[FADCA] Digital Radios QUICK!!

[bud thompson]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <W_J_Sinbine at fpl.com>
To: <fadca at mailman.qth.net>; <ka1vrf at bellsouth.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 11:08
Subject: [FADCA] Digital Radios QUICK!!


>I just found out that one of the fpac switches in my area is going to be
> moved to a county location and turned over to the county from the eoc.
>
> Here are my needs.
>
> I was told that they want to go with all new equipment. We'll have to see
> if this all holds true!!!
> I have no problem with tnc's and antennas etc.
>
> What I need is DATA radios. I know we have the Taits out there and I still
> haven't been able to program them so mine are still sitting in the box. 
> I'm
> not the only one in this position.
>
> What data radios can we use new out of the box to get this job done?  OR
> would we be better off going with something linke the mitrex? If the 
> mitrex
> I need to know who has 3 or 4 440 and 2 2meter radios that are good to use
> that we might be able to get.
>
>  I need this information NOW....
>
>
> Thanks
>
> Bill N4XEO
>
>
>
* * *

Where there is new money to be spent - go with DATA RADIOS that are plug 'n 
play.  If they need to be programmed that should be avaialble if the radios 
are purchased new.  These Mitreks are great radios, but what is substituted 
for $s is a lot of sweat equity - and I'm running out of that fast.

I believe that PacComm is the distributor for the $400?? data radios from 
Australia (?) Chuck would know.

We need to establish a (proven?) recommendation for where real money can be 
spent . . . It would be a great mistake for $1200-$1500 to be spent on data 
radios for a three-port switch and they not work or require the sweat equity 
that a $100  Mitrek does.

Then there are the 10w D-Star radios - thinking ahead - I assume they would 
also run 9.6kb with a TNC until there are more of them to communicate with 
D-Star protocol. Current retail asking price $1400!  These are at 1.2GHz.

We also need to determine if the TimeWave PK-96 TNCs will work with LINUX 
FPAC in one of the several KISS modes as they do with DOS FPAC in KISS 0$B 
mode (checksum.)  The PK-96s represent the best buy (new) for FPAC switches 
as they run either 1200b or 9.6kb and can be configured for high serial baud 
rates - all  WITHOUT OPENING THE CASE.  This is a much easier system to 
manage than having to exchange EPROMS just to test AX.25 and having to open 
the case to change radio and/or serial baud rates.

Next we need to determine if the Kantronics KPC-9612+ will work with LINUX 
FPAC on a single comport.  If so, then it becomes very cost effective for a 
two-port switch on a single comport (LAN 1200, one backbone 9.6kb.)  With 
the KPC-9612+ the case need not be opened for any purpose.  Additional ports 
if all 9.6kb can be handled by Timewave PK-96s.

Where there is less new money to be spent, the Mitrek approach is working 
quite well.

bud N0IA