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Could packet radio replace my Internet connection?
I have recently canceled my home Internet connection.....trying to
reduce expenses. I have high speed Internet at work...and use it there all day....so didn't see a real need for it at home as I live alone. Having said that....Im a general class ham.... but haven't been on air in years and currently have no equip. Im wondering if getting into digital radios such as packet would allow me some "connection" with like minded people such as Usenet groups do? Advice? Opinions? |
I haven't gotten into internet gateways because of... well, I just haven't
been able to go digital for quite a while. Digital modes will definitely connect you other hams but won't replace the internet. I'll try to give a little insight as I understand it. Portions of amateur comms may be transported via internet just like it can go over hard line. Sure, it's legal but sometimes defeats the purpose. Having said that, I think that linking a local repeater with another on the other side of the world could be cool just to chew the rag when your own repeater's dried up. Whether or not all this will replace your internet connection is a different story. Is it technically possible to get internet via ham radio? Sure. Could we go so far as to make our own ISP and put it out there free? Sure. But... Every time an advertisement is on a web page, you'd be "breakin' da' law" since there can be no commercial or pecuniary interest. Besides, I'm pretty sure that it'd be miserably slow. Here's some brainstorming. Hams could, if they wanted to, use TCP/IP protocol and send text, graphics and html; a'la webpage. But why? You want to talk with someone and you can't serve up the internet via ham. Retrieving a webpage could still be useful, though. Here, I'm talking about a clean, compact, commercial-free, ham-approved webpage. Filtering out the web would be simply impossible, so, don't even try. It's feasible, albeit labor intensive, to add webpages of/by/for hams to a firewalled server that could be used to retrieve those files remotely. I don't know who would do it and it's more than what I'd like to take on. So, digital modes are the way to go if you'd like something closer to chat or file transfer. Getting into digital modes would definitely put you in touch with other hams. You could find a packet BBS perhaps that you could even connect to and retrieve from a mailbox. Packet BBS', PSK-31, RTTY, AMTOR, Clover, Slow Scan TeleVision (SSTV), etc, all give you different benefits and uses. All this isn't the internet but it's a better way to chew the fat with other hams. Hope this helps. P.S. The fact that this entire exchange took place via internet doesn't make it less true:) We'll just call it a pre-arranged communication schedule... o_o_o_o Best Regards, /| ,[_____], Jim, WP3JQ |¯¯¯L --O|||||||O- ()_)¯()_) ¯¯¯¯¯ )_) EM60qk 30.447439N 086.628959W wrote in message ... I have recently canceled my home Internet connection.....trying to reduce expenses. I have high speed Internet at work...and use it there all day....so didn't see a real need for it at home as I live alone. Having said that....Im a general class ham.... but haven't been on air in years and currently have no equip. Im wondering if getting into digital radios such as packet would allow me some "connection" with like minded people such as Usenet groups do? Advice? Opinions? |
I haven't gotten into internet gateways because of... well, I just haven't
been able to go digital for quite a while. Digital modes will definitely connect you other hams but won't replace the internet. I'll try to give a little insight as I understand it. Portions of amateur comms may be transported via internet just like it can go over hard line. Sure, it's legal but sometimes defeats the purpose. Having said that, I think that linking a local repeater with another on the other side of the world could be cool just to chew the rag when your own repeater's dried up. Whether or not all this will replace your internet connection is a different story. Is it technically possible to get internet via ham radio? Sure. Could we go so far as to make our own ISP and put it out there free? Sure. But... Every time an advertisement is on a web page, you'd be "breakin' da' law" since there can be no commercial or pecuniary interest. Besides, I'm pretty sure that it'd be miserably slow. Here's some brainstorming. Hams could, if they wanted to, use TCP/IP protocol and send text, graphics and html; a'la webpage. But why? You want to talk with someone and you can't serve up the internet via ham. Retrieving a webpage could still be useful, though. Here, I'm talking about a clean, compact, commercial-free, ham-approved webpage. Filtering out the web would be simply impossible, so, don't even try. It's feasible, albeit labor intensive, to add webpages of/by/for hams to a firewalled server that could be used to retrieve those files remotely. I don't know who would do it and it's more than what I'd like to take on. So, digital modes are the way to go if you'd like something closer to chat or file transfer. Getting into digital modes would definitely put you in touch with other hams. You could find a packet BBS perhaps that you could even connect to and retrieve from a mailbox. Packet BBS', PSK-31, RTTY, AMTOR, Clover, Slow Scan TeleVision (SSTV), etc, all give you different benefits and uses. All this isn't the internet but it's a better way to chew the fat with other hams. Hope this helps. P.S. The fact that this entire exchange took place via internet doesn't make it less true:) We'll just call it a pre-arranged communication schedule... o_o_o_o Best Regards, /| ,[_____], Jim, WP3JQ |¯¯¯L --O|||||||O- ()_)¯()_) ¯¯¯¯¯ )_) EM60qk 30.447439N 086.628959W wrote in message ... I have recently canceled my home Internet connection.....trying to reduce expenses. I have high speed Internet at work...and use it there all day....so didn't see a real need for it at home as I live alone. Having said that....Im a general class ham.... but haven't been on air in years and currently have no equip. Im wondering if getting into digital radios such as packet would allow me some "connection" with like minded people such as Usenet groups do? Advice? Opinions? |
There can be no commercial or pecuniary interest _for the operator_. Merely passing an unsolicited commercial blurb along with your desired content while viewing a web page would not constitute a violation. Every time an advertisement is on a web page, you'd be "breakin' da' law" since there can be no commercial or pecuniary interest. |
There can be no commercial or pecuniary interest _for the operator_. Merely passing an unsolicited commercial blurb along with your desired content while viewing a web page would not constitute a violation. Every time an advertisement is on a web page, you'd be "breakin' da' law" since there can be no commercial or pecuniary interest. |
On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 15:21:32 -0600, "Drink" wrote:
Retrieving a webpage could still be useful, though. Here, I'm talking about a clean, compact, commercial-free, ham-approved webpage. That would be very cool However.....I don't really care abt web pages..... but REALLY miss my Usenet groups at home. Like I said I still have Net access here at work for researching and looking at web pages... or downloading files. What I was hoping was some ham way of accessing Usent-LIKE groups.....and ham email. Basically a way for like minded people to discuss various "topics" via jam radio.... just like we do right now using Usenet on the Net |
On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 15:21:32 -0600, "Drink" wrote:
Retrieving a webpage could still be useful, though. Here, I'm talking about a clean, compact, commercial-free, ham-approved webpage. That would be very cool However.....I don't really care abt web pages..... but REALLY miss my Usenet groups at home. Like I said I still have Net access here at work for researching and looking at web pages... or downloading files. What I was hoping was some ham way of accessing Usent-LIKE groups.....and ham email. Basically a way for like minded people to discuss various "topics" via jam radio.... just like we do right now using Usenet on the Net |
On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 19:01:14 -0600, "S. Miller"
wrote: There can be no commercial or pecuniary interest _for the operator_. Merely passing an unsolicited commercial blurb along with your desired content while viewing a web page would not constitute a violation. Agreed But Im not in the least wanting to view web pages via ham radio. Instead Im wanting Usenet-LIKE groups and email |
On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 19:01:14 -0600, "S. Miller"
wrote: There can be no commercial or pecuniary interest _for the operator_. Merely passing an unsolicited commercial blurb along with your desired content while viewing a web page would not constitute a violation. Agreed But Im not in the least wanting to view web pages via ham radio. Instead Im wanting Usenet-LIKE groups and email |
On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 07:31:37 -0600, me6 wrote:
On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 19:01:14 -0600, "S. Miller" wrote: There can be no commercial or pecuniary interest _for the operator_. Merely passing an unsolicited commercial blurb along with your desired content while viewing a web page would not constitute a violation. Agreed But Im not in the least wanting to view web pages via ham radio. Instead Im wanting Usenet-LIKE groups and email It is possible, some of my first usage of the internet was via packet using a program called jnos - tcp/ip encapsulated within packet protocols, I had a gateway available to me, it's fairly easy to set up, but unless you're willing to fork out some coin for high speed packet gear, it's dreadfully slow, I used to pass email, some news group stuff (usenet) and even dabbled in downloading the occasional ftp file (tiny ones, 1200 baud is awfully slow) this was before the web held anything more than a few dozen sites, archie and gopher were still widely used. So it is possible, but you're going to have fork out some coin to make it happen. Ken ----------------- mv sco /dev/null ----------------- |
On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 07:31:37 -0600, me6 wrote:
On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 19:01:14 -0600, "S. Miller" wrote: There can be no commercial or pecuniary interest _for the operator_. Merely passing an unsolicited commercial blurb along with your desired content while viewing a web page would not constitute a violation. Agreed But Im not in the least wanting to view web pages via ham radio. Instead Im wanting Usenet-LIKE groups and email It is possible, some of my first usage of the internet was via packet using a program called jnos - tcp/ip encapsulated within packet protocols, I had a gateway available to me, it's fairly easy to set up, but unless you're willing to fork out some coin for high speed packet gear, it's dreadfully slow, I used to pass email, some news group stuff (usenet) and even dabbled in downloading the occasional ftp file (tiny ones, 1200 baud is awfully slow) this was before the web held anything more than a few dozen sites, archie and gopher were still widely used. So it is possible, but you're going to have fork out some coin to make it happen. Ken ----------------- mv sco /dev/null ----------------- |
So it is possible, but you're going to have fork out some coin
to make it happen. I see But is there any PEOPLE to converse with using such methods? I mean.... a good analogy is this..... if you are the only one in your town who has a telephone.... but no one else has one.... then no matter how great the telephone is its pretty much useless cause its only used to converse or "connect" with other people. See my point? |
So it is possible, but you're going to have fork out some coin
to make it happen. I see But is there any PEOPLE to converse with using such methods? I mean.... a good analogy is this..... if you are the only one in your town who has a telephone.... but no one else has one.... then no matter how great the telephone is its pretty much useless cause its only used to converse or "connect" with other people. See my point? |
wrote in message . ..
On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 15:21:32 -0600, "Drink" wrote: Retrieving a webpage could still be useful, though. Here, I'm talking about a clean, compact, commercial-free, ham-approved webpage. That would be very cool However.....I don't really care abt web pages..... but REALLY miss my Usenet groups at home. Like I said I still have Net access here at work for researching and looking at web pages... or downloading files. What I was hoping was some ham way of accessing Usent-LIKE groups.....and ham email. Basically a way for like minded people to discuss various "topics" via jam radio.... just like we do right now using Usenet on the Net Hmmmmm. APRS has messaging that can send and/or receive from Internet email. The only problem is they are short. Maybe at 9600 (soundcard connected to discriminator) you could get what you need. Use a rig with 9600 Packet with a 9600 setting and connector for easy connection. Range depends on the APRS 9600 node near you. http://www.elcom.gr/sv2agw/ has windows soundcard (as TNC) software. You can by an interface or make one (Rig to Soundcard). You probably want to duel boot Linux and use it's soundcard software for stability. Get a "Knoppix" CD for easy Linux Install (free). Save yourself the time and pay the $5 for shipping of the newest version. This may not be everything you want but it's a step in the right direction and it's CHEAP! If you don't enjoy seting up stuff then don't waste your time. |
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On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 07:33:43 -0600, me6 wrote:
So it is possible, but you're going to have fork out some coin to make it happen. I see But is there any PEOPLE to converse with using such methods? There certainly was a number, several years ago, however, since it has been a few years since I had communicated via packet (I still intend to set it all back up sooner or later, but apartment life is somewhat restrictive with regard to antennas, sigh) I just did a dig for one of the portals I used to use and it is still up and running, with active users. I am not sure how wide spread it is, the heard list used to be much longer. I mean.... a good analogy is this..... if you are the only one in your town who has a telephone.... but no one else has one.... then no matter how great the telephone is its pretty much useless cause its only used to converse or "connect" with other people. See my point? Now as to how many people are conversing this way, I am not sure, I used to do so quite regularly, and will have my systems all set up again within the next couple of months. Do a web search for ham packet -- internet gateways in your area, he http://www.qsl.net/ik5bcu/list.htm is a list I just brought up on google, though I have no idea how recent it is. several of the systems show up with nslookup and dig, and hamgate.ve7sfu.ampr.org is still live as of this evening. Though showing up with dig/nslookup is no indicator of a ham gateway still being active, my own shows up, and I haven't been up for at least three years. Some of the gateway ops may be willing to set you up a feed, I had several stations in the area I fed with packet mailboxes, news can easily be added (usually most ops only do the ham radio groups). Ken ------------------ Linux user ------------------ mv sco /dev/null ------------------ |
On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 07:33:43 -0600, me6 wrote:
So it is possible, but you're going to have fork out some coin to make it happen. I see But is there any PEOPLE to converse with using such methods? There certainly was a number, several years ago, however, since it has been a few years since I had communicated via packet (I still intend to set it all back up sooner or later, but apartment life is somewhat restrictive with regard to antennas, sigh) I just did a dig for one of the portals I used to use and it is still up and running, with active users. I am not sure how wide spread it is, the heard list used to be much longer. I mean.... a good analogy is this..... if you are the only one in your town who has a telephone.... but no one else has one.... then no matter how great the telephone is its pretty much useless cause its only used to converse or "connect" with other people. See my point? Now as to how many people are conversing this way, I am not sure, I used to do so quite regularly, and will have my systems all set up again within the next couple of months. Do a web search for ham packet -- internet gateways in your area, he http://www.qsl.net/ik5bcu/list.htm is a list I just brought up on google, though I have no idea how recent it is. several of the systems show up with nslookup and dig, and hamgate.ve7sfu.ampr.org is still live as of this evening. Though showing up with dig/nslookup is no indicator of a ham gateway still being active, my own shows up, and I haven't been up for at least three years. Some of the gateway ops may be willing to set you up a feed, I had several stations in the area I fed with packet mailboxes, news can easily be added (usually most ops only do the ham radio groups). Ken ------------------ Linux user ------------------ mv sco /dev/null ------------------ |
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