[wl2kemcomm] Re: LinLink development

[Scott Thile (K4SET)]

Hello Gregg, Linlink, and WL2KEmcomm lists,

I've cross posted this in hopes any future dialogue of this nature will move
to Linlink. You can subscribe at the following URL: 

http://wetnet.net/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id
=6&MMN_position=2:2

Gregg writes:
>Deploying a working system that is useful is also important.

Winlink is deployed, it has been for years, and it works great! Have you
ever used it? I did not find your callsign in the Winlink database. 6000
plus use Winlink nearly every day for their primary communications from
remote areas around the world where it is their best option. Many involved
in EMComm find it to be meeting their needs and potential extremely well,
and the developers are working hard to implement additional solutions geared
specifically to EMcomm, and based on the experiences of those actually using
it now.

>Luckily this is all volunteer work which means we can make 
>changes without having to wait to get paid.  But, if we have a 
>bunch of profiteers driving the proliferation of this 
>solution, then yep, we all might as well just give up.

Who are you suggesting could be "profiteers driving the proliferation of
this system"? The Winlink development team are 100% volunteers that have
poured tons of time and a good deal of their own money into this effort. 

And what about the "we" who can "make changes". Since the development team
are doing the work, and responding to the need to make changes based on the
input of actual users, they are the ones in the best position to pick the
platform and programming tools they use, and the changes they make are very
wisely based on actual user input. 

>By all means solve the problems that need to be solved.  I'm 
>not yet convinced that the topology of the solution is quite 
>right yet, but I'm listening and watching to see what I can learn.

Thanks Gregg, I appreciate you allowing those doing the work to solve the
problems. I think it might also be helpful (along with your permission to
solve problems) if you would use the system before starting in with the
"shoulds" of how it could be done better, or why it "should" be on a
different platform. It IS here and now and it works great! And thankfully
it's on a platform that the vast majority of hams and served agencies are
using and comfortable with.

I don't understand why you feel qualified to make comments on the relative
merits of a system "topology" when you have never used they system. If all
amateur radio software "should" be using this or that programming tool you
like, instead of what they are using from Microsoft, and therefore have no
value in the hobby or it's applications, then I'm afraid I would have shut
down the computer here, and so would the vast majority of hams using
computers today, and so would the fast majority of served agencies we hope
to help!

Yes, their are alternatives, and some of them may be great for this, they
may even be better, but not until those excited about them get to work!

It may help your perspective a little to use Winlink and the suite of
programs interfacing with it. If for some reason it does not help your
perspective, it would certainly contribute to your credibility.

Sincerely, Scott, K4SET