[FADCA] FADCA Technical Conference a Success

[bud thompson]

Here is a list of those who attended the Technical Conference in Sanford on
April 30, 2005. Following that is a short report on the conference.


K2BJG               BREVARD

K4RBD               BREVARD

N4SCY               BREVARD

N8KH                  BREVARD

W4BQD             BREVARD

W1NPR              CHARLOTTE

K4GBB               CITRUS/MARION

N4KOX               CLAY

KN4YT               DESOTO

WA4PAM           HENDRY

WA8DAF           HENDRY

AG4ZM              HIGHLANDS

AI4JH                 HIGHLANDS

K4EZM               HIGHLANDS

KB4KRR            HIGHLANDS

WA4BWO          HIGHLANDS

KC5QCN           HILLSBOROUGH

KP4DJT             HILLSBOROUGH

N4WBJ              HILLSBOROUGH

N4DLW              HILLSBOUOUGH

K8KQD              LAKE

KD4WOV           LAKE

KD4MOJ            LEON

KD4JIX              ORANGE

KF4LTF             ORANGE

KG4RQO           ORANGE

N1VCX              ORANGE

N2QGV              ORANGE

WR4RA             ORANGE

WB4KGY           PALM BEACH

WB4MOZ           PALM BEACH

W4NHL              PINELLAS

AB4XK               POLK

W2IQE               POLK

TI2FIS                PUERTO RICO

K1KWG             SEMINOLE

K4FUY               SEMINOLE

KA0OXH            SEMINOLE

KB4HBO            SEMINOLE

KB4QKR            SEMINOLE

KC4UUM            SEMINOLE

KF4BXT             SEMINOLE

KF4BYA             SEMINOLE

N3PPC               SEMINOLE

N6ZUE               SEMINOLE

NA6P                  SEMINOLE

W2AS                SEMINOLE

W4PE                SEMINOLE

WA4IKQ            SEMINOLE

WB4YED           SEMINOLE

Kevin Short        SEMINOLE

W8EHH              SEMINOLE/ORANGE

WX4J                 ST. JOHNS

W5TWR             SUMTER

KC4IYO             VOLUSIA/SEMINOLE

N0IA                   VOLUSIA/SEMINOLE

Judy Rothert         VOLUSIA/SEMINOLE


73,
bud Thompson N0IA
Sec/Treas FADCA
386 574 4124

REPORT OF FADCA TECHNICAL CONFERENCE
APRIL 30, 2005

Theme - "Decisions are made by those who show up." -(Aaron Sorkin)

If the attendance is any figure of merit, the FADCA Technical Conference
held at the Seminole County, Florida EOC was an astounding success.  The
list of decision makers included 57 hams from nineteen counties throughout
the state.  Of these, 48 attended the early hands-on workshop, many with
laptops to load software.  Those who did not bring packet TNCs were issued a
loaner in order to confirm success: blinking the PTT/TX LED when a
controlling program was used.

In the morning we loaded six programs to support E-mail over Ham Radio on
more than 25 laptops in less than two hours 45 minutes.  We left one yet to
be loaded by the participants at home.  Participants created a Ham Radio
E-mail Account on Outlook Express in their laptops, typed in a short e-mail
message, and when they clicked on SEND, the PTT/TX LED started blinking.
Participants went home with a CD ROM with all the programs and url
references to program documentation.  All they have to do is add a vhf radio
when they get home and they will be able to do E-Mail Over Ham Radio.

During the rest of the eight and a half-hour seminar, topics relevant to
digital networking in the state of Florida were presented by several
authors.  This included packet networking schemes (ROSE, FPAC, PC/FlexNet),
high speed backbones and user access, EMCOMMs applications, HF modes to
access the WL2K network, a commercial network coverage mapping system, and
others.  We also had a lunch break, and a tour of the Seminole County EOC
and ARES/RACES radio shack. Several portable packet stations were on display
during the lunch hour along with a dual-use voice and 9.6kb digital
repeater.

Total cost to participants: $5 for lunch which was catered by one of the
local hams and his XYL. Another local ham donated doughnuts for the early
session.

Overheard on a repeater several days later - "I've attended many, many
seminars in my professional career, but I've never seen one so well
organized and professionally done."

Another:  When [my OM] came home Saturday - I've never seen him so excited
and happy after being at a radio meeting."

Links to the conference agenda and photos documenting the event are provided
at www.fadca.org.

(If this was such a good seminar why it is no one is smiling in any of the
pictures except during lunch?)

- bud N0IA