[aprssig] Conected Packet

[Scott Miller]

It's not just a matter of communications.  In fact, that's probably the easy
part.  The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center monitored the quake and tried to
warn people, even going through the State department, but no one knew who to
contact.  Even if they did get through to anyone, what would they do?  The
public needs to be educated, and there have to be response plans in place.
If you've got a couple of hams running around the beach with megaphones
shouting that the end of the world is coming, no one's going to pay much
attention to them.

That's not to say packet's not useful in an emergency.  Just don't look for
technology to solve human and political problems.

Scott
N1VG
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "VE7GDH" <ve7gdh at rac.ca>
To: "TAPR APRS Mailing List" <aprssig at lists.tapr.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 7:17 AM
Subject: [aprssig] Conected Packet


Bob WB4APR said On 28/12/2004 over on the UI-View list...

> Now that APRS is getting many new people involved in
> packet radio, it might be time to revitalize the normal
> packet BBS node system in support of local CONNECTED
> packet and computer linking as well.

(I think his suggestion warrants being made here too.... )

Bob, I think that is a terrific idea. The huge disaster that is taking place
around the Indian Ocean shows how certain types of communication could have
saved a significant number of lives. If there was an early warning for
tsunami's in all the countries affected by the Boxing Day earthquake, the
tragedy would have been lessened considerably. Having a revitalized packet
system would be yet another way that amateur radio operators could help in
some way while reactivating a part of the hobby that attracted a lot of
people in the past. Breathing new life into connected packet isn't going to
replace government operated tsunami early warning systems that are bound to
start springing up at least in countries that can afford it, but it will be
a means for hams to provide communications in a time of need. There's always
HF, but you can't count on the sun cooperating.

Just as the active packet community from the 90s gave birth to APRS, we can
now turn the tables and encourage activity in regular connected packet
again. As well, APRS will benefit by it helping to familiarize those getting
into APRS without prior packet experience a chance to see the other side of
packet. There must be many hams that have a spare radio or TNC kicking
around. The addition of a backup power supply that can run for some time
independent of the AC mains at strategic locations would also be an asset in
times of emergency.

73 es cul - Keith VE7GDH
--
"I may be lost, but I know exactly where I am!"


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