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Subject: radio net Date: Tue, 08 Sep 1998 14:29:53 -0400 From: Ryan Lackey <ryan@systemics.ai>

Is anyone else interested in setting up a radio net (probably packet radio relay) to relay small quantities of data in the event the telecommunications infrastructure becomes unavailable (either technically or legally/politically/ militarily)? There are existing packet relay nets, but in my experience amateur radio people, especially in the US, are very willing to roll over for the government at the slightest cause.

I think the cost would be something like $1-5k per station, and it could be done in a fairly turnkey fashion. Exactly how to handle routing and what protocol to use on the network is kind of an open question -- there are a lot of solutions, none of them optimal.

What sort of use do you see it being put to? One or two stations wouldn't be worth the investment in money or time. Would it be some sort of private channel or the backbone of a more complex enterprise? Do you see it being a form of employment in the crash in that the operator could trade communications access for vittles and ammo? As to protocols, the standard IP packet software seems to work just fine (I think it's something like KA9Q or some such). I've used it twice and it worked like a champ. Are you proposing to get a license or would it be strictly underground until after the crash? ____________________________________________________________________ The seeker is a finder. Ancient Persian Proverb The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- --------------------------------------------------------------------