[FADCA] Use of ESATCOM for TCP/IP

[wchast at utilpart.com]

Bill Guthrie wrote:
> Just a suggestion:
> 
> In the hay-day of packet use and users, I,  having been a user of both
> systems, watched the "packet wars" between those supporting "ROSE"
> and those supporting "nodes", I saw little good come out of it. The
> biggest result was people leaving the hobby to get away from the
> fight.  What we need is more USERS.  Developing OUR system will bring
> hams back to digital communication because there something to do with
> it and they will be able to use the technology(email). I do not
> believe SEDAN can do this. Look at the interest that Winlink is
> generating. DO you see any of this activity around SEDAN? 

I too was deeply involved in all of that. I take the position that
you use the network that does the best job, indeed I like the LINUX
FPAC solution because you can also have NR(what SEDAN uses as the
network protocol, no matter what name the give it) IP and any other
protocols (how about apple talk?) that you can load into the LINUX
stack. Indeed by going that way we can start using 802.11 cards and
looking at even higher speeds.

His attitude of SEDAN or nothing strikes me as very retrograde, and
it is like the people who say "AM or die".

His attitude is the same as those people who move to Florida and then
complain all of the time that "we don't do it that way up nawth".
 

> 
> Just as there are different makes of automobiles in use, so will
> there be different modes of digital communication. Mr. Flemming in
> Tallahassee is certainly a SEDAN enthusiast and does not wish to
> support other methods. We should NOT be intent on replacing or
> eliminating SEDAN.  This only causes him to dig in more. It has
> become a personal issue, not a logical discussion for him. If we
> want/need his support, we need to embrace his methods while
> continuing to develop ours.

I agree, that is why we need to have a multi-protocol stack at each
switch site, then each can use what they feel they like best and may
the best one win out.

But to block out all others in preference to one is not right, and
all that will get all of us is a black eye when the SEDAN thing fails
due to being maxed out beyond the 18% that a pure aloha network will
allow. If they would at least work with us we could move to a multi-
protocol device and all could play with their protocol of choice.
Indeed we can encap NR frames inside FPAC frames and give them what
looks like a virtual network of nodes that are neighbors as far as
the node list appears, but really there would be FPAC switches between
them allowing them to have node horizons much more distant than they
will be able to have with a pure NR network. At about 3 nodes out the
whole thing starts to really fall apart, that is why the New England
guys only allowed NR routing to go 3 nodes deep, then you had to do
a manual route to the next ring of nodes. 
 
> 
> We are far ahead of SEDAN in using and embracing current technologies
> to further our hobby and ecomm. If we continue to build a better
> mouse trap, ours (WL2K/winlink/telpac/paclink...) will prevail in the
> end.  I will now quote from a fellow ham:

I agree, it just irks me in this day and age to find people in such
positions blocking progress.



> 
> "hi bill.....
> well I'm not gonna worry about nts traffic..after i get the telpac
> node set up, i may put up an hf classic winlink on hf, for nts stuff.
> but my main system will  be wl2k, with telpac and paclink....
> these so called nts people from 1 land, etc, aren't using digital
> systems, most traffic is going by email anyhow...sobeit...i'm movin
> on...73" 
> 
> Let us stop wasting our energies knocking SEDAN and move on. WE will
> win with USERS.  If no one uses or ever tests the SEDAN network, then
> it will die on its on accord. When it does, the WL2K system will
> already be installed and operational all over the state.  The system
> that WORKS and is in place will be the system used when the disaster
> occurs.

Yes, I hope that this is the way it goes, but I am still fearful that
they are going to try to ram SEDAN down the EOC' and ECOMS throats and
then when it does not deliver the goods we are going to have to clean
the egg off.

At least we will have a nice clean fallback that will work and will work
well, I just hope that we will be able to convince the burned ones that
there are other options, and not get left holding the bag.



Chuck Hast
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
To paraphrase my flight instructor;
"the only dumb question is the one you DID NOT ask resulting in my going
out and having to identify your bits and pieces in the midst of torn
and twisted metal."


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