On May 3, 2010 12:12:54 am Ray Wells wrote:
The packet network has greatly diminished in size over the last ten years, with many (most) nodes (of all flavours) and bbs's having disappeared. There was never a lot of Linux users in vk.
However, packet is still surviving in UI mode courtesy of APRS, and nodes are springing up everywhere. Programs such as xastir, which is Linux based, are ensuring a future need for ax25 under Linux. With many operators opting for soundmodem, the need for a howto is still current, IMHO.
Getting back to packet, there is still a world-wide Netrom network and, both Rose and Flexnet are in use in small(ish) pockets around the world. The fpac implementation of Rose for Linux by F6FBB, and now maintained by Bernard, F6BVP, is really excellent and new nodes are appearing in the US and Australia, among other places.
I've been using Linux for packet since John Tanner, VK2ZXQ, introduced me to it (Linux) in 1992/3, and I still use it today because it lets me do things Windows has never let me do - in AR.
I'm happy to converse privately if you want more local information.
Ray vk2tv
There does seem to be a widespread diminishment in packet use everywhere, but I do hope to get back on packet with one of my OpenSuSe boxes and an old TNC. Unfortunately nothing these days even comes with a comm port - just USB ones, although adaptors are easy enough to come by. -- Robert Smits Email bob@rsmits.ca VE7HS, Ladysmith BC Canada -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ham+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ham+help@opensuse.org
On 03/05/10 20:32, Bob Smits wrote:
On May 3, 2010 12:12:54 am Ray Wells wrote:
The packet network has greatly diminished in size over the last ten years, with many (most) nodes (of all flavours) and bbs's having disappeared. There was never a lot of Linux users in vk.
However, packet is still surviving in UI mode courtesy of APRS, and nodes are springing up everywhere. Programs such as xastir, which is Linux based, are ensuring a future need for ax25 under Linux. With many operators opting for soundmodem, the need for a howto is still current, IMHO.
Getting back to packet, there is still a world-wide Netrom network and, both Rose and Flexnet are in use in small(ish) pockets around the world. The fpac implementation of Rose for Linux by F6FBB, and now maintained by Bernard, F6BVP, is really excellent and new nodes are appearing in the US and Australia, among other places.
I've been using Linux for packet since John Tanner, VK2ZXQ, introduced me to it (Linux) in 1992/3, and I still use it today because it lets me do things Windows has never let me do - in AR.
I'm happy to converse privately if you want more local information.
Ray vk2tv
There does seem to be a widespread diminishment in packet use everywhere, but I do hope to get back on packet with one of my OpenSuSe boxes and an old TNC. Unfortunately nothing these days even comes with a comm port - just USB ones, although adaptors are easy enough to come by.
The problem was with the slow speed of packet. We used to have a Linux TCP/IP packet network running in this area, West Midlands, UK and used to have a monthly get together at a club, Alan Cox used to attend. The room would be a sea of PC's with serial and network cables for exchanging programs, then everyone had an internet connection and that put the kibosh on those meetings. You could go to work and have the news and mail waiting for you when you return. Even usenet has disappeared. I have a box that was used in early cellphone networks that the guys modified for use with 2m packet, but all the nodes disappeared. I have 2 70cms antennas up that were to connect through G6NJR, but he gave up packet before I could get started. Currently my main effort is with SDR. I have a HF multiband Softrock v6.3 working, A UHFSDR that has a problem with the Si570 oscillator, needs investigating after I have completed the 9V1AL motherboard to go with the completed and working SR63ng which is a Softrock v6.3 implemented with almost all SMT components, kit supplied by George Boudreau in Canada, details can be found at http://groups.google.com/group/MOBOKITS/web/sr63ng-information but you may have to join that group to view details. Tony via kb9yig.com supplies many Softrock kits, but the are all snapped up almost as soon as he makes them available on his website. Looking forward to a nice compact HF multiband rig with up to 7W output, then getting the UHFSDR running for topband to 700MHz coverage. I run the SDR stuff on Linux, the main programs I use are quisk and sdr-shell. SDR is fun and certainly has heightened interest in homebrewing. . 73 ... Sid. -- Sid Boyce ... Hamradio License G3VBV, Licensed Private Pilot Emeritus IBM/Amdahl Mainframes and Sun/Fujitsu Servers Tech Support Specialist, Cricket Coach Microsoft Windows Free Zone - Linux used for all Computing Tasks -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ham+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ham+help@opensuse.org
participants (2)
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Bob Smits -
Sid Boyce