Re: [ProgSoc] packet radio

[jedd <jedd@nospam.progsoc.uts.edu.au>]

 Hi Victor,

On Sun, 27 Jun 1999, Victor Rajewski wrote:
 ] Does anyone know about packet radio?
 ] 
 ] What can it do, what sort of equipment is needed, and where can I get
 ] resources?

 The sum total of what I know, and what I can suggest, about packet
 radio . . .

 It's slow.  Very very slow.  I mean, slower than you'd think it
 would be.  And then some.

 But it's cheap.  Trivially cheap, particularly when you consider
 that the costs are once-off, rather than on-going.  Plus you might
 enjoy the warm-n-fuzzies of not paying a telecom.  Or you might
 not.  [shrug]

 You'll need to be licenced.  Ths is trivially cheap too, AFAIK,
 but non-trivial effort will be needed to attain said licence.

 I believe that they have the 'class A' 44. network worldwide.

 I think they use OSPF.  Something about not being able to
 see around hills.  Or perhaps because the moon isn't really
 a planet.  I forget the details.

 I can suggest that you check out the HAM-Howto for Linux.
 From memory, written by the same guy that maintains the
 Net-3-HOWTO, and who happens to be a Sydney HAM
 type personage.  You could try writing to him, worst case,
 though I'd be in trouble for suggesting it.  Tell him sbug put
 you onto him.

 On the other hand ... it comes down to what you want to do.
 Spread-spectrum technology finally seems to be attracting
 some interest, but is still hideously over-priced.  Shame, really,
 as it becomes quite feasible to set up a kind of APANA style
 network, with better bandwidth, and lower TCO.

 Btw .. they (packet radio dudes) tend not to appreciate 24 line
 signoffs, particularly when they lack a -- prefix.  Something
 about wasting bandwidth . . . 

 Cheers,
 Jedd.


 ] Adios,
 ] 
 ] \/|<
 ] 
 ] Victor Rajewski
 ] 
 ] vik4@nospam.mindless.com
 ] http://www.progsoc.uts.edu.au/~vik
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