[Ham-Mac] What is PacketScape?

[Gary Armour]

Jim,
I like the concept and would really like to see something bring about a 
resurrection of packet operation on vhf (2 mtrs).  I realize that where 
I live in Western Colorado, there might never be much packet activity, 
but I'd love to see something developed which would encourage other hams 
to pull out their old tnc's and get 'em working again...   Mine has sure 
gathered a lot of dust!!!

-- Phil Armour, W0UAT

On Wednesday, May 28, 2003, at 10:41 PM, James Wagner wrote:

> PacketScape is more of an idea than a real program, at this
> point.
>
> It came from the observation that there are many reasons
> why hams have abandoned packet radio. But, one big reason
> is that it is so bloody "hard"... as if it is hard on
> purpose, just to discourage folks.
>
> One of the things that has helped to tame the internet, has
> been the "browser". Before that, you had to know about
> gopher and ftp and arcane unix-based e-mail. When browsers
> came along, they insulated the user from all of those
> details. Yet, there is nothing like that for packet!
>
> PacketScape is an attempt to see what a "browser" style
> user interface for packet might look like. The idea is that
> such a browser would work in a tcp/ip environment, on
> NetRom networks, or in a Rose system or a TexNet system or
> a FlexNet system. It would work with digi networks and
> KaNode systems. It would work with W0RLI or MSYS BBS; it
> would work with LanLink and Paket mailboxes. It would
> interface to W0RLI converse servers and tcp/ip converse
> servers, providing an interface like "Instant Messanger".
>
> If you would like to see a very rough demo of what I think
> this might look like and add your comments, ideas,
> wet-blankets to such a project, download the Mac version
> at:
>
> www.applelinks.net/jim_d_wagner/PacketScape.sit
>
> If you know someone who uses Windows and would like to try
> that version, then an e-mail to me will get them a copy as
> an e-mail attachment. The Stuffed file contains the app
> (pre-OSX), a few pages of text on using the demo, and a
> copy of the article I wrote for the Spring TAPR "Packet
> Status Register" on this general topic.
>
> Cheers and hope to hear from you,
> Jim, KA7EHK
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