[FADCA] re: ARRL Poll

[Paul Toth-NA4AR]

It's not just Internet.  There are now a number of major markets where the Internet is WIRELESS on several different levels.  Commercial interests ranging from Wireless Internet Service providers (WISP) to the wireless Telcos have put the Internet out there on handheld devices for the rest of the world to carry with them.  Verizon Wireless currently is offering 80k-100k throughput on their system in thirty markets, including TampaBay.

We can lament the demise of packet and spend endless hours and energy discussing same.  The reasons undercutting packet are quite simple.  Packet was never made easy like the Internet.  Packet is slow, much slower than even the worst Internet connection.  Most importantly, packet just never took the Ham community where it wanted to go --- that is, to the rest of the world.  The Internet does those things and a whole lot more.

Does this mean we should give up on packet?  NO.  Packet needs to have a niche carved out of the communications pie for it.  Find a dedicated purpose for it....then build the network.

My two cents worth.

73 de Paul-NA4AR