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Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
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David Clark
¿ªÔÆÌåÓý? ? ? ?Good morning-- Perhaps I should clarify what I mean by "simpicity:" For this purpose, the overarching goal is to create a method to communicate to a relatively small group of people in an agricultural amd sparsely populated area.? These people have shared interests and some common goals and obstacles. They are far from town and government help, they are self-reliant, they are problem-solvers, they look out for and help each other. If you're familiar with the best of old-school small-town America (I recognize some have never seen this), ?these are the people I'm talking about. The problem to be solved is how to create a means to communicate over a radius of 5-10 miles. Live voice contact has been already solved via a GMRS repeater. So, here are parameters I'm asking feedback on: ? (I'll say thank you to those already offering excellent feedback so far.) 1. a BBS type system -- meaning a way to distribute messages and/or short bulletins to a group of people. These messages can be retrieved at any time. Henceforth in this writing we will call this "the software." 2. Accessible via RF only, not dependent on Internet or cellular network. Ideally not dependent on a valid Amateur Radio call sign. 3. The software will be easy to install. "Easy" means one click and the installer does the rest, without the user having to be a computer jock. Some config info to be filled in by user. Assume the client install will happen on some number of different machines, say 25 for sake of discussion. If one says "this type of install cannot be done," I refer you to essentially any Mac software in the last 37 years of my own experience, or the Winlink install I did last month. This is not an attempt to debate Mac vs any other platform. It's simply an illustration of the desired parameter. 4. The BBS software and radio runs all the time. 5. The "client" connects when desired as simply as possible -- turn on radio to a given frequency/channel, start client software, click connect button, login, retrieve messages. Interact further, or not.? 6. The BBS's of 1989 era were previously mentioned as the model because they were straight to the point. Form followed function. No draperies in the cabin. No doubt there was a lot going on behind the scenes, but anyone back then witnessed little old ladies accessing them easily. Simple. They were small and fast enough, performing excellent work over 1200 baud modems.? 7. Thats it. Some will say nobody will use it. That is not the question I'm posing. While it may be a valid rabbit trail for the cynical, it's not under consideration. The focus is on what CAN be done, not on what people will or will not do. My neighbors do remarkable things all the time, from helping to birth calves to helping put out grass fires, to spur-of-the-moment cooking for 200. This doesn't count growing and harvesting crops and keeping the monstrous machines running to do that. 8. Additionally, I'm requesting the collective brainpower to create something that can be used anywhere in the country, as a way for similarly situated groups to retain some semblance of community in times of adversity. The scenes we've seen play out in western NC provide plenty of examples of adversity bringing out amazing response by common people, and also give an idea of how helpful something like this could have been had it been in place. When one has zero "normal" comms or outside help, anything will be better than that. Thanks to all, DC W4TRJ On Dec 20, 2024, at 1:11 AM, Jim Wagner via groups.io <wagnejam99@...> wrote:
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