[FADCA] NTS/ARES/RACES - Layered Network Growing - Now Let's Use It

Sun, 8 Feb 2004 18:04:08 -0500

While we are contributing our "cents", a BBS in a shelter is not needed. A
packet station in the shelter is all that is needed to communicate with a
BBS in the LAN outside of the shelter..

Packet stations can be set up to respond to beacons for incoming traffic at
the BBS addressed to them and the shelter stations will reverse forward any
pending messages.

You don't even HAVE to have a BBS in a shelter or "office"  with more than
one operating packet station, they can share a wire lan or use a "radio
multiplier' which connects their TNCs to one radio. If you have an office
with several packet stations (such as an EOC or a Responding Agency office)
a BBS could be used to support a Local LAN within the "building". The BBS
would then forward to and recieve messages for the participating packet
stations.)  A more efficient local LAN in an office would have a "mail
server" on a wired or wireless (802.11 b or g 802.16
[http://www.ieee802.org/16/docs/01/80216-01_58r1.pdf ] etc.) lan within the
"office" or "community" that would communicate with the outside world
through another port/means.

We need to start designing with what is available and becoming available in
mind and we need to start thinking about amateur radio as a pipeline through
which a set of computers can communicate when wire lines are not working or
available or unlicensed wireless computer LANs don't have the range needed.

Russ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "j daughtry" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 1:37 PM
Subject: Re: [FADCA] NTS/ARES/RACES - Layered Network Growing - Now Let's
Use It

> my 2 cents worth
>   we at one time in Sumter county had  a bbs set up in each shelter  on
old
> 386 computers [remember those]  and ran  doss based msys  for the
> reliability of the system   also had  the shelter bbs to forward to the
EOC
> and the other bbs shelters as needed I takes a lot of work to get  forward
> files  set to work  .
>   I agree with Bill in a emergency  the nts format isn't needed  as long
as
> it will stay in the local shelter lan  just the proper addressing   is
used
> , some of the  emergencies I have worked  we would still be trying to send
> to the eoc if we had been trying to format nts style .
>      Another thing to think about  in a shelter you  need a  control
> operator  so why not put the bbs at that shelter in there call and  set
the
> forward files up NOW to  show that  , its easy to get some one to send
> simple style messages  most anybody can type  and  set to send.
>  John
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bill Sinbine" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 10:00 AM
> Subject: Re: [FADCA] NTS/ARES/RACES - Layered Network Growing - Now Let's
> Use It
>
>
> > At 04:10 PM 2/7/2004 -0500, you wrote:
> > >HI,
> > >
> > >WE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE OLD BBS ACCEPTING 'CANNED' TRAFFIC WHEN
WE
> > >USED THE OLD SOFTWARE. (ON DISK AND SELF FED)  THE BBS WENT DOWN AND
THE
> > >SYSOP DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A COPY OF THE SOFTWARE.  HE LEFT AND I WAS
> > >REQUESTED TO TRY TO GET IT BACK ON THE AIR.
> >
> > What bbs program was it that was being used?
> >
> >
> > >WHEN THE BBS WAS PUT UP WITH FBB, I HAD TO MAKE A LOT OF TRIPS TO THE
EOC
> > >TO RESET THE SYSTEM AS IT WOULD NOT HANDLE TRAFFIC.  I HAVE NOW
> > >RESTRICTED NTS TO KEYBOARDED, NOT CANNED.  THIS HAS CAUSED A GREAT
> > >REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF NTS UTILIZING THE BBS.
> >
> > Do you have him set up as a bbs to allow auto forwarding?
> >
> >
> > >WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE, WHERE WE START TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS DUE TO A
> > >PROGRAM, I CALL THAT PROGRAM UNFRIENDLY.  I AM NOT A POLITICALLY
CORRECT
> > >TYPE PERSON, HIDING THE TRUTH TO SOUND LIKE ONE OF THE APOLOGISTS.
> > >
> > >I FIND THE FBB UNNECESSARILY CONVOLUTED AND THE DOCUMENTATION A JUMBLE.
> > >I PRESUME THIS IS PARTLY DUE TO TRANSLATION, THOUGH I BELIEVE THAT
> > >SEPARATE SECTIONS BY OPERATING SYSTEM WOULD HAVE MADE UNDERSTANDING
> > >EASIER.  ALSO MANY THINGS ARE WRITTEN FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW A LOT ABOUT
THE
> > >SUBJECT, BUT ARE OF NO HELP TO THE BEGINNER.
> >
> >
> > This is true and  I'm sure that the people on this list can get you
going.
> > This is one of the reasons for this list.
> >
> >
> > >WE HAVE STARTED A SEARCH FOR THE OLD PROGRAM, BUT ARE ALSO INTERESTED
IN
> > >THE NEW PROGRAM TALKED ABOUT ON THE REFLECTOR.
> >
> > The new program will be "down the road" it is still in the coding
process.
> >
> > You will find the docs for most amateur programs aren't that good. The
new
> > bbs program being worked on right now will probably be the same.
> >
> >
> > >AS I STATED, THE NTS TRAFFIC NET CONTROLLER HAS REQUESTED OF ME THAT WE
> > >RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM OR FIND SOMETHING WHERE WE WILL NOT HAVE
> > >THE PROBLEMS.  ERGO, THE SEARCH.
> >
> > Can you give some examples as to how he is sending the messages. Like
bud
> > said, it needs to be in the proper format. ntszip @ ntsstate  ie:  ST
> > 34988@ntsfl   If it isn't in this format it won't go anywhere. I did
have
> > the format messed up last night sorry about that. FBB will ONLY work in
> > this format which is the proper format. This isn't a problem, this is
how
> > it is supposed to be. If the other program let you do it some other way
> > that is where the problem was.
> >
> > If you go to http://www.choisser.com/packet/ you will find the packet
> > beginners info. This is VERY good info. It is dated, but it will give
the
> > basics on packet. There might be some info that will help you and others
> in
> > setting things up properly.
> >
> >
> > >THE 'REASON' FOR THE BBS/NODE HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE A LOCAL DIGITAL
> > >COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK FOR THE TRANSFER OF BULK INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL
> > >BETWEEN THE SERVED SHELTERS AND THE EOC.  THIS IS TO ACCOMMODATE THE
> > >LOGISTICS FOR STORM/DISASTER NEEDS LOCALLY.
> >
> > I think you will find that in a emergency you won't be using nts format
> > between shelters. All that has to be done is to do normal type packet
and
> > have a call assigned to each shelter. Then you will just need to have
each
> > shelter set up as a bbs with that call to be able to do auto forwarding
to
> > the bbs. This really has nothing to do with the packet setup for the
most
> > part. It has more to do with your plan and to have everything set up in
> > advanced. This way you can have someone sit down at the computer that
has
> > never seen packet and say here is a list of calls/locations to send
> > messages to and here is how you send them. This is all up to the program
> > you pick as to how it is done.
> >
> >
> > >TRAFFIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN 'TOLERATED' AS AN OFF-SEASON ACTIVITY TO MAKE
> > >CERTAIN THAT THE SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING.  I AM STILL LOOKING FOR THE
> > >SOFTWARE TO USE IN THE SHELTERS.  MOST OF THE OPERATORS WILL NEVER HAVE
> > >TOUCHED PACKET BEFORE AND WILL HAVE NO USE FOR IT OUTSIDE OF THE
DISASTER
> > >FUNCTION, THEREFORE THE NEED FOR A SIMPLE SYSTEM WHERE A FORM MAY JUST
BE
> > >FILLED OUT AND SENT TO THE EOC.
> > >
> > >NO MATTER WHAT SOFTWARE OR TNC'S ARE USED, THE OBJECT IS TO KEEP THE
> > >BBS/NODE IN OPERATION.  THIS IS MY PRIMARY GOAL.
> >
> > In order to help out we will need to see how you have the bbs
configured.
> > There are many routing files in fbb and when you break them down to one
at
> > a time they are very easy.
> > It doesn't matter what the bbs program is if it is set up right then it
> > will work right as long as the proper format is used and this can be a
> bear
> > no matter what the program.!
> >
> >
> > 73, Bill N4XEO
> >
> > E- Mail mailto: [email protected]
> > home page:        http://www.qsl.net/n4xeo
> > Fort Pierce arc:  http://www.qsl.net/w4akh
> > F.A.D.C.A.:        http://www.fadca.org
> > FPAC:               http://www.qsl.net/fpac
> > ICQ: 19219163
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
>
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