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ZS6RO > SYSOP 16.06.08 12:36l 115 Lines 6383 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 14898_ZS0MEE
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: ZAF Routing.
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<DB0RES<DK0WUE<ON0BEL<ZS0MEE
Sent: 080616/1143Z @:ZS0MEE.SRJ.GAU.ZAF.AF #:14898 [Johannesburg] $:14898_ZS0ME
From: ZS6RO@ZS0MEE.SRJ.GAU.ZAF.AF
To : SYSOP@WW
Pete, Note and appreciate your comments regarding ZAF routing .. Please note
this message is not a "Sysop-bashing" exercise but rather hopefully a
civilised debate .. There is enough 'bashing' taking place on the network as
it is !!
I have read various bulletins coming out of GBR where BBS's are closing down
over time .. In some other countries the same thing is happening - even here
in South Africa ..
My gripe is, that it would appear very inefficient that personal messages
traffic has to go all over the world when there are direct forwarding links
to that country .. My opinion (only my opinion), is each country should be
capable of handling any traffic destined for each of their BBS's .. Then
other countries should be able to forward with any or selected BBS's in that
country and the traffic should flow easily and efficiently around that
country till in arrives at it's destined BBS .. Maybe I'm being to idealistic
??
To get the big picture of how ZAF packetTo get the big picture of how ZAF packet radio network looks like, please go
to this URL on the Internet
"http://www.zs6ro.co.za/wiki/index.php/Template:ZAF_BBS_Map" .. South Africa
is a big country compared to many european countries, with cities sprawled
out over vast distances .. There are probably a maximum of 5000 Hams in South
Africa with about 200 on Packet Radio - a very small ratio compared to other
parts of the world ..
To enable connection to each other, various means were availaable to us like
HF radio but the Internet was the most reliable .. VHF/UHF Rose switches,
digi's etc would have been too expensive to link through .. Most distances
are around 500 to 1500 km .. I worked HF forwarding with oven-controlled
xtals etc, for many years on packet radio but often the other side was
unreliable because Sysops didn't want to use their 'best' radios, (which is
understandable), but rather old antiquated ones whunderstandable), but rather old antiquated ones which drifted too much .. I
also use Pactor 1, 2 ,3 on HF but the major problem was, and still is, the
band conditions which cause large delays in getting traffic through ..
As you can see by studying the map on my website (URL above) we use a
combination of all the tools available (yes, I see the Internet as a 'tool'
and use it as such) .. If the other Sysop doesn't have 24/7 Internet ADSL
links (In South Africa, ADSL was available to the 'home' user from about 3-4
years ago, and is very expensive compared to other parts of the world), I
arrange to send email traffic to him .. When he is able, he manually connects
to the Internet by whatever means he has and can email his traffic to a
special email address at my end .. I have written a program to check for
relevant email, process it and place it onto my BBS .. Also it will process
my BBS traffic to relevant BBS's elsewhere and email it to the Sysop, all
autoautomatially .. This method does take a bit longer than the 'direct' method
and is a bit more labour-intensive for those Sysops, but we have a
link/connection and the mail gets through .. They become part of the Packet
Radio network.
Pete, how did you get traffic destined to go through the UK Satgate to the
Satgate? .. Was this also sent to the other ends of the earth first ? .. As
a matter of interest, Roger G3LDI wrote to me via packet radio over this last
weekend and we have now a 'direct' forwarding link to each other .. So,
here's hoping that you can link through GB7LDI BBS ??
You also mention, "what if GB7CIP and GB7FCR go QRT ??" .. Good question, but
here in ZAF, we adapt .. I would assume that Sysops would do the same thing
elsewhere ?? .. I forward to more than one BBS in most countries for
redundancy where possible ... I now forward to three UK BBS's GB7CIP, GB7FCR
and GB7LDI .. I selectively route mail accordingly to each BBS, not 'flood'
them them with everything, or 'first come, takes all' approach .. Various
bulletins are 'flooded' as it is the most efficient way and the FBB protocol
handles it ..
I can see and understand the need where a BBS Sysop is unable to forward
traffic inside his country and has to resort to sending traffic to the other
side of the world, to get it through .. But it is possible that the local
network changes (for the better) and a route is now possible .. i would then
imagine that a BBS Sysop would then change or adapt his system to take
advantage of the changes ... Of course he would need to made aware of the
change - didfficult if its not broadcast to other Sysops <sigh> ..
I supplied a URL to give a ZAF packet radio Map .. Are there other 'maps'
available worldwide which can be viewed ?? .. this would possibly give
insight into how a network is and allow curious Sysops a chance to
communicate with other Sysops to see what routes can be used ..
I hope I hope we can sustain the Packet Radio network all over the world and make it
as efficient as we can, for many years to come ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
73, Dick ZS6RO
http://www.zs6ro.co.za
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And what is wrong with the route that the above example went by ?
Go back 2 years, GB7LDI was SATGATE for this area of GBR, and that was the
preferred means of sending Personal mail. So that explains the route taken
by the example you gave.
Just tell me Dick, HOW do I control personal mail destined to South Africa
from GB7DBY ?. I don't have a direct link to either GB7CIP or GB7FCR.
If other workable links get severed at your request, just what happens if
GB7CIP and GB7FCR go QRT ?
No , It's much better leaving things as they are, with many workable routes
to ensure that South African mail can get there.
Just think yourself lucky that personal mail from GBR gets to South Africa,
many other locations around the world don't have thmany other locations around the world don't have the luxury that you have.
73, Pete G6KUI ( Sysop GB7DBY ).
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