[RVRC] W2QW repeater and Internet questions

[cwsaums at aol.com]

The W2QW machines are controlled by our system computer that relies on the Asterisk PBX software.  This software is based on Voip and it not only allows for local control of the club repeaters but it allows linking to external systems when the Internet is available. Access to ECHOLINK and to our net partners (currently K2ETS, and formerly the machines linked to the KB2EAR hub) requires Internet access.  The ALLSTARlink.org WebTransceiver access that allows you to connect to any ALLSTARlink machine anywhere in the world and then call up our RVRC machines (same concept as IRLP) also requires Internet.  Even regular IRLP would require Internet if that proprietary system would allow coexistence with other Internet based control systems.  Access to our machines using cell phone apps, computer apps and other non RF means all require Internet.

Removing the Internet would require a total restructuring of the W2QW system and it would remove our current net capabilities.  Using a dedicated RF link to other systems would require cooperation by the other groups and in the current situation, we do not have finances to replace the computer based repeater controls with hardware controllers and RF links to manage them.

The club elects officers to represents the club's best interest.  The technical committee tries very hard to keep us on the air with the most reliable system we can provide, with the best ability to manage the system and to manage the costs.

If we are going to second guess every decision and haggle about every technical detail at meetings, we are not going to have a reliable system nor will we be able to move forward.  I do not personally want to see us get into a gridlock situation.   Please trust the officer's decision and the technical committee's intentions and recommendations.  I know I don't have any personal interest in Cavlevision, or Verizon. We are 'tenants' at the Lund site and we rely on sharing the services because we cannot realistically fully separate the services at this time or in the near future.

Let's please chalk this up to our 'cost of doing business'.  If Susan needs to go to FIOS because of poor service by Cablevision then we need to find a way to support that move.  She could disconnect Cablevision on her own and go straight to residential FIOS leaving us on our own to figure out a solution.  She doesn't have to let us connect to the house internet source.  In the longer view, Asterisk requires the Internet to link with the ALLSTARlink network.  Removing Asterisk is not practical due to the investment in hardware and support that are already built in.  We have discussed these alternatives before so let's move on..

Respectfully
Craig Saums
AC2FE

Sent from my iPad