Packet radio death… greatly exaggerated?
“[. . .] the report of my death was an exaggeration.” S. Clemens
Given the numerous new products available for packet radio I wonder if it might be enjoying some sort of revival. The Kentucky Packet Network certainly provides a new way of thinking about packet that builds on lessons learned from packet’s previous reign.
New packet system planning
I’m considering rolling out a Virginia Packet Network (VAPN) in Fauquier County, Virginia.
Some questions to the readers of this blog:
- Do you still use packet radio?
- What is the topology? (single frequency with many nodes, many nodes on several frequencies, etc.)
- What historically packet radio services do you find the most useful (BBS, Chat, clusters, etc.)
- If you are no longer a packet radio operator, what would entice you to try it again?
- If you never were a packet radio operator, what would make you give it a go?Can you provide any other input into my feasibility study?
- If you were to rollout a brand new system without regard to any current or past habits, what would it look like?
- Would you like amateur radio to provide an alternative to today’s paid communications services?
Thanks for any help and answers to the above questions. Please send them to john.huggins.ee@gmail.com. I’m trying to get a fresh perspective on the utility of packet radio in the context of the 21st century. Asking these questions of potential users is an important step in proper planning.
