[FARC] For Prospective Packet Users

Tue Apr 21 02:14:50 EDT 2009

Roger Joe.  I had been looking around for Packet info, tutorials, and such and besides Larry Kenney's very old Packet course, this one was the best and latest I had found so far.  

Contrary to popular opinion from most quarters in our area, it seems that old Packet is not dead.  While the old Packet has the command line interface, to new-fangled Windows users it probably does seem intimidating.  But remember, it was Microsoft that determined we had to go GUI, not users.  

But the bottom line is, in emergency communication situations I think we're going to need all the capability we can get no matter what it is or how old it is.   Software like Outpost has made old 1200 baud Packet messaging user-friendly purposely for ARES/RACES groups Emcomm use.   It seems disingenuous for some of these very groups to label 1200 baud Packet as too old and cantankerous for Emcomm use and to laud APRS/Winlink 2000 as the second coming.  For Emcomm we can use it all. 

APRS has its place in Emcomm situations I'm sure, but it has been my experience in using a fixed APRS UI-View base station that messaging isn't its strong point, locating things is and the primary benefit of APRS I've always understood was in its mobile application.  So there's a niche in Emcomm for APRS no doubt but I don
t necessarily agree that APRS is the be all, end all, of communication modes for Emcomm, it is just capability number one.  

Winlink 2000 is another facet of Emcomm which uses the Internet and can use old 1200 baud Packet for messaging.  And if APRS can interface with Winlink 2000 then that is fine too.  This is capability number two for Emcomm.  

Granted, the old national 1200 baud Packet network infrastructure is in shambles and from the perspective of a new Packet user like myself finding a still operating node or BBS is like finding archeological gold.  Finding the even rarer still Packet user out there is a special treat.   

I like to look at old 1200 baud Packet as what it must have been like in its heyday, not as a technical anachronism.  You know we're still using CW and not because it is user friendly and vacuum tubes still power  our linears.  But beyond that, when I use a program like Outpost to send Packet E-mails, bulletins, or NTS formatted messages to another Packet user's TNC, or to one of the few full-service BBS's still around, or to a Winlink 2000 node and on to the Internet, then this is a blending of old and new and it is capability number three for Emcomm.  

With Packet we can do it all, so why not?   

73
KB3ONM
Kirk  

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joseph M. Durnal<mailto:joseph.durnal at gmail.com> 
  To: Frederick, Maryland ARC<mailto:farc at mailman.qth.net> 
  Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 3:27 PM
  Subject: Re: [FARC] For Prospective Packet Users

  Hi Kirk,

  That was a pretty good presentation.  Outpost looks pretty neat.  I'll
  have to give it a test when (well, if) I ever get around to getting my
  packet station setup.  Right now I'm using everything to get setup for
  the hike across Maryland.  What I hope to do use the D700 with APRS on
  one side, and an external TNC on the other, giving me a packet node
  and APRS on the same radio.

  I do think that packet tends to intimidate people.  Even without fancy
  software, it is easy enough to use from the keyboard and terminal
  window.

  When using APRS & Winlink, I think some people are using packet but
  they don't even realize it!

  73 de Joseph Durnal NE3R

  On Sun, Apr 19, 2009 at 9:09 AM, Kirk Talbott <kirktal7237 at msn.com<mailto:kirktal7237 at msn.com>> wrote:
  > The following is a very short intro/tutorial to Packet radio, circa 2007. http://www.scc-ares-races.org/packet/What-is-Packet.pdf<http://www.scc-ares-races.org/packet/What-is-Packet.pdf>
  > Only for those interested in setting up a Packet station.
  >
  > 73
  > KB3ONM
  > Kirk
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