[FADCA] My viewpoint about FADCA and the future

[Wayne Burkett Sr]

Greetings all,
I hope we see some more feedback about an organization, that at one time
played a positive role within the packet world both within the state of
Florida and around the world. There have been many goals met and progress
made in trying to create a statewide network with the end result of the
network being able to get messages to the state during times of emergency
conditions throughout the state. 
 
Personally, my packet use until a few years ago, primarily as a user,
starting in New England and then continues here in Florida and I among many,
enjoyed using the LANs wherever we were, and no matter what protocol was
used, we could work the networks not only locally for emergency
communications, but working nodes and other users worldwide, keyboarding
through nodes or direct. I remember, when living in Connecticut, being able
to keyboard with by Dad, who lived in Maine and then after our time, turning
Around and node hoping south to Florida to N4HHP and accessing the world and
keyboarding with
Many amateurs around the world. Then came the challenge of learning how to
work MIR and quickly
Node hop through the MIR space station, after I moved to Vero, and
communication with my buddy Bill, N1HVH who was in Connecticut. These were
the fun times, but while enjoying the resource of packet communication, we
also mentored and kept in mind the need for emergency comms within, between
States and beyond. I still have many of the logs and settings going back to
the early 90s. Loved the PacComm Tiny 2 and still do.
     After being in Florida for awhile, I met up with a former FADCA
President, Bill, N4XEO,SK, who was also
Mentor to many of us through the state and also Locally. I remember
keyboarding and learning more about packet from Bill, from the sysop side,
while we, as well as others where communicating over the local nets among
them was the Treasure Coast Packet Group. Bill did his best to mentor me to
understand the setup and sysop side of the networks, inviting me to go along
with him to FADCA meetings and meeting
People like Bud, N0IA, and many others. Bill was a go getter and a teacher,
but unfortunately he passed away (I am sorry I do not have the dates of
things at my figure tips) and packet along the treasure coast started
declining. After a year or so, I brought up at a local FT Pierce Amateur
Radio Club meeting whether anyone had attempted or volunteered to fill
Bill's shoes, which would be a real tough act to follow, and I was told:
thanks for asking and volunteering.
     I said I would attempt to pick things back up and get nodes and BBSs
back on the air. With help from
Those from the Palm Beach Packet Group, many associated with FADCA we were
able to get Ft Pierce back on the air. The biggest challenge was learning
Tait radios and what Bill had for the LAN in Ft Pierce which are still in
use today(different protocol), and I have still have radios and tncs to put
in service to go to Okeechobee.
I then had the challenge to learn FPAC, which I was not use to and this was
in the days when you had to
Type in the phone exchange numbers in the path to where you wanted to go. I
as many other "users "
In the area found this a challenge, especially for those of us who were use
to just typing the callsign and off you went. In the meantime I was
introduced to Bob Anderson K2BJG (SK) who was the father of Flexnet which is
another protocol used worldwide. In keeping FPAC running in Ft Pierce LAN
and having the access to the FDACA suggested statewide network, I opted to
put Vero LAN on Flexnet, linking to Melbourne and the 
FPAC side of things. At that time, many found that, as a user, Flexnet was
easier to use than FPAC only because navigation was a bit easier. I was
under the firm belief (and still am) that the 2 protocols should be able to
work together and I have been close to making this happen, thanks for the
elmering of other FADCA members. So, now both Ft Pierce and Vero Beach have
been using Flexnet with the possibility of even keyboarding with others from
Port St Lucie to Hartford, CT.
 
Unfortunately, on  my end, due to being primary care person for my wife,
managing our local ACE Hardware and now my health going downhill a bit; even
though I continue to maintain the 2 LANs here, my amateur radio hobby time
is very limited as with many of you.
We are getting older and one thing that Bob, K2BJG, and I discussed many
times (even before he took ill) was that we needed to mentor those, if we
can find them, amateurs that can follow in our footsteps and also upgrade
and merge digital technologies of yesteryears into the future and possibly
work with each other. Our experiences and knowledge, which between us all,
have decades of, need to be passed along to other generations so that they
can understand the need for the older technology to be upgrade or merged
with todays and the future. Good example is with the use of the Raspberry Pi
with packet, rms and more.
 
There is a monthly ARES E-newsletter that comes out through the ARRL by Rick
Palm, K1CE from Volusia County and  maybe he would be able to post an
article in a future newsletter about what FADCA is all about and how there
is a need of help with our organization and put out a plea to the amateurs
and groups within Florida. We need the help and the influx of talented
younger adults to take the rains to keep the organization going. If there is
not enough feedback, then we know where the amateurs of Florida stand.
Question, how many in Florida know the existence of FADCA? I know I bring it
up when I can and seek local support for our group.
 
73 de
Wayne
KA1VRF
District 3 Coordinator