----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 12:37
PM
Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Re: Advice
to the Winlink team
Mike:
I am directly involved in Winlink, ARES EMCOMM
and SCAMP. I am also part of the new ARES National Management Team for
Digital Networks. I DO NOT OWN A PACTOR 3 MODEM.. nor do I intend to
buy one. I agree with you that $1,000 for a dedicated modem just for
EMCOMM may be a financial stretch for many hams.
The whole point of the SCAMP development is to
get away from the expensive Pactor 3 modems and use sound cards for HF
Winlink. SCAMP is into the Beta test mode.. If you own a
computer and sound card interface
why dont you participate in the beta tests.. to see how well it works for
you...
However, for EMCOMM, most of ARES
communications is local via VHF.. VHF Winlink uses packet as the
transport mechnism.. You do NOT even need a TNC to Winlink
via 1200 baud packet. A simple sound card interface will
do...
I run Winlink both on HF and VHF using only a
computer sound card.. it works great!!
Finally you may be surprised to know that many
ARES groups have partnered with local government agencies to obtain Homeland
Security funding for Pactor 3 modems...
There is definitely money there to pay for
vital EMCOMM links such as Winlink... you just have to know who and how to
ask...
So the argument against Winlink on financial
grounds is really not substantive..
__________________________________________________________
Howard
S. White Ph.D. P. Eng., VE3GFW/K6 ex-AE6SM KY6LA
"No Good
Deed Goes Unpunished"
Formerly "Awfully Extremely Six Sado
Masochist"
"Krazy Yankee Six Loves America"
Website: www.ky6la.com
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 9:28
AM
Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Re:
Advice to the Winlink team
Steve I will pick a bone with you on this
statement. Because you are using
a proprietary modem that costs
over $1000.00 you are slowing the spread of
emergency communications in
ARES. Contrary to popular belief not all hams
are millionaires
who can just go out and plop down a couple of thousand
dollars just to
have the latest mode. The ARRL has adopted Winlink 2000 for
ARES
emergency communications but failed to realize that unless
Government
Grants help pay for this very few ARES groups will be able
to partake in
this. Now before you say to use the VHF and UHF
portion almost all packet
backbones are gone with very little chance of
them being resurrected because
most hams don't use packet
anymore. In my state there isn't enough hams in
ARES with access
to good repeater sites to even try to rebuild the
backbones. IMHO
you guys have done more to hurt ARES then to come up with a
better
system. It is time to get away from this proprietary modem
and
Pactor 3 and use something more reasonable for average
hams.
Mike/K1EG
>snip>
> Winlink 2000 started as
APLink under DOS with Amtor, then it went to
> Winlink "Classic" and
to Clover, and then Pactor. Winlink 2000 has
> used Pactor and
Packet exclusively, and soon will PROBABLY include
> SCAMP. However,
the discussion about the expense involved with Pactor
> 3 is a mute
point. If you don't want to pay the money, then don't buy
> the
modem. Similarly, if you don't want to spend a thousand dollars
> on
a radio, then don't buy it either. If you don't like the fact that
>
the US dollar is being devaluated against other currencies, then
buy
> Ten Tec instead of some other foreign made brand. That choice
is
> yours, but picking on it as just another reason to attempt to
make
> Winlink "wrong" is not appropriate, at least, to me.
>
snip>
> Steve, k4cjx
The K3UK DIGITAL
MODES SPOTTING CLUSTER AT
telnet://208.15.25.196/
The K3UK DIGITAL MODES
SPOTTING CLUSTER AT
telnet://208.15.25.196/
