been updated....

I am calling for a FADCA meeting of the BOD and a MEMBERSHIP meeting BEFORE
the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC)-sponsored HamCation in February 2004.
By Hamcation we'll have complete connectivity from Jacksonville through to
Hollywood on the East Coast and can make effective demonstrations.  Also
there is the issue of more than $800 of FADCA funds not being released by
the previous Secretary/Treasurer in the past five years... we need those
funds to support growth.

HOkay... let's get a thread going about a meeting soon..

I suggest the Tampa Hamfest the first weekend in December.  The WX is good
there, it is generally centrally located, and should be a fun event.  I've
already made arrangements for a FADCA booth/table for demos as well as a
60-90 minute FADCA FORUM.

Who will make the TAMPA HAMFEST and a FADCA meeting?

73,
bud Thompson N0IA
386 574 4124