[FADCA] Comments on recent Threads about Packet NetworkinginFlorida

[bud Thompson]

Hi, Dan - Excellent question - Makes for a good review.

There are others who have been involved with FADCA longer than I -
I've only been in the state for ten years and secretary/treasurer of
FADCA  for eight.  Prior to wide-spread internet availability and
during the 'heyday' of packet FADCA published a hard copy bulletin
which has not been published since sometime prior to 1997.

The only thing I can find as official documentation of the FADCA
mission is in the FADCA By-Laws.

In Article 2 - Purpose - There are four numbered paragraphs which can
be reviewed here.

 http://www.fadca.org/fadca_law_2003.pdf

Summary of purpose.

1.  . . . scientific testing and research into the development and
improvement of technological systems for use in the Amateur Radio
Service . .

2. . . .disseminate to the public information resulting from such
testing and research including, but not limited to, digital radio
communications, software, hardware, local area networking, and
computer network systems.

3.  . . . provide frequency spectrum management and digital device
coordination . . .  for the VHF, UHF, and Microwave Amateur Radio
bands in the state of Florida.  . . . set technical and operational
standards and policies for unattended amateur radio digital stations .
. minimize interference . . fairly and equally represent owners and
users of digital devices . . interface with FCC, ARRL, and Florida
Repeater Council. . .

4. . .  provide planning and other assistance, where requested, to
owners of various digital devices for the purpose of creating and
maintaining link capabilities between their various devices to the end
of forming a network of such devices, thus permitting users to enter
the network and connect to other users at distant points within the
network.

 * *  *

Of note is the relationship with the Florida Repeater Council (FRC).
FRC and FADCA had a contract for FADCA's role in frequency
coordination.  Just recently that relationship has changed and FADCA,
per se, does not have frequency coordination responsibility but does
have representation on the FRC Board of Directors.  While this
ostensibly removes FADCA as a separate coordinating body - that part
of FADCA's mission should remain the same in practice.  I have not
seen anything official between FRC and FADCA on these changes, but
Neil W4NHLdid represent FADCA at the recent FRC BOD meeting in
Melbourne.

* * *
To effect the FADCA mission - the state is divided into eight
districts each consisting of several contiguous counties.  Each
district has a Director who serves on the FADCA BOD.  The districts
and the current Directors may be found on the opening page of the
FADCA website www.fadca.com

The by-laws do not describe the District Directors' responsibilities
other than to serve on the BOD which ". . . will be responsible for
conducting all business of FADCA."

In practice, Directors promote digital and provide initial
coordination information for new devices and help (or find help) for
hams within their districts who are putting digital devices on the
air.  Over the past ten years there has been so little general
activity that, in most Districts, the Director and a friend or two
have established and maintained all the Layered Network nodes/switches
within their districts.

bud N0IA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Daniel McDonald" <danmc at danmc.org>
To: "'Florida Amateur Digital Communication Association'"
<fadca at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 23:19
Subject: RE: [FADCA] Comments on recent Threads about Packet
NetworkinginFlorida


>
> I've also been on the sidelines, monitoring this discussion for a
> while.
>
> I think a little more self-promotion would benefit FADCA.  What is
> the
> mission of FADCA and what services are provided by the group?
>
> I've been on this list for quite a while, have attended forums at
> the
> hamfests and have been using packet off and on since the '80s.
> Despite
> this, I am still not very familiar with what FADCA does.  Granted,
> my
> technical skills are likely below the level of most members on this
> list.
> To this end, how about demonstrating what's available to end-users
> like
> myself?  I'd like to become more involved in digital emcomm
> activities but I
> don't know where FADCA fits in, if at all?
>
> Please don't take this message as a flame, or flame me in return.  I
> suspect
> that I'm representative of the typical amateur radio appliance
> operators out
> here that are not network engineers or computer scientists.
>
> 73 Dan ka2toc
>
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>
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