[WARC] Some thoughts, suggestions, comments, and philosophy regarding the clubs on-going discussion on infrastructure

[Erik Brom]

Hi Jerry,
Thanks for the comments.

As I continue to mull this over, I'm coming to a multi-phase plan:
1.  Replace our current 64, 835, and 444 =

repeaters with brand new equipment, salvaging =

only a few items, but still doing the same =

thing.  440 will be geared towards repeating data =

signals in addition to voice.  All of these =

repeaters would be built with "remote base" type =

capability, to be used in phase 3.
      Also as part of phase 1, building one to =

three portable platforms as Jim proposed.  These =

would come with power and 2m APRS digipeaters with weather stations.
      This phase should also include doing =

whatever is necessary to get the fixed stations, =

such as the EOC, operating up to par, including voice and APRS.
2.  Add voice repeaters to the portable =

platforms.  These would also have the capability =

to link into the main repeaters.
3.  Digital linking to be defined.  This would =

include bringing "the Internet" to affected areas.

I would see us trying to raise funds for phases 1 =

and 2 immediately, leaving 3 "for later".

I have been reading about echo link, IRLP, =

etc.  One way of using these is a "home" station =

that is set up to link into a repeater.  This can =

be done with pretty basic equipment, and a high =

speed Internet connection.  This sounds like =

something that could easily be made portable, so =

it could be taken where needed.  Pairs of these =

could also be used to create links between =

repeaters, and it could be done over a high speed =

digital link we create, and/or the Internet.

Erik




At 07:40 PM 11/26/07, you wrote:
>    * Both the Oct and Nov, 2007, issues of =

> QST,  "Correspondence"  columns, gives some =

> interesting comments particularly in regard to =

> digital vs analog and D-STAR.  Reading between =

> the lines, when it comes to D-STAR, I think =

> that one has to step back a little (maybe a =

> lot) and the one thing that is rather obvious =

> that right away begins to stand out is that we =

> read, (at least I do)  is D-STAR =3D BIG =

> BUCKS!   Realizing, of course, that this =

> digital "thingy" is still very much in its =

> infancy, especially when utilized in amateur =

> radio.  Yes, we have to start somewhere.  But =

> why not let industry spend some of its =

> resources getting things off the ground and =

> working out the bugs.  As consumers of their =

> products, we hams will ultimately pay for them =

> anyway.  In the meantime, let's consider =

> working with and improving the basic analog =

> infrastructure that we already have =

> operating....minimal cost and much to be =

> gained.  This way, we'll have something that we =

> know will work, from the get-go and can be =

> built upon when the "new" technology has proven =

> itself.   Call me "old fashioned", "stuck in =

> the 20th century", or whatever, but remember, =

> how long ago the light bulb was invented and it =

> still works just fine.  Newer isn't necessarily always better.
>    * Reading "It Seems to Us" is also worthwhile time well spent.
>    * You also might want to peruse pages 74-77, =

> including Gary Pearce's side bar comment on =

> page 77, on D-STAR.  This stuff is all part and =

> parcel of the "whole ball of wax".
>    * Although I'm not really a proponent for =

> ICOM products, I feel that they do need to be =

> commended for the work that they have on the =

> efforts and ground work they have laid in the =

> area of amateur radio digital =

> communication.  Some may complain that they =

> currently hold a monopoly on the market and, =

> therefore, sort of control the prices.  But, is =

> this really fair to them?  I don't think =

> so.  Do you see any of the other "big =

> guns"  doing anything in this area right =

> now?  If they are, they certainly are very =

> quiet about it or else are doing it in an encrypted fashion.
>    * Finally, we all need to have an open mind =

> about all of this and steadily, slowly, firmly proceed---one step at a ti=
me.
>"73"
>Jerry Brancich, WA=D8X
>
>
>
>
>
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