From wang!elf.wang.com!ucsd.edu!packet-radio-relay Sun Feb 10 20:41:52 1991 remote from tosspot Received: by tosspot (1.63/waf) via UUCP; Sun, 10 Feb 91 21:00:26 EST for lee Received: from somewhere by elf.wang.com id aa22319; Sun, 10 Feb 91 20:41:51 GMT Received: from ucsd.edu by uunet.uu.net (5.61/1.14) with SMTP id AA11305; Sun, 10 Feb 91 08:36:13 -0500 Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA08895 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Sun, 10 Feb 91 04:30:09 -0800 for hpbbrd!db0sao!dg4scv Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA08884 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Sun, 10 Feb 91 04:30:05 -0800 for /usr/lib/sendmail -oc -odb -oQ/var/spool/lqueue -oi -fpacket-radio-relay packet-radio-list Message-Id: <9102101230.AA08884@ucsd.edu> Date: Sun, 10 Feb 91 04:30:03 PST From: Packet-Radio Mailing List and Newsgroup Reply-To: Packet-Radio@ucsd.edu Subject: Packet-Radio Digest V91 #39 To: packet-radio@ucsd.edu Packet-Radio Digest Sun, 10 Feb 91 Volume 91 : Issue 39 Today's Topics: Packet BEGINNER needs info Shareware over packet? Send Replies or notes for publication to: Send subscription requests to: Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu. Archives of past issues of the Packet-Radio Digest are available (by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/packet-radio". We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 9 Feb 91 04:12:00 GMT From: hpcc05!hpdmd48!bjd@hplabs.hpl.hp.com (Bob Davidson) Subject: Packet BEGINNER needs info To: packet-radio@ucsd.edu > I am an Electrical Engineer and would like to set up my own > packet radio data communications system (preferably with a laptop). Shouldn't be a problem for an EE in Seattle. > I don't have a radio license yet or know much about the procedures > to go about getting one. Could you give me some items to take care of > so I can get started? Will try. > Example information needed: > > all hardware required, suggested items to buy ( <$500 ) It's a bit hard to do if you purchase new. Basically you will need a VHF transciever. The cost new ranges from $300 to $400 for a basic FM transciever on the ham 2mtr band. You will find packet activity around 145 MHz typically. A modem will run another $300. If you already have a laptop, then you are ready to go. Most of the modems for ham packet handle the packet protocol on board so the laptop can function as a "dumb" terminal. On the other hand, I understand there are a number of programs available to control ham packet modems that make life quite a bit nicer than the "dumb" terminal version. There are several good ham radio stores in the Seattle area (see the yellow pages) where you could visit. There is a lot of packet and other ham activity in the Seattle area as well. It would be worth your while to check on the UofW ham club as I am sure there must be some hams there involved in packet that would be a good local resource for you. You could get setup for a fraction of $500 if you attend one of ham swap meets and purchased used equipment. The club members should be able to tell when one will be held in the Seattle area. It's also possible to build equipment, but usually it is a losing proposition if you only have cost as you reason for building something. The big companies can take advantage of economies of scale that the individual can't when it comes building equipment. > required and suggested reading materials At the mentioned above ham stores and possibly the U bookstore there are a number of publications by a group called the ARRL (American Radio Relay League).Among these are license manuals and introductory operating manuals. The range of the publications of the ARRL is fairly great, from very basic to reasonably sophisticated. The best known is the "Amateur Radio Handbook". > steps necessary to get a license (can I simply take the > technician class test or do I have to take the novice > first and work up to technician class?...should I > even opt for a higher class than technician?) Basically to get a license, you will need to take an exam, certified by the FCC but given by other hams. I would guess that the UofW ham club gives exams or people in it know others who do. Luckily, there is a non-code license available. It consists only of technical questions and legal questions. Any EE should have no problem passing it, but it is worth looking at one of the above mentioned license manuals before taking the exam. There is no sequence that you have to follow in license classes. If you are ready, you could take the top grade license exam (amateur extra class) first. > access to the Internet/UUCP networks Access outside of ham circles is pretty limited. I expect that will change but currently there are limitations, imposed by the FCC to prevent ham competition with commercial services, that severly restrict ham to non-ham communications. > typical/maximum data rates possible typically 1200 baud on VHF, but some work done with higher rates. In the Seattle area, there must be a lot of activity at the higher rates. > is a completely portable unit possible? yes, the main limitation would be owning a portable computer. Most ham trancievers and modems are designed for 12V. > what kinds of connections are possible with what countries? It's fairly easy to work other countries for ham (noncommercial) purposes. In fact, there is an award for working 100 countries. Hundred, if not thousands, have qualified. Regards, Bob Davidson, WA7IUT Eagle, Idaho ------------------------------ Date: 10 Feb 91 05:55:50 GMT From: ucivax!turner@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Clark Turner) Subject: Shareware over packet? To: packet-radio@ucsd.edu In article <2093@ke4zv.UUCP> gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman) writes: >In article <01.Feb.91.14:22:10.GMT.#4220@UK.AC.NWL.IA> PJML@ibma.nerc-wallingford.ac.uk ("Pete Lucas, NCS-TLC, Holbrook House, Swindon") writes: >>Surely its only 'business use' if the ham is making money out of it! > >I wish! This has been covered at extreme length in the pizza wars of yore. >The FCC issued an official opinion on this type of activity orignially in >conjunction with the Eye Bank Net. The ruling said that you cannot use >Amateur Radio to further the business activities of any entity whether you >personally profit from it or not. It doesn't matter if the entity whose >interests you are furthering is nonprofit or profit. It doesn't matter >if your aid is direct or indirect. It's still forbidden. Gary: I have just tuned in to this net and am quite curious about this ruling you refer to. Do you have a reference to it? I am obviously interested in RACES and CD use of amateur radio (clearly on the right side of the ruling) vs. shareware which certainly may be "business" in nature BUT does the term exclude software I place into the public domain (give up all business rights to)? This concerns me since I am a beginning attorney and very interested in the field of amateur rules and regulations...and if I get called upon I want to have the basic information before I go out and comb the field. ---------- Clark S. Turner "The Buddha, the Godhead, resides WA3JPG quite as comfortably in the circuits turner@ics.uci.edu of a digital computer or the gears ---------- of a cycle transmission as he does at the top of a mountain or in the petals of a flower." - Robt. Pirsig ---------- 714 856 2131 1514 Verano Pl., Irvine, CA. 92715 admitted to practice law in NY, MA, and CA. ---------- ------------------------------ End of Packet-Radio Digest ******************************