[Flexnet] Flex32 & Soundmodem

[n5pvl at uspacket.net]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Papson" <jpapson at telular.com>
> Charles:
> It appears that FLEX32-SoundModem combination has a major bug...
> Only a few combinations of PC's and SoundCards work...

I have one PC here that it won't install with, a 400 MHZ AMD system with an
Analog Devices AD1816 soundcard in it.  The other computers here have the
PCI-bus version of the SoundBlaster-16 (or SB-pro) soundcard. I remember
having good luck with the old pre-PCI version as well.

These cards are inexpensive, and I have found them to be the solution for
compatability problems I have experienced here.

>
> I had great hopes to use it to tie the USA back together...

You just need to get a few working systems going.

>
> Locally, the LLL's have started up their "worm holes" once again...
> Currently totally disgusted......
> Thinking more and more about just pulling plug on all nodes I
> maintain...

That's a decision we all have to make for ourselves. After all, Ham Radio is
a hobby, and it's service aspects are on a volunteer-only basis. If you
pulled the plug today, John, the Ham Radio commmunity would still owe you a
lot for years to come. You're a stand-up guy, and have done a lot for Ham
Radio.

Having said that, I would counsel that your disgust is premature. It seems
to me that things are getting better, overall, and the infrastructure you
are struggling to maintain now will end up being the heart of the amateur
service later, when digital ham radio comes into its own.

If people are interfering with the Ham Digital Net in your area by
introducing non-ham links, remember that we are now affiliated with the Dept
of Homeland Security, and that they tend to frown on people who interfere
with emergency communications systems, especially ham radio related stuff,
which is intended as a backup system when the non-ham stuff fails.

It is very easy (because it is true) to make the case that the introduction
of non-ham links in an amateur radio communications network seriously
degrades it's ability to do "job number one". In effect, the practice is
nothing short of vandalism of an emergency communications system, a real
no-no.

Why not just report the bastards?

Charles,  N5PVL