[aprssig] APRS for One-Laptop-Per-Child

[Jack Chomley]

>snip........
>
>My first thought is a USB PSK-31 device that links that laptop, not 
>just to he next hut in the villiage, but can use 5W radios on PSK-31 
>to reach the world.  I think the target power for the whole laptop 
>is around 1 watt.  So it can be recharged on solar power.
>
>This thing just jumps out at me as a fundamental building block for 
>ad-hoc emergnecy comms and funn coms and just about everything else 
>we do with ham radio.  Then we overlay on top of that, all the neat 
>things we do in ham radio.  As tom points, out, AMSATS etc.  (And of 
>course APRS) Winlink and all our other EMCOMM toys...
>
>Of course until they get to the millions of quantities, they are now 
>costing $200 each, and you have to buy two for a total of $400 to 
>get yours (the other one goes to a kid)...
>
>But its a great way to get one... and start developing 
>code...  Actually get two (4), so you can play both ends...
>
>WB4APR, Bob


A PSK31 TNC with mailbox would be nice, like the 
AEA/Kantronics/PaComm units ;-)

73s

Jack VK4JRC