[FADCA] Re: [wl2kemcomm] Re: Lets Get Back To Winlink!

[Chuck Hast]

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 08:25:35 -0500, Joel Yates <yate4899 at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> I agree with David N4ZKF.
> What ever happened to Amateur (HAM) Radio?
> ...Joel N4JOA Sysop at N4JOA bbs.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Calder" <n4zkf at n4zkf.com>
> To: "'Florida Amateur Digital Communication Association'"
> <fadca at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: December 22, 2004 07:25
> Subject: RE: [FADCA] Re: [wl2kemcomm] Re: Lets Get Back To Winlink!
> 
> >
> >
> > Russ asked:
> >
> >> Q4.  With Winlink, the use of BBS forwarding may no longer be
> > necessary
> >> with
> >> regard to supporting emergency communications. Is there a way to Block
> >> connections into the network by selected calls?  Is there a way to
> >> remotely
> >> prevent a BBS from doing it normal forwarding but allow a different
> > call
> >> on
> >> the BBS or a nother BBS from being able to handle emergency forwarding
> > if
> >> necessary?
> >>
> >
> > BBS's where the best thing since sliced bread for years. Now something
> > new comes along and you want to "block them out"?
> >
> > Seems like everyone around here wants to play ham/internet radio
> > anymore.
> > I guess it's time to hang up the bbs after 14 years and find a new
> > hobby.
> >

What Russ was talking about was traffic control during a emergency, reducing
the network traffic load to emergency traffic only, but if we build the network
deep and wide enough that should not be needed.

What is needed are ways to allow for emergency operations without having
users come on the channel and slow thngs down, once the emergency is over
things can go back to normal.

The medium of exchange is still the FPAC network, granted for Winlink at some
point it may enter the wired network for transfer to a server or other
service. But
most of the network is still radio.

I believe that most if not all BBS ops now days will do whatever they have to
do to reduce traffic flow to only that needed for the duration of the emergency.
I.e. non-essential bulletins and other non-emergency traffic put on hold.

I do not believe we have to shut off a BBs unless that system insist on hosing
the network with non-emergency stuff and that only if the network can not handle
it.

The best way is to build the network to handle the traffic and be done with it.
Right now I do not think there is enough traffic to even worry about
it. If there
is, again I believe that any BBS sysop will as one of the first steps after a
emergency happens, take steps to reduce traffic flow to only that needed for
the emergency operations.

I think that one of the first steps in the deeper wider concept is to
start looking
at moving away from 1k2 data rate as soon as possible. Keep the port around
but add a 9k6 port and start getting users to transition to that
speed. Part of our
service as amateur radio operators is to attempt to keep up with technology,
we are not doing a very good job of it. Still using 50 year old voice technology
and 25 year old data modulation technology. At the forfront we are not. Yet
there is much we can still do, by extending and modernizing our network we
can provide services during emergencies that others can not do. Even with our
old technology.

E-mail with WinLink and other solutions is part of the updating that
is constantly
going on. You have been running a BBS for years now, that was the precursor
to the e-mail server of today. What we need is more work  on bringing the two
technologies together into one, there will always be a need for these devices,
but the technology that is behind them will change, we have to keep up with
it.

-- 
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."