[aprssig] NetNodes, the future

[Bill Vodall]

> I really suprised at some of you packet old timers. What does winlink do
> that NOS hasn't done since Phil Karn KA9Q first wrote it? TCP/IP gives a
> standard platform for communications. You can encapsulate ax25 in it, or
> encapsulate it in ax25. Existing NOS and Linux systems could be your local
> server level. Web based apps could be built for any information that would
> need gathered, or searched. Your favorite email client could be used for
> mail, and related news could use nntp. It can also be either connected or
> not connected modes. lets think 3 dimentional:-)
> 
> WJ3G

Winlink has a couple optimizations for RF but essentially you're right  -- if
we replace the essentially obsolete "NOS" with a modern Linux box.   A Linux
system running as a community packet server provides 10 times the functionality
of a Winpack system.

It's also 10 times harder to setup, configure, keep running and use.

That's the beauty (and the sadness) of Winlink.   The complexity of the networking
is hidden and the simpler applications allows folks to easily provide Email communication
services to their community.

Hmmm.  You were talking about Bob's NetNodes.   Same applies.  NOS/Linux
is too complicated.

Bill