Over the last couple years there has been a resurgence in interest & activity in packet radio. The interest is not in creating the former BBSes & networks of the 1990s, but instead in doing things packet radio is uniquely good at.
Packet radio's resurgence started with the new application, APRS which uses packet radio. In some areas the application DX PacketCluster provides access via packet. More recently applications like Output & Winlink are making use of packet radio. As is indicated in the attached email, Illinois ARES is planning to implement the Winlink application state-wide using packet radio for user access. However, the Illinois ARES Digital Working Group is apparently more focused on the ARES implementation of Winlink and is not the appropriate forum for general discussion of packet radio or other digital modes. So I have created a new group, Illinois Packet Radio. The focus of the group will be to discuss packet radio usage in Illinois including applications using packet radio, such as APRS, Outpost, Winlink, DX PacketCluster, etc. We hope to also create a database of packet radio usage in the state. The Illinois Packet Radio group is available at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IllinoisPacketRadio/ Look foward to your participation in the group. Thanks. 73, Mark, WB9QZB By the way, the Illinois D-STAR yahoo group, is also available at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IllinoisD-STAR ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Brad Pioveson W9FX <w...@verizon.net> To: il_ares_...@yahoogroups.com; illinois_a...@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 7:30:18 AM Subject: [IL_ARES_DWG] Once again. . . With apologies for the dual reflector post, it is important that this message get out to all concerned. Regarding the Illinois ARES Digital Communications Network initiative: Let's go through the motions one more time. I have been given to understand that there are those who have misunderstood the recent efforts to develop a digital EMCOMM system for Illinois. Here are the facts, plain and simple: The effort underway is to develop an Illinois ARES digital communications network. Note the acronym - ARES. That acronym refers to the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. That third word is the operative term in the phrase. This will be an emergency digital communications system. This effort is neither intended to supplant, extend, nor change the frequency of operation of any existing digital activity anywhere in this state (or, bordering states). We are neither trying to usurp nor hinder a resource for DX packet cluster users, nor are we trying to provide a digital outlet for those without high-speed Internet systems to obtain their daily dose of email. The network we are building is for the expressed purpose of providing a digital conduit by which emergency communications traffic - data - can be moved between any two points in Illinois. This network will be on a discrete frequency. This frequency is far from any of the current packet radio activity of which I am aware in the state of Illinois. The frequency assignment we have been handed can be found in the IRA's 2006 document, available online, at http://www.ilra.net:80/Band-Plan-2006.html If you take the time to follow the link, you'll see '145.610 ARES Statewide Packet.' I didn't attend the meeting that preceded that publication, and, it is not an issue for me. As far as I'm concerned, it's as suitable a frequency for our purposes as any other, and, it meets the criterion of being well removed from 145.01, 145.05, 144.39 and 147.555. Users of those particular frequencies need not worry about interference from the ARES network. We're not looking to develop a system of BBS's. We're not looking to move routine email around the state. We are not putting a network together to facilitate classified ham ads or hamfest announcements. We are developing an emergency digital communications system. We hope that it will be used enough on a weekly or daily basis to ensure that the network operates properly, but, again, we're not building a replacement for the Internet. This network will offer 1200 baud VHF packet radio connectivity as a minimum standard. If node operators (RMS Packet/Relay stations) have 9600 baud capabilties, so much the better. But, 1200 baud is the least common denominator. Joe Ham can get on 1200 baud packet radio with any 2 meter FM rig and a sound card equipped PC running AGWPE TNC-emulation software. It isn't the prettiest lash up, and, certainly not the most efficient, but, it will work, and, that gives us our starting point and minimum standard. The network will operate using Winlink 2000 RMS Packet/RMS Relay software and the current iteration of UIView software. These can be run simultaneously on a Windows XP/Vista platform using AGWPE software running concurrently. I understand that RMS Packet/Relay and APRS applications can also be run under the Linux OS. Individuals will use client software suitable for use with the Winlink 2000 and APRS servers. Client software for messaging with the Winlink systems can be either Airmail or Paclink. Those are the only two client appications that are currently supported, to the best of my knowledge, but, I am not a Winlink guru and cannot speak with authority to that issue. I defer to the APRS crowd as to what soft/hard-ware applications are currently in vogue for use with that system. RMS Packet, RMS Relay, Airmail, Packlink, AGWPE and UIView32 are all free software applications. Will this network be state of the art? Not likely - we're using existing technology and assets; some of the hardware has been around for a couple of decades, in fact. 1200 baud is a slow crawl compared to modern Internet broadband connections. Even 56k dial-up connection speeds leave 1200 baud in the dust. But, we're talking about an emergency communications system - a 'when all else HAS failed' system. And, compared to voice or CW, 1200 baud is pretty speedy. Brad Pioveson, W9FX ARRL Illinois Section Emergency Coordinator 301 Kirsch St. Benton, IL 62812-1706 home: 618..439.9262 cell: 618.435.0213 SMS: 6184350...@vtext.com email: w...@verizon.net
