[FADCA] LAN and BBS in Ft. Myers/Lee County
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sat, 20 Mar 2004 19:50:49 -0500
HI,
PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT ADDRESS BELOW SO WE CAN GO DIRECT CONCERNING THE
OFFERS YOU MADE. NO USE BOTHERING EVERYONE WITH THE CHATTER.
THANKS FOR THE OFFERS; WE MAY BE ABLE TO USE THE HELP.
73,
TOM, KF4UTH
KF4UTH @JUNO.COM
On Sun, 08 Feb 2004 20:11:55 -0500 "John H. Green" <[email protected]>
writes:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi All
>
> Boy, this is a busy day for the reflector!!
> Tom, kf4uth, The Palm Beach Packet Group has offered several times
> in
> the past years to help set up a fpac switch in Ft. Meyers. We still
> have the offer open. We were talking to Ed, n9awp, about all this.
>
>
>
> Just for info, the Ft Meyers bbs used to be aa4re, the same as I run
> here.
>
>
>
> The La Belle digi was installed last year to bridge the gap from
> Clewiston to Ft Meyers. It is nothing but a radio and a tnc set to
> act
> as a digi. The call is w9vds-8. Eventually we plan to install a full
> fpac switch, time is the essential element. Unfortunately, it has
> not
> worked as well as we would like. The problem lies not in the digi,
> but
> in the w4lx-2. When we were over there at a hamfest several years
> ago
> we visited the eoc and discovered that the radios are separate from
> the
> pc. There was and still is a 120 hz hum on the 441 signal and it has
> gotten worse - to the point where we can't get any info from w4lx-2
> ( I
> just tried).
>
>
>
> So probably the first thing is to clean up the signal so it is
> useable.
>
>
> If you decide to setup a fpac switch let me know and I will prepare
> an
> install package that will make it easier..
>
> If you make it to Orlando stop by the trailer and we can discuss
> more..
> We will be out in the swap area somewhere.
>
> If not we can meet in Clewiston and have a get together. Frank,
> wa4pam,
> heads the ec operations there and would be someone you might want to
> meet.
>
> 73 John
>
>
>
>
> bud thompson wrote:
>
>
> NOTE: I've moved this thread to the FADCA e-mail reflector as (1)
> there are
> folks there more familiar with the lay of the land in the SW part of
> the
> state and (2) getting a LAN and BBS up and running should be of
> general
> interest and there may be some help within the group.
>
> Deltona
> Sunday Feb 8 1750E
> NOTE: Not certain- I may have sent this one earlier this AM! It's
> hell
> getting old!
>
> TOM: KF4UTH... Here are some response to your note below - hope it
> helps.
>
> I assume "DRSEY" is a DRSI two-port ISA TNC card with one port
> inoperable
> and one port working 1200b packet on the UHF frequency to KF4HFR .
> Is the
> inoperable DRSI port a TNC or an RS-232 port?
>
> Is the computer running MS DOS and therefore FBBDOS?
>
> Is the link to KF4HFR in Charlotte to a ROSE or FPAC switch, or to a
> BPQ
> node?
>
> There is no generic problem with KPC3+ TNCs not staying in KISS
> mode.
> However, this can be caused by an old internal battery and temporary
> power
> failures.
>
> 'FBB' is the BBS program, not something you 'keep on the BBS'
>
> Basics...
>
> The assumption we start with is there are two or more packet users
> in the
> local ham community, and that once a packet LAN is set up interest
> will
> grow. Users on the LAN want to be able to send and receive messages
> over
> long distances using the network or to pass messages locally for fun
> or in
> preparation for emergencies. They may also want to do keyboard
> 'chat' with
> each other locally or over longer distances with users on other
> LANs. In
> the case of NTS support there must be one or more local packet users
> who are
> familiar with NTS nets and procedures and who will generally
> baby-sit the
> LAN for NTS traffic.
>
> A quick basic review: A switch (FPAC in this case) simply supports
> automatically passing packets from one radio port to another radio
> port.
> FPAC does not permanently store messages for later transfer. A BBS
> takes
> messages in, stores them on disk, and later sends them off to where
> they
> should go by a routing scheme based on how the messages have been
> addressed
> by the sender.
>
> Typically an FPAC switch has a 2M Local Area Network (LAN) that
> local packet
> stations use to access the network and to work each other. Antennas
> at
> switches are generally more highly elevated than packet stations at
> hams
> houses, so the LAN helps locals work each other much as a repeater
> does on
> voice. Users access the switch through the 2M LAN to get to the
> local
> community BBS which not all packet users can reach directly, or to
> have
> keyboard QSOs with other stations on the LAN or on the network
> through the
> FPAC switch function (which is automatic).
>
> Typically a local community BBS is located at the sysop's house/QTH.
> That
> way the sysop can keep it configured and running w/o making trips to
> a
> remote site where the switch may be located. Where possible, and
> the BBS
> has been configured and is stable, BBS may be located at the switch
> site,
> but with FPAC switches, the BBS must be in a separate computer from
> the FPAC
> computer. This is called a co-located BBS.
>
> All local users access the BBS and the FPAC switch from home or
> elsewhere.
> No need to physically go to the switch or the BBS just to use the
> system.
> Typically, all an NTS users needs to do is post the NTS message to
> the BBS
> and all else is automatic. When an NTS message comes in from
> out-of-area,
> it appears on the BBS and the locals read it and deliver/relay it.
>
> Keeping in mind I don't know the lay of the land there - here is an
> idea for
> Ft. Myers/Lee County. Two Major steps - you already have the
> gear...
>
> 1. Use the current computer (DOS?) at the EOC to run FPAC switch
> software.
> (This will require someone from the outside to give you some help to
> set
> up - but it may not come from very far away). This computer and all
> the
> gear you have now will be at the EOC- the switch site. Once working
> right,
> no one need to go to the site unless something breaks.
>
> This FPAC switch will use the existing 2M radio on the LAN for your
> local
> users (right now on 145.03 I believe).
> This FPAC switch will use the existing UHF radio either to Charlotte
> or
> LaBell to link to the Florida Layered Packet Network
> This FPAC switch will support a 220 packet port to another network
> link if
> desired/when available. (TNCs are almost free these days.)
>
> This will put Lee County on the Florida Layered Packet network, and
> greatly
> extend the overall network coverage into a highly populated area.
>
> Even though you may not have anyone locally there who has had enough
> packet
> experience to manage the FPAC switch that is no problem. Once set
> up, the
> switch can be managed/configured remotely over the network. Right
> now
> needed changes to the Melbourne switch are being made from W. Palm
> Beach.. I
> expect that WB4MOZ in W. Palm might take care of the Ft. Myers
> switch
> remotely until someone there learns how.
>
> 2. Now you need a LAN BBS available so users can send, store, and
> receive
> messages. If you have someone locally who is reasonably familiar
> with
> packet and computers he/she can learn about how to manage an FBB BBS
> (Windows or DOS) or any FBB-compatible BBS software that they want
> to use.
> Actually once configured for local operations, the BBS can be
> managed
> remotely by someone at a distance over the radio network, or even
> over the
> telephone or internet. (At the sysop's house there would be a phone
> line or
> internet connection.) I can guarantee you that after a year, the
> sysop will
> know all needed to know and will no longer need the remote help.)
>
> If there is no one there who wants to take on the sysop job for the
> BBS,
> then local Lee County packet users can simply use the closest BBS on
> the
> network! (This would likely be the BBS in W. Palm Beach). The
> drawback to
> this is that if the network goes down, then Lee County doesn't have
> a BBS
> during an emergency. Likewise if the W. Palm Beach BBS goes down.)
>
> NOTE: There may be a concern using the DRSI card and the KAM+ on the
> FPAC
> switch. These are details we'll have to check that out. Do not let
> this
> dissuade you from considering the above as the solution is to
> replace those
> TNCs with more generic TNCs (used MFJS, etc,) which are super cheap.
> Trades
> might be made- in fact, the KPC3+ could be used by the sysop of the
> FBB BBS
> at home and the DRSI card could also be used by an FBB BBS at home.
> (Slightly harder to configure, but we have folks who can do all
> that.)
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> bud N0IA
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 01:22
> Subject: Re: [FADCA] Re: BBSs on Layered Network
>
>
>
>
> BUD,
>
> ON W4LX/-2 WE HAVE RADIOS FOR 2 METERS, 220, AND 440.
> THERE IS A DIRSEY CARD (ONLY ONE PORT STILL WORKING) ON THE 441 AND
> A
> KAM3+ ON THE 2 METERS. (WE WISH TO REPLACE THE KAM AS IT WILL NOT
> HOLD
> KISS, A COMMONLY DOCUMENTED FAULT. A PROBLEM WITH MEMORY
> MANAGEMENT.)
>
> THERE IS NO 220 USE AS WE DO NOT HAVE A PORT ON THE COMPUTER AND WE
> HAVE
> NOT OBTAINED A TNC.
> THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANYONE WHO DESIRES TO USE 220.
>
> THE 441 IS USED FOR THE 'BACKBONE' RADIO AND FOR SYSOP USE.
> WE ARE RUNNING BPQ FOR INTERBBS TRANSFERS.
>
> FBB IS THE SYSTEM USED NOW, BUT NONE OF THE LOCAL OPS SEEM TO LIKE
> IT.
> IT IS NOT A MATTER OF EDUCATION, JUST FBB IS NOT SOMETHING THEY WISH
> KEPT
> ON THE BBS.
>
> OUR ANTENNAS ARE ON THE TOWER AT THE EOC.
>
> WE ARE CONNECTED TO KF4HFR IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY FOR MESSAGE TRANSFER.
>
> DOESN'T THIS CONSTITUTE A LAN?
> WHAT MORE IS NEEDED TO BE AN FPAC SWITCH?
> WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A PHONE LINE WHICH COULD BE USED FOR
> TELENET.
>
> THERE IS NO LOCAL CLUB THAT WOULD SPONSOR PACKET ACTIVITIES.
>
> WE HAVE THE ONLY TOWER LOCATION WITH RELIABLE EMERGENCY POWER OF
> WHICH I
> AM AWARE LOCALLY.
> THERE IS NO CHANCE OF GETTING A SPOT ON THE CHANNEL 20 TOWER WHERE
> OUR
> NEW VOICE REPEATER IS LOCATED. THE REPEATER CLUB HAS THE OTHER
> LOCAL
> SITES OCCUPIED.
>
> I HAD NEVER BEEN ADVISED THAT THERE WAS ANY PACKET ACTIVITY IN
> LABELLE.
> WHAT ARE THE FREQ AND THE CALLSIGN? I HAVE BEEN USING THE FORT
> MYERS
> BBS/NODE FOR THE LAST FIVE+ YEARS. AT NO TIME HAS THERE BEEN ANY
> CONTACT
> WITH LABELLE OF WHICH I AM AWARE.
>
> NOW THAT I HAVE FINISHED MY THREE YEARS AS CLUB PRESIDENT, I WILL
> HAVE
> MORE TIME TO DEVOTE TO OTHER RADIO ACTIVITIES, LIKE PACKET.
>
> I HAVE ASKED SOME OF THE LOCAL OPERATORS TO MAKE A LIST OF DESIRED
> FEATURES AND ITEMS NOT WANTED IN OUR NEW SOFTWARE. THIS SHOULD BE
> DISCUSSED SOON.
>
> PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE CONTACT ME ABOUT THE LABELLE INSTALLATION AS A
> GROUP
> OF US WOULD LIKE TO VISIT IT AND LEARN WHAT WE CAN TO HELP KEEP OUR
> BBS/NODE UP AND RUNNING. WE ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING WHAT WE CAN
> ABOUT
> FBB AT THAT TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TRAINED
> ASSISTANT/REPLACEMENT
> ON BOARD AS WE NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHEN.
>
> IS THAT THE SAME DIRECTOR WHO WAS GONE FOR A WHILE? IS HE BACK?
> PERHAPS
> HE COULD CALL ME AND BE OF HELP, ALSO.
>
> THIS IS A THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF THE LOCAL INSTALLATION.
>
> 73,
> TOM, KF4UTH
>
>
>
>
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