[FADCA] KISS - at first!

[Rick Muething]

Charles/All

Here is the dilemma....I don't know how to solve it.

Tepac/WL2K already supports a crude and rudimentary keyboard mode. It is NOT
recommended, is slow and error prone and it wastes precious spectrum but it
works if someone insists. You can access it with ANY terminal program and
send/receive text messages to radio or email users. To find out the commands
simply connect to Telpac or a WL2K Packet PMBO in keyboard mode and type H
or Help. THIS IS NOT WHAT SERVED AGENCIES WANT, AND SHOWING THEM THIS WILL
SCARE MOST AWAY! We know this...that is WHY we wrote Paclink AGW.

If you want a client program that can send real E-mail (e.g. from MS Outlook
etc) which is what the served agencies ask for and must run on Win 95
(please ...not DOS!) or 98/ME with low memory this is what is required.

1) A complete rewrite of something like Paclink AGW in VB6 or C.  It is now
in .NET and uses features of .NET which are not supported by those older
languages/OS. We are talking maybe 3-4000 lines of code here.

2) A driver for virtually every TNC made....Especially old ones for the guys
who insist on using a 20 year old junk TNCs.  This is because AGWPE takes
some significant horsepower/memory, is not trivial to set up and run and
won't run on Win 95. I have written drivers (in Telpac) for a few TNCs and I
can confirm it is a nightmare.  You have to get the older TNCs and
documentation (sometimes very weak or incorrect documentation). You have to
test it and you have additional problems due to firmware versions etc. The
only thing that comes close to a "standard" is KISS like used in AGWPE but
even this has many variations as you may have seen.

The steps 1 and 2 above for a few TNCs I would estimate at maybe 6-10 man
months given you have programming experience, access to the
TNCs/Documentation and can interpret the existing Paclink AGW .NET source
code.

Now .....who is going to spend this 6+ man months to do this so we can
capture perhaps an additional 10-20 percent of users that refuse to upgrade
to a modern OS with decent memory (a total of < $100).  Remember the current
software is free, is supported, works better and is more reliable than
anything that is practical to write running on a 16 bit OS. Also remember
that most of our "customers" (the served agencies) DON'T run on obsolete
computers and OS.

So my reply is to those that insist on having support for this old equipment
and OS is this.
You have three choices:
1) Spend $100 and upgrade your OS & Memory

OR

2) Spend $400 and buy a new modern computer

OR

3) Write a spec for what you want programmed and try and find someone that
will write it, test it, and support it for free.

I wish I could write modern software for every computer ever made and
support it for free but I can't.....Doing what we have (Winlink, Telpac,
Paclink etc) is more than a full time job and it is not done yet.

The bottom line comes down to two well known cliches:
"Time is money"
"You get what you pay for".

Let me draw on a lesson learned from Frances:
My back yard is currently full of dock lumber from those up river neighbors
that insisted on saving $100 by building their docks using galvanized nails
instead of stainless screws. My dock is still standing with its triple
screwed planks. Often insisting on the cheapest cost more in the long run.

We are talking about reliable Emergency communications here.....not glue,
bailing wire and junk box breadboards.

73,

Rick KN6KB


-----Original Message-----
From: fadca-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:fadca-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Charles S Schuman
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 11:15 AM
To: FADCA - News Reflecter
Subject: [FADCA] KISS - at first!


In order for Telpac to gain precognition as a valuable tool for local
emergency groups it must be accessible from UHF/VHF with a reasonably
simple terminal program. Many operators do have TNC2s that can be
dragged out of the closet and fired up. Once the value of Telpac &
Paclink are realized the volunteer base can be convinced to upgrade
their equipment.

Rick Wrote:

"The basic facts are: If you want modern and supported software like
Telpac, Paclink etc you have to bite the bullet and keep the computers
reasonably upgraded.  Win 95 is 10 years old it is just not practical to
develop and support free modern software that has to run on computers
and OS that are obsolete.  IF you want to run a terminal program and
type in all the data manually you can probably stick with this older OS
and code...but it is just too hard to try and develop and support this
code when computers and upgrades are so cheap today."

I have to agree with him, but The ARES/RACES volunteers who have to be
converted to packet are NOT going to be be enticed to "try" the new
technology If they have to put out $$$ to upgrade. In Marion and
especially Citrus county the AR population is mainly Snow Birds,
retirees on a fixed income, who are making do with their Old equipment.

Now give them a New tool that will work with their Old equipment. If it
proves to be invaluable.. they will somehow upgrade.

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