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VK2TV > PACKET 04.09.08 05:23l 86 Lines 3964 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 45143_VK2TV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: g4ebt article on packet radio
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<DB0RES<WA7V<CX2SA<GB7LDI<VK2TV
Sent: 080904/0314Z @:VK2TV.#MNC.NSW.AUS.OC #:43996 [Kempsey, QF68JX] $:45143_VK
From: VK2TV@VK2TV.#MNC.NSW.AUS.OC
To : PACKET@WW
# Generated by: TstHWin v2.21b - Registered to VK2TV
# On : 9/4/2008 13:13:59
# UTC: 9/4/2008 3:13:59 A
>From: ZS2ABF@ZS0ELD.ELD.ZAF.AF
>To : PACKET@WW
Hi Peter and everyone else,
>
>Hi Dave and all out there,
>I agree in entirety your views on Packet Radio.
>I think Packet can help to keep Amateur Radio alive as the youth of today are
>all Computer/Cell phone/DVD literate and I think that's the way our hobby is
>going. The more that they are able to do via the mighty Internet, the more Ham
>Radio will grow. We need more hams in South Africa as it is a dying Hobby over
>here. In my Home town of East London on the South East coast of southern
>Africa we are all dying off slowly and I am on the short list at 71 years old.
One aspect of packet that is still growing is aprs. How much it grows and
how long it remains popular probably depend on keeping it *fresh*.
I think that aprs provides more appeal than conventional packet for
prospective amateurs because of its graphical nature. Compare a screen full
of text with conventional packet with a map displaying moving stations (and
fixed objects) in real time.
Of course, the novelty of watching cars going to or from work, or out for a
Sunday drive, will soon wear thin. What amateurs in the US are doing is
involving aprs with public events and emergencies. This may be happening
elsewhere but I suspect to a lesser degree. Take a community event like a
car rally, walkathon, etc, or a serious emergency situation such as a
flood/hurricane, and install aprs into significant vehicles - medical
director, ambulance, emergency controller, etc. Suddenly the location of
these vehcles is displayed in real time on a map. You provide a community
service and create public interest at the same time. Johnny Teenager could,
with an amateur licence, install aprs on his push bike. aprs provides a
visual attraction to get people interested. I wonder how popular the
internet would be if it was all command line and not GUI? Look at the
graphical features on mobile phones these days and compare that with a
phone when it was just a phone.
Gee I wish I could buy "just a phone". I don't need a complete entertainment
centre in my pocket!
We had a chance some years back to make conventional packet more visually
attractive through the use of html but many frowned on it citing (lack of)
bandwidth as a problem. I think in this age of international internet
linking of bbs's and the drastic reduction in the number of messages
floating about, it might be time to revive html on packet.
>You are correct about, more SWL's than TX'ers. I run the South African UFO
>Interest Group and put out a weekly bull of UFO sightings around the world.
>Its read but, I get very few replies. Well, about 14 in all, but from around
>the world. People are "shy to reply" and in the UFO territory, many stones
>could be thrown. (but none have come my way and I'm the head nutter Hi).
We started a psychic awareness group and people came out of the woodwork
with comment like it's nice to talk to someone who doesn't think you're
crazy.
>I revel, at my age in the Digital modes and operate mainly in the SSTV mode. I
>made my own P.C. to transceiver Interface and enjoyed making it so for the
>younger ham's it's the way to go.
>
>Long live Packet Radio and it's Ham's and please all you SWL get off your
>Butt's and send us folk a BULL or TWO.
>I had an Email from an Italian SWL that picked my Email address and a UFO
>report off the internet. So they are out there. I replied and asked him to
>contact a local Ham that could down load more UFO stuff for him off the local
>BBS. That way he may also become a Ham of the future.
>Take care, we care about Packet.
>regards,
>Peter ZS2ABF
71 years of age? You're still a young pup, hi. Age is only a number and,
provided you have reasonable health, the bigger the number the luckier you
are.
Cheers ... Ray vk2tv
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