ARRL EComms Messaging System...WinLink?

[Rick Williams]

Many of us do not have any expertise or for that matter ability or else we
would help develop software. But some of us are trying to do some
experimenting with Linux (not always good experiences though:(

The WinLink project claims that they tried to get some Linux programmers
involved in the past, but the Linux programmers never followed through.
They had mentioned in posts on the WinLink reflector that it was a college
student in one case who did not have the time. Is the WDT willing or not to
give out the source code on the entire program for a Linux development? They
indicated that they would share code but maybe they only meant for Telpac
and Paclink? Not for the main system?

With the upcoming WinLink server system, they will have up to 8 redundant
servers world wide so it seems as if it is a good system. And it can be used
for certain EmComm applications. But maybe not all that many?

To spend the person years to reinvent the code seems a nearly impossible
task based on the difficulty it is to get anyone from the Linux community to
do amateur radio programming. From reading here on WETNET, am I correct that
the LinLink team is going to attempt to duplicate WinLink or is the topology
that much different?

What I fail to understand, is that after all these years, we still do not
have a good solution for tying a regional system together via ARQ HF and
VHF/UHF , that would enable a robust, distributed system to automate the
sending of messages within that region (such as our state ARES/RACES). Then
the messages could be routed out from that region if there was no other
communication link available via normal internet connections.

We have voice and CW nets, and some "digital" traffic nets, but they are
very inefficient modes of operation in actually sending out large amounts of
traffic and are mainly useful (especially voice) for immediate tactical use.

Is there any solution for setting up a more regional system that can also
reach out from the region?

73,

Rick, KV9U
Wisconsin ARES/RACES







-----Original Message-----
From: linlink-bounces at wetnet.net [mailto:linlink-bounces at wetnet.net]On
Behalf Of dubose at texas.net
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 11:28 AM
To: David R. Wilson
Cc: linlink at wetnet.net
Subject: Re: ARRL EComms Messaging System...WinLink?


David,

The call has gone out to more than just on this list...with the original
call
being made back in April 2004.

The three things that the ARRL needs to settle are the code requirment for
licensing, bandwidth limits and this problem...without settling these, I
fear
 hamradio is in for a rough time.

I do realize that the BPL problem is important, but that's an external
problem.  These are internal problems...something the League can do
something
about.

Walt/K5YFW