[FARC] FW: I'm no expert, but

Tue May 5 14:34:22 EDT 2009

Roger Dick, no expert here either, far from it.

But what would be a good start is to equip any EOC or central communications 
unit, or whatever you call it, with two VHF base stations with TNC's  and 
computers.   Put APRS/Mapping on one computer and Packet/Outpost on the 
other and staff it with two operators.   Add this to the VHF phone 
operations in already in place.

This would give additional capability for:

APRS vehicle monitoring (APRS equipped mobiles).
APRS messaging and APRS Internet E-mail (one liners).
Packet messaging and Internet Email via Outpost and Winlink 2000 (detailed 
messages).
NTS messaging via Packet/Outpost.
Echolink VOIP voice messaging or text messaging.
Plain ole Internet E-mail and Instant Messenger.

IF the Internet or parts of it should go down, this would leave:

APRS vehicle monitoring (APRS equipped mobiles).
APRS messaging (One liners).
Packet/Outpost messaging (Detailed messages).

No single integrated system can do it all well so why not use them all.   I 
must be dreaming,  I still don't believe bureaucratic policy would allow it. 
Like you said Dick a choice must be made and it has.

--------------------------------------------------
From: "WN3R, Dick" <wn3r at verizon.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 10:44 AM
To: <farc at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [FARC] FW: I'm no expert, but

> I know only a couple things about Airmail and RMS Packet.
>
> The KISS mode is more popular in TNC's (especially the "little ones") than
> HOST mode.  So if you don't have the right HOST mode, getting Airmail to
> work WAS a problem.  Just a few weeks ago, a new version of Paclink was
> released, ver. 4.1.0.8.  It added KISSgeneric to the list.  This opens up 
> a
> whole new world like D700 and D710 and other built-in TNC's for Airmail or
> any email client.
>
>
>
> First, a bit of history.  I dusted off my 20 year old PK232/MBOX to use in
> my Winlink node. It didn't work until I upgraded the firmware.  While it 
> had
> HOST mode, someone decided to change how the SW knew it was in HOST mode.
> Just one CHARACTER kept the new SW from working with the old FIRMWARE. So
> for just $50, I was able to redeploy a perfectly operating TNC.
>
>
> Back to the present:
> I now use Paclink with my normal Windows XP Outlook 2002 email client.  I
> have not yet activated the RF modes since I have no radios here in
> Rockville.
>
> Yes, Joe, you can use command line to send and receive Winlink messages on
> packet - no Airmail SW required.
>
> On HF, Winlink uses Pactor I, II, and III.  Only III is the bandwidth 
> killer
> (it's also the fastest) - but it's also the least popular.  Most sites do
> NOT have Pactor III capability.  I can guess as to why - cost and 
> bandwidth
> hog.
>
> Based on the discussions I have been reading on the "right" way to do 
> ecomm
> digital, it reminds me of what has happened on the commercial public 
> service
> side.  "The best system is the one that I use."  In the good old days the
> hams had AM and CW. Public service had AM and FM. Digital has complicated
> things in more than just ham radio - for awhile telephone modems had their
> own special means of increasing throughput (Pactor III) but still could 
> work
> at lower speeds with every other modem (Pactor I). HDTV took a long time 
> to
> get off the ground due to different formats. Even cell phones have 
> competing
> systems - GMS, PCS, and CDMA, TDMA, FDMA.
>
> There is one thing that rings true.  If we simply go back to the good old
> days when we had fewer choices, more systems would be compatible with each
> other. But we would be missing out on some of the improvements.
>
> So it comes down to CHOICE.  Things were so simple when we had just
> Chocolate and Vanilla (still my favorite - but Choc.Chip is a close 
> second)
>
> Ecomm digital is tougher challenge today.  Whoever has the loudest voice 
> and
> puts in the most effort and manages to garner consensus will be THE one to
> select the system and write the procedures for all others to follow.  And
> not every follower will agree with it.  But what is clear, a choice must 
> be
> made.  Now the next challenge is to marry these differing systems to one
> another so we can have universal messaging regardless of the last mile, 30
> miles, or 3000 miles.
>
> Unlike digital, there are hundreds of languages spoken in this world.  We
> American's are fortunate that ENGLISH appears to be the "universal" second
> language for the rest of the world. Otherwise, we'd have to learn their
> language.
>
> Download Paclink 4.1.0.8 and let your troubles melt away.  We can all get
> along. It just takes a new feature in the software.
>
> 73, Dick, WN3R
>
>
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