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>Subject: Gateway Vol. 1 No. 16

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C2977 CC4 JEFF WARD (ARRL,2977) 4/10/85 9:14 PM L:416

KEYS:/GATEWAY/VOLUME 1/NUMBER 16/MARCH 26/1985/

Gateway: The ARRL Packet-Radio Newsletter

Volume 1, Number 16

March 26, 1985

Electronic Edition

SPECIAL ISSUE

This issue of Gateway is tailored to provide information to those

attending the West Coast Computer Faire and the Fourth Amateur

Radio Computer Networking Conference. We have attempted to

provide an overview of packet-radio activity in the United States

and a fairly complete list of U.S. packet-radio clubs.

PACKET RADIO IN 1985

The past year has seen packet radio grow from a few hundred

isolated stations into a few dozen tentatively-connected local-

area networks (LANs). There are now between 2,000 and 3,000

packet-radio terminal node controllers (TNCs) operating on the

amateur bands. The following list of clubs gives a fair idea of

where the activity is concentrated: The San Francisco Bay area

and the Los Angeles basin are the hotspots of "WESTNET" activity.

These two centers are linked by a string of mountaintop

repeaters. In the Northwest, there are organized groups pushing

packet radio from Vancouver, BC toward Northern California.

There are two paths taking shape from West to East: Arizona - New

Mexico - Texas - Arkansas, and Utah - Colorado - Nebraska - Iowa

- - Illinois. The Chicago-area has recently produced a 9600-bit/s

modem (designed by Steve Good, K9NG) and promises to be a center

of network development. The east coast from Washington, D.C. to

Boston is tenouosly linked, and there are many areas of high

activity along this "EASTNET." In the south, Florida has the

largest packet-radio population, and Alabama and Georgia are

beginning to come on-the-air. Terminal node controllers have

been sold in every state in the U.S. and in several overseas

countries.

The U.S. is being covered by LANs, and the next leap for amateur

packet radio will be to link these LANs using a "network-layer

protocol." Many LANs are already linked in a store-and-forward

mail network designed by Hank Oredson, W0RLI. Hank's MailBox

software, running at dozens of sites throughout the world,

forwards a message from one node to another, until the message

reaches its destination. This taste of networking is driving

several software and hardware teams in the development of real-

time networking equipment.

If you are excited by the idea of an amateur data network, or if

you have some use for such a network (emergency traffic, weather

networking, message handling, etc.) contact a packet-radio group

and join the fun.

Jeff Ward, K8KA, Editor.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

o The Amateur Radio Research and Development Corp. is a group

interested in advanced amateur-radio techniques. Members of

AMRAD have been responsible for many advances in packet radio.

AMRAD

P.O. Drawer 6148

McLean, VA 22106-6148

o The Amateur Radio Satellite Corp. has ongoing interest in the

development of amateur packet-radio standards, and they are

currently involved in the construction of PACSAT, a packet-radio

satellite.

AMSAT 850 Sligo #601

Silver Spring MD 20910

301-589-6062

o The Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Corp. (TAPR) is best known

for the TNC kit that it designed, tested and markets. With the

TNC now being produced by two commercial companies, TAPR

continues to be instrumental in packet-radio development.

Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR)

P.O. Box 22888

Tucson, AZ 85734-2888

ALABAMA

In the Huntsville area, contact:

Frank Emens, W4HFU

3714 Lakewood Circle

Huntsville, AL 35811.

Near Birmingham:

Henry Wingate, K4HAL

104 Von Dale Drive

Birmingham, AL 35215

ARKANSAS

Elmer Wingfield, W5FD

26 Belmont Drive

Little Rock, AR 72204

CALIFORNIA

o Recently, the Sacramento Packet Group (SACPAC) became a

special interest group under the Sacramento Amateur Radio Club,

Incorporated. This club, W6AK, is the area's oldest ham club.

While Sacramento packet stations are able to get into the San

Francisco Bay Area with moderate success, plans are to install a

high-level digipeater in the Sierra Nevada this year which will

allow for more reliable links into the Bay area and down the

Coast Range. Even better, the digipeater is planned to be a major

node in the proposed Central Valley chain which will provide

North-South path through the center of the state. SACPAC is also

working on a W0RLI MailBox in Sacramento which should be

functioning on 145.09 MHz by early summer. SACPAC is coordinating

with PPRS to ensure that operating parameters remain standardized

not only between these groups, but also within the rapidly

expanding group of newcomers to packet radio in this area. All

local operations are on 145.01 and 145.03 MHz.

The Sacramento County Office of Emergency Operations plans to

have a TNC installed by the end of this summer and is

coordinating with the State Office of Emergency Services to

establish links and work out details for use of packet systems in

emergency and disaster situations. The plan is to have packet

"teams" within the County's newly-revitalized RACES program and

ARES. The teams would set up communications at appropriate sites

during drills and actual emergencies. A good framework should be

developed over the next year to accomodate the projected growth

in this emergency network.

o LAPG is the local Los Angeles packet-radio club. LAPG runs

a voice net every Monday night at 8:00 PM local time on 145.36

MHz simplex. Meetings are on the last Saturday of every month

near the TRW swap meet.

Los Angeles Area Packet Group (LAPG)

P.O. Box 6026

Mission Hills, CA 91345

o The Southern California Digital Coordination Council (SCDCC)

is an organization formed by the packet radio operators in

Southern California to serve as a central point for

communications between packet users and other amateur groups. It

also serves as a clearing house for information on local packet

activity. Membership is open to anyone; packet radio users are

encouraged to join. SCDCC has a technical committee to help

track and promote the rational growth of packet radio equipment,

repeaters, gateways and protocols on frequencies assigned to

packet radio.

SCDCC serves all of Southern California and has members in San

Diego, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Lancaster, Lompoc,

and other areas.

SCDCC

P.O. Box 6026

Mission Hills, CA 91345

o The Pacific Packet Radio Society was one of the first North

American packet-radio clubs. PPRS serves the San Francisco Bay

area, and is the co-sponsor of the Fourth Amateur Radio Computer

Networking Conference.

Pacific Packet Radio Society

P. O. Box 51562

Palo Alto, CA 94303

o There is also a packet-radio club in San Diego.

San Diego Packet Group (SDPG)

c/o Mike Brock, WB6HHV

10230 Mayor Circle

San Diego, CA 92126

COLORADO

Rocky Mountain Packet Radio Association

% Andy Freeborn, N0CCZ, Secretary

5222 Borrego Drive

Colorado Springs, CO

(303) 598-8373

FLORIDA

The Florida Amateur Digital Communications Association is an

organization interested in digital communication techniques such

as packet radio. Since its founding in 1983, FADCA has grown to

be one of the major regional packet organizations in the nation.

FADCA members are from Florida, Georgia, and many other states.

FADCA provides a structure for planning orderly growth of packet

networking, and has been designated as the agent of the Florida

Repeater Council for administering packet frequencies and

repeater sites. FADCA's newsletter, the BEACON, provides

technical information and operating news to over 250 persons each

month. FADCA is the coordinator of the SOUTHNET packet network

which is rapidly expanding from Florida through the entire

Southeast.

Florida Amateur Digital Communications Association (FADCA)

812 Childers Loop, Brandon, FL 33511

(813) 689-3355

GEORGIA

Georgia Radio Amateur Packet Enthusiast Society

GRAPES

P.O. Box 1354

Conyers, GA 30207

Southern Amateur Packet Society (SAPS)

c/o Wayne Harrell, WD4LYV

RT 1 Box 185

Sycamore, GA 31790

ILLINOIS

Chicago Amateur Packet Radio Assn. (CAPRA)

P.O. Box 8251

Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

St. Louis Area Packet Radio

9926 Lewis & Clark

St. Louis, MO 63136

IOWA

The Central Iowa Technical Society has helped build a widespread

packet network throughout Iowa.

Central Iowa Technical Society

c/o Ralph Wallio, W0RPK

RR 4

Indianola, IA 50125

KANSAS

John Anderson III, WB0SKL

305 Brittany

Olathe, KS 66061

MASSACHUSETTS

New England Packet Radio Assn. (NEPRA)

P.O. Box 15

Bedford, MA 01730

MICHIGAN

Eastern Packet Radio Of Michigan (EPROM)

c/o J. Nugent, WB8TKL

307 Ross Dr.

Monroe, MI 48161

MINNESOTA

MAPR hosts a Tuesday-evening voice net on 146.04/64 MHz at 7:45

PM. Packet operation is on 145.010 MHz with additional channels

on 145.3, 145.5, 145.7, and 145.9 MHz.

Minnesota Amateur Packet Radio (MAPR)

C/O Pat Snyder, WA0TTW

565 Redwood Lane

New Brighton, MN 55112

NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT

Mt. Ascutney Amateur Packet Radio Association

c/o Carl Breuning, N1CB

54 Myrtle St.

Newport, NH 03773

NEW JERSEY

o The Radio Amateur Telecommunications Society provides

support to amateurs engaging in packet activities. The group's

activities include a packet software library and development of a

cross-state trunking system to be incorporated into EASTNET. A

directory of active amateur packet stations and facilities has

been compiled and is available. Standards documents are kept in

club files and may be distributed upon request. RATS is

developing an interface between the private teleconference DR NET

and the EASTNET packet-radio network. This interface should be

operating soon.

In Northern New Jersey/New York City:

The Radio Amateur Telecommunications Society (RATS-NORTH)

c/o J. Gordon Beattie, Jr. N2DSY

206 North Vivyen St.

Bergenfield, NJ 07621

(201) 387-8896

In South Jersey:

The Radio Amateur Telecommunications Society

(RATS-SOUTH)

c/o Brian B. Riley, KA2BQE

RD 2 Burnt House Rd.

Indian Mills, NJ 08088

RATS BBS Tel: 609-268-9597 (300 baud)

o The Cherryville Repeater Association is also active in

packet radio in New Jersey. Their main concerns are public

service and 220-MHz linking. They maintain a series of linked

220-MHz duplex repeaters that are used for voice and packet.

Cherryville Repeater Association

Box 308

Quakertown, NJ 08868

NEW YORK

Rochester Packet Group

c/o Fred Cupp, W2DUC

27 Crescent Rd.

Fairport, NY 14450

o New York City:

Packet Of New York (PONY)

c/o Bill Schimoler

42-15 172 St

Flushing, NY 11358

o Hudson Valley:

The Mount Beacon Amateur Radio Club supports an active packet-

radio group. They are now turning their attention and resources

to 220-MHz network links.

Mt. Beacon Amateur Radio Club

P.O. Box 841

Wappingers Falls, NY 12590

OHIO

Cincinatti Amateur Packet Radio Experimenters Society (CAPRES)

c/o John Schroer-IV, KA8GRH

984 Halesworth Dr.

Forest Park, OH 45240

Cleveland Area:

Maynard Weston, W8MW

4564 Park Edge Dr.

Fairview Park, OH 44126

TENNESEE

Tennesee packet activity is centered in Memphis, on 145.01 MHz.

Contact:

John Burningham, WB8PUF

Memphis State University

Dept. of Engineering, Technology

Memphis, TN 38152

TEXAS

Dave Cheek, WA5MWD

1510 Treavis St.

Garland, TX 75042

UTAH

UPRA has a voice net on Tuesday evenings, at 8:45 PM, on

146.02/62 MHz.

Utah Packet Radio Association (UPRA)

4382 Cherryview Drive

West Valley City, Utah 84120

WASHINGTON

Northwest Amateur Packet Radio Association (NAPRA)

c/o John Gates, N7BTI

750 Northstream Ln.

Edmonds, WA 98020

TRENTON PACKET FORUM

There will be a packet radio meeting at the Trenton (New Jersey)

Computer Fest on Saturday, April 20 (note the change -- some of

the earlier publicity had indicated Sunday). The Mid-Atlantic

Packet Radio Council (MAPRC) is sponsoring the packet sessions

and the organizers are Harold Winard, KB2M and Jon Pierce,

WB2MNF. There will be a panel of experts to answer questions

about packet radio and presentations by representatives of

various EASTNET LANs.

INTERNATIONAL PACKET ACTIVITY

Although this report and list were biased toward U.S. packet

activity, there is considerable activity in Canada and overseas.

Japan, the U.K., New Zealand, Australia, Germany and Sweden all

have packet radio activity. Canadian activity-centers include

Hamilton, ON; Vancouver, BC; Toronto, ON; and Ottowa, ON. Back

issues of Gateway provide more information on international

activity.

REPRODUCTION OF GATEWAY MATERIAL

Material may be exerpted from Gateway without prior permission,

provided that the original contributor is credited and Gateway is

identified as the source.

Gateway is published by:

The American Radio Relay League

225 Main Street

Newington, CT 06111

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