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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If you've ever used a packet node you'd
probably not be asking "why not".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The purpose of a node is to connect to other remote
nodes, and eventually</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>a BBS somewhere. Most node software isn't
very smart and will generate</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>ack's for each and every packet, plus retries for
each dropped frame. Although</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>there *are* rather sophisticated nodes, running
software like Roseswitch, KA9Q</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>or other variations, the big problem is that even
with this software a node still</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>generates an awful lot of packets. Once a
single user connects and simply</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>request a dir listing or checks messages,
bulletins, they've likely already tied</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>up the channel for several minutes of nearly
continuous packets. Multiply this</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>by each sucsessive user who logs in and it can be
an absolute traffic jam during</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>peak hours. Now, throw those rediculous
KA-Nodes on the channel, which don't</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>conform to any intelligent protocol, and you might
as well auction the freq off to UPS.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If there is such little APRS activity in your area
that you are screaming for something</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>to occupy the air, there most likely isn't enough
usage to justify a true node either.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>APRS and connected mode do NOT play well together -
it's like putting bicycles</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>in the middle of I-5 in downtown LA. A node
is a time consuming endeavor as far</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>as management. A good one requires a lot of
planning and coordination, so to</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>communicate effectively with other compatible
nodes. Simply plopping a Kantronics</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>on the air and enabling it's "node" function is
like screamong bomb on an airplane,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>it only creates chaos and failure. Keep nodes
where they belong, 145.01/03/05 etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>With the advent of WinLink which offers far
superior performance, and can be</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>used on either HF or VHF effecitively and MUCH
faster, why bother? But if you're</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>stubborn and determined, I'll dust off my old CP/M
machine and you can have a blast.</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=pagreen@gmail.com href="mailto:pagreen@gmail.com">Patrick Green</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=aprssig@lists.tapr.org
href="mailto:aprssig@lists.tapr.org">TAPR APRS Mailing List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, September 11, 2006
19:38</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [aprssig] Packet Node on
144.390 ?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>On 9/8/06, <B class=gmail_sendername>William McKeehan</B>
<<A
href="mailto:mckeehan@mckeehan.homeip.net">mckeehan@mckeehan.homeip.net</A>>
wrote:
<DIV><SPAN class=gmail_quote></SPAN>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=gmail_quote
style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid"><BR>I'm
really looking for reasons to give someone to NOT put a packet node
(BBS<BR>or just PBBS) on 144.39.</BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><BR>Watch how busy a channel becomes when people try to
connect:<BR><BR></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>