[FADCA] Focus, Focus, Focus

[bud thompson]

Thread Subject changed from
Re: [FADCA] Re: Networking, Hi speed Hf, et al


>From N0IA

Focus, focus, focus - We must focus on getting a coherent and functioning
network throughout the state.  We must not establish new network nodes that
won't work with what we have in place now.  To do so will dilute the (new)
beginning we've had for the past six years. In the six years I don't believe
we have established four NEW network sites!  The one in DeLand is the only
new one I've set up.  With the recent interest in E-mail Over Ham Radio in
Support of EMCOMMs (i.e. WL2K) more ARES/RACES groups are starting to get
interested.  We had 56 in attendance at the FADCA Technical Conference at
the Seminole EOC in April and are expecting 50+ tomorrow at the Hillsborough
EOC.

That is more than 100 folks - and I'd guess is 4x as many hams as there are
in Florida who presently have a packet station that can get on the network
in less than two minutes.

As more of these folks get interested, they are going to want their ham
communities to be on the Florida Layered Network and (hopefully) will
support establishing local network nodes to that end.

In the past six years . . .

We  have, however, refurbished, rebuilt, improved, and turned back on many
sites that are now functioning.  The Florida Layered Network is a
ROSE-FPAC-based network.  DOS computer-based FPACs have been replacing
firmware-based ROSE sites.  To my knowledge no new ROSE sites have been
established in the past six years. While ROSE and FPAC are compatible for
addressing, FPAC seems to offer more versatility (though the ROSE switches
are really stable!)  So, when we say ROSE or FPAC we are talking about the
same network topology.  We are likely to promote LINUX FPAC which offers
even more versatility but is TOTALLY COMPATIBILE with what we have in place.

So far as I know, FPAC is not compatible with X1-J other than being able to
digi when there is a single X1-J between two FPACs. (It is automatic network
addressing that is not compatible - keyboarders can navigate with mixed
FPAC/X1-J in the paths.)  We are soon going to experiment with FPAC/Flexnet
compatibility - but from all indications from Europe they are not compatible
for automatic addressing.  FYI - Flexnet is also DOS-based.  I assume that
keyboarders could navigate with mixed Flexnet/FPAC/X1-J in the paths.

We have asserted over and over that a frequency LAYERED network in the state
is far superior to a WAN such as the SEDAN or APRS networks. I hope that by
this time this issue is a no brainer so far as supporting large file/
message transfers and also minimizing interference between local ham
communities (LANS) during wide-spread events.

Another factor we must not lose sight of - The current (apparent) increase
in packet throughout the country is APPLICATION, not TECHNICAL -based.

The application is  EMCOMMs.

This is not a rush to a new ham mode as we had in the mid 80s when ham radio
packet became a new thing to try.  This new interest will certainly have a
lot more people able to get on the mode called 'packet', but it will not
result in a rush of the masses to be USERS as we had in the 80s/90s.  Very
few of the ARES/RACEs oriented folks are going to become packetters and
start having keyboard QSOs between Ft. Myers and Jacksonville.  Even fewer
are going to seek primary information from conventional BBS.  I don't like
this, few of us old-timers like it - but we will be grossly disappointed if
we are building this for the mass of new  'users.'

We are building this for two reasons (1) EMCOMMs support using e-mail over
ham radio, and (2) we techno-geeks enjoy the hell out of doing it.

We have taken the Field of Dreams approach: If you build it they will come.

A functioning layered FPAC network should be able to handle anything thrown
at it - EMCOMMs, large message/file transfers, keyboarders, BBS forwarding,
TCP, etc, etc. With the expertise we have, it can likely be trained to
handle stuff we've only heard of such as, but not limited to, mixed digital
voice and data.  hen D-Star is $400/radio - what else can we do?  With a 1
to 5w 2.4G amplifier what can we do between Daytona Beach and Deland? (We
are soon to learn - we have a 24db and a 15db gain antenna to play with !)

"'up Nawth"

Why Flexnet?  Why X1-J? Why myoldwaynetwork?

Where an experienced packet person moves into the state - he will naturally
want to do what he has experienced (and for which he has gear!)  I came here
in 1997 with X1-J experience from the mountain west (oh, do I miss those
6K-11K msl sites!)   It took Paul Miller N4WKQ more than six months of
gentle persuasion to convince me that the best contribution I could make
for the Good of the Order was to join in and learn ROSE/FPAC.

Thanks, Paul.

The latest example is Bob Anderson K2BJG who brought significant in-depth
packet and Flexnet experience (and gear!) with him from 'up Nawth.' He moved
to the Melbourne LAN where there was zero/zip local packet activity.  The
Melbourne FPAC switch was down - and the locals were not doing much, if
anything, to get it back on the air.  Bob is a man of action - he
re-established his Flexnet at his QTH in Palm Bay and convinced and helped
Ray N4LEM to change his X1-J nodes at Cocoa to Flexnet and establish a UHF
9.6kb link between Cocoa and Palm Bay..  Bob built his own network while the
rest of us could not get anything done in Brevard County.

Good for you, Bob!

However, if we cannot develop an addressing compatibility between FPAC and
Flexnet - Bob's efforts will not have supported the Greater Good.  It is a
shame that Bob didn't have a Paul Miller for counsel.

But Bob got something done - we need more Bobs working on building the
network - for the Good of the Order.

Three weeks ago we put the Melbourne FPAC back on the air with 1200b and
9.6kb user ports and backbones to Vero and Orlando.  Bob has taken the lead
in evaluating the FPAC ports and reporting on problems and suggesting
solutions.  The Flex net at his QTH has significant diagnostics for
evaluating links.  Bob will be a main player in digital in Brevard County
and with the sponsoring PCARS club.  Whether we'll be able to develop
network compatibility is yet to be determined.  Whether Bob would eventually
change out the Cocoa Flex net to FPAC is problematical.

But not as unlikely as the entire Florida Layered Packet network being
changed out to something else in the near future.

*  *  *  *

In the 21st century we must also think SYSTEMS - rather than point-to-point
communications between two hams.  Two hams running their CW stations in
support of EMCOMMs was not unheard of in the 50s (My first ARRL Public
Service Award was for that!) - but there is precious little place for such
efforts today. Tax-based public service communications are not near as frail
today and have tons of backup.  Ham radio EMCOMMs support is the back up to
the backup to the backup, leaving us not having a whole lot to do during
many exercises but sit in shelters, report in once every few hours and read 
a book.

WL2K E-mail Over Ham Radio can bring Ham Radio back to the forefront in
EMCOMMs support.  But it is a system - not an individual effort.

That said, we'll first have to sell the hams (ARES/RACES groups) on getting
it set up before we can sell it to potential clients.  The sell will be
easier if we are working together to develop a systematic approach.

For those who do not know - the WL2K system was 'invented' in Florida.  Two
major members of the WL2K Development Team live in the Melbourne LAN area.

bud N0IA