Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
Ben --
?
And anyone else actually familiar with meshtastic aside from watching youtube vids (like me) ---
?
-- I see we have the choice of 800 or 900 mhz OR also listed is 433 mhz. I'm thinking 433 might be better in my area due to vegetation etc. Anyone got an opinion?
?
-- Has anybody actually used a Lilygo T Deck? Does it actually work? This is a stand alone unit (similar to what I described several messages up), with self contained keyboard etc and not requiring a cell phone. Just thinking one set of batteries is enough to keep charged in an emergency situation.
?
-- Would really like to hear from anyone with actualy experience in this group with meshtastic. I've spoken to some meshtastic only guys, they were very excited about things that as a ham don't blow my dress up at all (ranges of 300 yrds etc), simply because they've never been exposed to ham ranges and capabilities. That's why I am leaning towards? ham-type solution even if it's more complex.
?
BUT
?
I am open minded on the meshtastic, because as stated I "want" to like it. I'm just not convinced it really works.?
?
Ben you're saying it really works. Do you know this first-hand? Not doubting you, just clarifying.?
?
Thank you --
?
DC
W4TRJ
?
?
?
?
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Re: Why is NOAM in the route @EU?
I agree with Charles? ?We don¡¯t want the post office delivery running all over in this busy cold time of year. Hello George Kirn had contact with this data.
On Fri, Dec 20, 2024 at 9:58?AM Charles Hargrove via <n2nov= [email protected]> wrote: My system routes all @EU bulletins to my European forwarding partners only.
On 12/20/2024 7:48 AM, Chuck Gelm wrote:
> On 12/20/24 07:37, Mark Taylor wrote:
>> On Mon, Dec 9, 2024 at 04:22 AM, Chuck Gelm wrote:
>>
>>? ? ?Why is NOAM in the route @EU?
>>
>> Mystery solved.?? Because that is exactly what the forwarding station
>> intends.? His opinion is all stations get all bulletins regardless how
>> they are addressed.
>> --
>> 73,
>> Mark, N5MDT
>> Montgomery, Texas
>>
>
> All:
>
> Until I hear that the above is not true,
> I am placing GB7RJJ in my BADWORDS.SYS file.
>
> 73, Chuck
--
Charles J. Hargrove - N2NOV
NYC-ARECS/RACES Citywide Radio Officer/Skywarn Coord.
NYC-ARECS/RACES Nets 441.100/136.5 PL
ARnewsline Broadcast Mon. @ 8:00PM
NYC-ARECS Weekly Net Mon. @ 8:30PM
NY-NBEMS Net Saturdays @ 10AM & USeast-NBEMS Net Wednesdays @ 7PM
on 7.036 Mhz USB (alt 3.536)/1500 hz waterfall spot; MFSK-16 or 32
"Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls
topped
by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders." - Ronald Reagan
"The more corrupt the state, the more it legislates." - Tacitus
"Molann an obair an fear" - Irish Saying
(The work praises the man.)
"No matter how big and powerful government gets, and the many services it
provides, it can never take the place of volunteers." - Ronald Reagan
|
Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
Hi David,
I know Meshtastic has been mentioned before, but I think this could work and is probably the best solution given requirement that users are unlicensed.? I do realize that ISM bands do have constraints around path and link budget, but there are ways around that.? Meshtastic repeaters are absolutely a thing and can be installed with some height to get some initial coverage.? Store-and-forward nodes can be installed in weatherproof enclosures outdoors (including solar and battery power as standard features on the radios) to extend coverage.? High-gain antennas are cheap and readily available so users can put a big yagi (and their radio) outdoors and increase range that way too.? I'll detail how this might look to the users by responding to your parameters.
- ?Meshtastic supports multiple channels (not to be confused with frequency channels).? The default LongFast channel could be used for group communications like bulletins.? Private, encrypted channels could be used by individual families or groups for messaging that doesn't need to go out to everyone.? They can even be encrypted if desired.
- Check.
- The only software needed is a mobile app or a web browser.? GUI configuration is standard.? There is a little setup required but it's objectively less than anything using an external radio since far fewer adjustments are needed.? All you really need is to set up your node name, country, optionally change the mode of the particular node, and input any channels and encryption keys you need (can be done by simply scanning a QR code).
- This is completely decentralized so there is no BBS software. Each user's Meshtastic node would run all the time and receive all the messages.? The user could connect to their own node whenever they like over bluetooth (app) or wifi (browser) and read the messages.
- See 4.
- Check.? If you can use a mobile messaging app you are set.
- You mentioned this is a rural, agricultural area.? Having a robust Meshtastic infrastructure could enable people to use the mesh for other uses as well.? These radios all support GPIO and serial over the mesh so connecting moisture sensors, water tank sensors, etc... is pretty straightforward from a hardware perspective.? Of course anyone messing this would have to figure out how to handle the data on the other end, but at least the infrastructure is solved.
- This is already in use in rural and urban areas all over the world.
This sounds like a challenging project.? Good Luck.
73, Ben KU0HN
On Friday, December 20th, 2024 at 8:35 AM, David Clark via groups.io <cw.w4trj@...> wrote:
? ? ? ?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:
?
?
A "simple BBS" does not necessarily make a simple system. Creating messages, sending them, receiving messages, and reading them all contribute to the complexity. ?Some of those contribute more complexity than the BBS. So, think about the whole system, because the parts need to fit together seamlessly. One model of simplicity is the cellular text message system. You could do worse (a lot worse) than that and few would use it.
?
Jim, KA7EHK
On 12/19/2024 6:09 PM PST David Clark via groups.io <cw.w4trj@...> wrote:
?
?
500' real good. The 2m I got going is at 350' amd we do pretty good.?
No idea how well I can do with just regular people. I have a nasty habit of thinking positive when it sometimes is not warranted, amd have utterly failed at several things. But Ive also had some astonishing successes as well.?
Old man told me once when I was dejected after a failure "well you tried and nobody else did. The only guarantee is you miss every shot you dont take."?
So, there's that.?
ive tried and succeeded and failed at a bunch of stuff most people never attempt. I always learn something and I aint basing my well-being on what other people do. It needs to be done, there's interest, I'm gonna see what happens. I'll let you know if it's a bust.?
thanks
?
DC
?
|
Re: Why is NOAM in the route @EU?
My system routes all @EU bulletins to my European forwarding partners only.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 12/20/2024 7:48 AM, Chuck Gelm wrote: On 12/20/24 07:37, Mark Taylor wrote:
On Mon, Dec 9, 2024 at 04:22 AM, Chuck Gelm wrote:
Why is NOAM in the route @EU?
Mystery solved.?? Because that is exactly what the forwarding station intends.? His opinion is all stations get all bulletins regardless how they are addressed.
--
73,
Mark, N5MDT
Montgomery, Texas
All:
Until I hear that the above is not true,
I am placing GB7RJJ in my BADWORDS.SYS file.
73, Chuck
--
Charles J. Hargrove - N2NOV
NYC-ARECS/RACES Citywide Radio Officer/Skywarn Coord.
NYC-ARECS/RACES Nets 441.100/136.5 PL
ARnewsline Broadcast Mon. @ 8:00PM
NYC-ARECS Weekly Net Mon. @ 8:30PM
NY-NBEMS Net Saturdays @ 10AM & USeast-NBEMS Net Wednesdays @ 7PM
on 7.036 Mhz USB (alt 3.536)/1500 hz waterfall spot; MFSK-16 or 32
"Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped
by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders." - Ronald Reagan
"The more corrupt the state, the more it legislates." - Tacitus
"Molann an obair an fear" - Irish Saying
(The work praises the man.)
"No matter how big and powerful government gets, and the many services it
provides, it can never take the place of volunteers." - Ronald Reagan
|
Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
? ? ? ?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
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Dec 20, 2024, at 1:11 AM, Jim Wagner via groups.io <wagnejam99@...> wrote:
?
?
A "simple BBS" does not necessarily make a simple system. Creating messages, sending them, receiving messages, and reading them all contribute to the complexity. ?Some of those contribute more complexity than the BBS. So, think about the whole system, because the parts need to fit together seamlessly. One model of simplicity is the cellular text message system. You could do worse (a lot worse) than that and few would use it.
?
Jim, KA7EHK
On 12/19/2024 6:09 PM PST David Clark via groups.io <cw.w4trj@...> wrote:
?
?
500' real good. The 2m I got going is at 350' amd we do pretty good.?
No idea how well I can do with just regular people. I have a nasty habit of thinking positive when it sometimes is not warranted, amd have utterly failed at several things. But Ive also had some astonishing successes as well.?
Old man told me once when I was dejected after a failure "well you tried and nobody else did. The only guarantee is you miss every shot you dont take."?
So, there's that.?
ive tried and succeeded and failed at a bunch of stuff most people never attempt. I always learn something and I aint basing my well-being on what other people do. It needs to be done, there's interest, I'm gonna see what happens. I'll let you know if it's a bust.?
thanks
?
DC
?
|
Re: Why is NOAM in the route @EU?
I agree.? Hello George Kirn had contact with this data.
|
Re: Why is NOAM in the route @EU?
On 12/20/24 07:37, Mark Taylor wrote:
On Mon, Dec 9, 2024 at 04:22 AM, Chuck Gelm wrote:
Why is NOAM in the route @EU?
Mystery solved.?? Because that is exactly what the forwarding
station intends.? His opinion is all stations get all bulletins
regardless how they are addressed.
?
--
73,
Mark, N5MDT
Montgomery, Texas
?
All:
Until I hear that the above is not true,
I am placing GB7RJJ in my BADWORDS.SYS file.
73, Chuck
|
Re: Why is NOAM in the route @EU?
On Mon, Dec 9, 2024 at 04:22 AM, Chuck Gelm wrote:
Why is NOAM in the route @EU?
Mystery solved.?? Because that is exactly what the forwarding station intends.? His opinion is all stations get all bulletins regardless how they are addressed.
?
--
73,
Mark, N5MDT
Montgomery, Texas
?
?
?
|
Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
?
A "simple BBS" does not necessarily make a simple system. Creating messages, sending them, receiving messages, and reading them all contribute to the complexity. ?Some of those contribute more complexity than the BBS. So, think about the whole system, because the parts need to fit together seamlessly. One model of simplicity is the cellular text message system. You could do worse (a lot worse) than that and few would use it.
?
Jim, KA7EHK
On 12/19/2024 6:09 PM PST David Clark via groups.io <cw.w4trj@...> wrote:
?
?
500' real good. The 2m I got going is at 350' amd we do pretty good.?
No idea how well I can do with just regular people. I have a nasty habit of thinking positive when it sometimes is not warranted, amd have utterly failed at several things. But Ive also had some astonishing successes as well.?
Old man told me once when I was dejected after a failure "well you tried and nobody else did. The only guarantee is you miss every shot you dont take."?
So, there's that.?
ive tried and succeeded and failed at a bunch of stuff most people never attempt. I always learn something and I aint basing my well-being on what other people do. It needs to be done, there's interest, I'm gonna see what happens. I'll let you know if it's a bust.?
thanks
?
DC
?
|
Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
500' real good. The 2m I got going is at 350' amd we do pretty good.?
No idea how well I can do with just regular people. I have a nasty habit of thinking positive when it sometimes is not warranted, amd have utterly failed at several things. But Ive also had some astonishing successes as well.?
Old man told me once when I was dejected after a failure "well you tried and nobody else did. The only guarantee is you miss every shot you dont take."?
So, there's that.?
ive tried and succeeded and failed at a bunch of stuff most people never attempt. I always learn something and I aint basing my well-being on what other people do. It needs to be done, there's interest, I'm gonna see what happens. I'll let you know if it's a bust.?
thanks
?
DC
?
|
Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
It¡¯s not my repeater. We were provided some services from an antenna at 500 feet that is managed with a circulator so a whole slew of things can be on it. ?
I have a VARA digiPeter at the same height as part of that thing?
Over seven years of effort, I have several RMSs ?in the ?community and several digipeaters for various modes?
But I can count on my fingers the number of people who can really use them. Even some a RRL officials can¡¯t figure this out! ?Or won¡¯t?
Just for comparison, our club scored in the upper 6.5% of the ?4A category inARRL field day and we¡¯re not a contest club ¡. ?We are an Aries group. ?If this is all that I can achieve with a nationally ranking group, what do you think will happen with just community people?
Gordon kx4z?
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Show quoted text
On Dec 19, 2024, at 20:15, David Clark via groups.io <cw.w4trj@...> wrote:
? Gordon
?
I have some uncommon folks here. And common folks can do some amazing stuff when trying to save their own family's butt
?
Well acquainted with Lora and huge potential but i cannot imagine it working with low antennas thru our pines and slight hills, and all we'd have is text msgs. Same effort will yield better on GMRS and ham
?
How tall is your GMRS antenna and what repeater amd power are you running?
?
thanks
DC
|
Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
Gordon
?
I have some uncommon folks here. And common folks can do some amazing stuff when trying to save their own family's butt
?
Well acquainted with Lora and huge potential but i cannot imagine it working with low antennas thru our pines and slight hills, and all we'd have is text msgs. Same effort will yield better on GMRS and ham
?
How tall is your GMRS antenna and what repeater amd power are you running?
?
thanks
DC
|
Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
No, but we had a guy do a demonstration. It might do what you want and I think you don¡¯t have to have a license. It¡¯s really slow. I don¡¯t know if you could make a bulletin board out of it, but I think it can handle some messages. You¡¯re really asking way too much ofcommon people.?
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On Dec 19, 2024, at 20:05, David Clark via groups.io <cw.w4trj@...> wrote:
? Gordon
have you actually tried lora
?
DC
|
Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
Gordon
have you actually tried lora
?
DC
|
Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
I think you should look into LoRa
Trying to get even a reasonable percentage of the population onto digital Anything is a pretty high ask. Voice is about all most people can handle.?
Legally, GRMS offers good voice communications over a wide range, we can cover our entire huge county with it with a highly placed repeater. If that were to come down, we can have alternatives show up the vast majority of people even in ham radio can¡¯t figure out digital.
Thank you for your willingness to try.
Gordon kx4z
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On Dec 19, 2024, at 18:21, Steve Hansen via groups.io <shansen@...> wrote:
? I've run a FRS/GMRS radio during storms as part of a Neighborhood HamWatch program using software that folks normally use for monitoring scanners. It records the message and adds a time stamp.?
?
73, Steve KB1TCE
?
?
|
Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
I've run a FRS/GMRS radio during storms as part of a Neighborhood HamWatch program using software that folks normally use for monitoring scanners. It records the message and adds a time stamp.?
?
73, Steve KB1TCE
?
?
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Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
Yep, I experienced Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and that was a major wake-up call to the ham community there.? Now they have an island-wide packet network as a result, and a lot of GMRS repeaters have gone up.
?
Maybe a sort of old-school setup, using voice instead of data, like cludging together an answering machine using a computer?? And license-free FRS radios because that's simpler and cheap??? Audio-input to the computer triggers automatic recording to mp3 or wav files.? The trick would be how to retrieve voice messages by users and how to get each recorded message identifiable as for specific users.? Maybe DTMF by using their keypad on their radio (if it has a keypad).? On second thought, it sounds really complicated :)? Just brain-storming here...
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Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
Jeff
?
Thanks so much for a clear answer. I'm sorry i'm such a dunce on this. I've been a CW man all my ham career and this stuff is not as well documented as I'd like even tho it's been around for a long time.
?
Thanks for answering what the "client" needs also. Somebody upstream mentioned a HP refurb tho I think most will have a computer
?
The question of data over gmrs is a question -- it seems that FCC has said "a little is ok" type of thing.? We are in a rural area and I doubt there's been any signal ever before in history over GMRS in our area aside from me and my wife. So I'm gonna risk seeing if it will work.
?
the callsign thing -- as you may know you cannot download winlink without an active callsign and from what I know the winlink system actually verifies when you want to download.?
?
I have tried fldigi using a callsign on one end and a first initial and last name on the other, and that works. Dont know if it will work with easyterm but intend to find out.
?
Maybe I shouldn't talk about it.
?
Anyway, I intend to try to find something that will work so my neighbors won't be stuck with nothing like a couple of friends in NC were the first week of Helene. It almost literally drove one friend crazy, an older recent widow, who stilll hasn't really recovered from not knowing anything but what she could see for a week (and what she saw was pretty bad).? I just saw her last week and she is still quite shook up from the experience and it's been 2 months. She says you just cannot imagine how bad it is to see damage and injury and reach for your phone and have nothing over and over and over.
?
I'm all for following regs, I pay my taxes, etc and operate within the guidelines in my life. But there is such a thing as "the radio community" and if we know (and most of us do know) that radio gets through when all else fails, then we have a great opportunity to view making some of this stuff work easily and maybe-not-regulation just in case we need to use it. I guess we just can't talk about it, but we still need to do it, because anyone paying attention to western NC and Helene has seen that hams contributed mightily up there to search and rescue (still are I believe).
?
I know Mt Mitchell repeater did amazing work. I was involved for a short period one afternoon on an impromptu Health and Welfare net looking for people, us taking requests on HF, relaying via 2m to Mt. Mitchell, them relaying to hams with handhelds in the disaster area, and various hams going and putting eyes on people and reporting back to Mt. Mitchell, who then called the worried family members. Pretty amazing to be part of that and really got me thinking about my own area.
?
Not all the helping "hams" were licensed, but we all know the regs state that anybody anywhere can use any radio any time if it involves life and property. So it got used for that, and people were helped. We have to acknowledge that was a good thing, I think, no matter how much we obey the rules.?
?
?
Meshtastic. I really really want to like this platform. The mesh network idea (much I believe initially fleshed out by Zigbee) is something I have followed pretty close, tho haven't actually done it. Too much fiddling still to do to make it work. Also my area of interest is say a 5-7 mile radius with lots of pine trees and slightly rolling hills with the occasional fairly large hill. I don't see any way mestastic will work in its current mode even if you could buy an off-the-shelf unit that works, which I'm not sure you can do (except maybe a LilyGo T or similar, and last I checked they didn't have a damn case for it).?
?
I've put up a GMRS repeater on my farm with the intention of getting as many of my neighbors using as possible. Shouldn't be hard to do --- we have recently begun building a neighborhood group (people love to cook and eat together), and Hurricane Helene was heading straight for us and veered off at last minute and went 20 miles east. It destroyed a lot of south and east GA, and all of us have seen the damage and most know somebody affected badly (or killed) by it. We all know it could have been us, and it got everybody's attention pretty well. I just started a month-long weekly technician license class at church 3 weeks ago, and we had 14 people show up from 3 different counties. Everyone in the class knows somebody in NC affected by Helene and it got their attention. Our little county has currently 3 hams who know how to operate, the rest have died off. So by New Year's Day we should have another 10 or so, and I'll begin another class the next week.
?
The initial goal is get as many as I can on GMRS and some of those will become hams, and I'm planning accordingly. We will attempt on GMRS, knowing it will work on ham freqs.?
?
Really appreciate the input. Maybe the conversation will lead to other people in other areas figuring out how to get their neighbors fixed up. We know how easy it is to lose comms, and we know that nobody is coming to help us but ourselves. With that in mind, we've all got plenty to think about and do. We have a lot of collective brainpower, thanks for sharing it.
?
Really appreciate this conversation and the space to have it in. Perhaps it will have far-reaching effects.
?
DC
W4TRJ
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Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
Easyterm's BBS will do what you want, as far as a single BBS server.?? Everyone connecting to your BBS would be using Easyterm and Soundmodem on their end along with their own radio, antenna, etc. . so now it's getting less simple.? Then everyone connecting to the BBS would need their own amateur radio callsign, which sounds to me like it's game over since it would no longer be simple.
?
There may be a way of legally sending AFSK data without a license or callsign though, using Part 15 devices, but you'd have to research that.? I think packet would not be legal with FRS/GMRS, and it's definitely not legal with CB or MURS.? You can't even do store-and-forward voice with MURS.? (I say "AFSK", because that's the sort of 'default' and by far the most common data mode used with packet radio.? )
?
I think I remember seeing some hacks done to pagers, maybe that's an option?
?
Maybe Meshtastic is the simplest method of legally texting over radio without a license.
?
?
|
Re: Is Simplicity Possible?
I loaded Easyterm and within moments had what appears to be a bbs screen.
?
I loaded bpq based on some recommendations from others but as my original (probably too long) message said -- after an hour of reading setup guide and getting no logic from it, I closed it without having increased my knowledge at all. As said I'm a Mac guy and have 30 years experience with installing software and having a working application with no fuss except for minor config stuff. I cannot tell that my install of bpq accomplished anything other than wasting an hour and a half. I'm not criticizing -- I realize I'm the idiot here.
?
I have heard all the "but Macs ain't really that good" arguments for 30 yrs. My windows experience is very limited and after having wrestled with bpq I can remember why that is so. Not criticizing, I'm sure it's great, but I have zero interest in being a windows guru. I want to use the tool, not mess with the tool.?
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I appreciate the guidance from you guys so far. I'm afraid this is not a "community build" project. This is not a "learn linux and give everybody a raspberry pi" project.
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This needs to be "I set it up, connect to radio, show a few people how to login at their place and move on" project. I'm not dealing with computer geeks here. I'm dealing with housewives, little old ladies, etc
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No doubt bpq will do what I need and all I would hope for, but if I cant get the damn thing to function at all without what appears to be hours of effort then that is not a path I am willing to take.?
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Which created my question of whether or not we could do 1989 level BBS in 2024. I should have said with 1989 effort also, which was very little.
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The focus is on simple.
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I looked at kantronics item recommended. Probably would work but maybe too simple given the reservations stated by KI0BK above.
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1.? For those recommending Easyterm -- will it actually be a working BBS that people can log in to and use for simple messaging and bulletins? It appears so but would like actual experience saying so.?
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Also need to know what the user needs to be running. Not clear on that. Easyterm I guess?
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2.? For those recommending bpq -- is there a sensible idiot's guide to installing and making it work? One that doesn't assume you already know how to do? it? If so, I'd like to know a link to it, please. I'm willing to try again maybe but I want to read it first. I mean idiot level, like:
? ?Step 1 - do X
? ?Step 2 - do Y
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Or is there some installer app that just sets the thing up and all one has to do is fill in config data? I saw no evidence of that, just a folder full of apps. To be fair, at least it loaded. Several others I tried would not load on my machine.
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Also. I live in the rural South. We don't have taxicabs here. I know we're backwards, but we drive our own vehicles.
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I greatly appreciate all the responses. Please see those numbered questions above and share insights.?
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Thank you for y'all's trouble. Also thanks for letting me poach onto the bpq's audience - was hoping somebody could point me to how to make bpq actually work so if that's possible I'm all ears for that also.
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DC
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N9PNO
Jeff KP3FT