Michigan Section Packet Network Status Report By: Jay Nugent WB8TKL WB8TKL@ARRL.NET as of January 2005 12/6/2018

Four Major Topics: What is the current status of our Packet Networks? Maps, anyone? How are we progressing? Are we on the right course? What are the pitfalls? Who do I get to build this thing? Where do I learn how to use it? When will the job be done? Our “ToDo” List 12/6/2018

What is the current status of our Packet Networks? Maps, anyone? We only know about what each County or District *shares* with the rest of us. So SHARE! Please submit all Moves, Adds, Changes, to the MEDN mailing list for inclusion in a “Master” database. From this data anyone may develop their own Network Topology Maps. The “Maps”….. 12/6/2018

MEDN Michigan Emergency Digital Network Based on MSYS full service BBS’s Operate on 145.76 MHz FBB-style packet mail forwarding *Can* be given IP addresses to become “Hosts” off an IP backbone 12/6/2018

How are we progressing. Are we on the right course How are we progressing? Are we on the right course? What are the pitfalls? Progress is good, albeit slow. We are approaching *critical mass* as more and more stations get on the air and are joining in the “Packet RE-Revolution!” Many folks still are not deploying due to lack of training, complicated by having no “standards” to follow. They don’t know where to begin. We have (re)learned that a single statewide frequency is not scalable. Folks want to know what freqs they should or can use. Some consistency is needed in the assignment of SSID’s (such as no SSID for Home stations, -4 for nodes, -10 for WL2K, etc.) What should we use? AX.25, TCP/IP, NetROM, Digis, xNOS, MSYS, WinLink, ROSE, etc… 12/6/2018

AX.25 – The protocol that EVERYBODY can speak! TCP/IP – The INTERNET protocol suite (Telnet, SMTP, POP, FTP, Finger, ICMP/Ping/Traceroute, HTTP, etc.) Digipeaters – Always good when nothing else is available (but watch for the hidden transmitter problem!) MSYS – MEDN Network has many deployments. Full service BBS with automatic FBB ‘packet’ mail forwarding (not SMTP) xNOS / Hamgate – Uses AX.25 & TCP/IP. IP routing with full service BBS with automatic FBB forwarding as well as SMTP mail services (alias lists, rewrite support, etc.). NOS is the Swiss Army Knife of packet! WinLink 2000 – SMTP only (and nothing else) NetROM – Supported on any TNC-2 “clone”, xNOS, and many BBS programs like MSYS Etc… 12/6/2018

Everything that speaks TCP/IP, work together Everything that speaks NetROM, work with other NetROM nodes as well as with xNOS WinLink *can* speak over TCP/IP MSYS can act as a TCP/IP “Host” Must I use WinLink? No. That is one of the many choices each individual county must make. Base your network design on what serves YOUR community best. WL2K is a “recommendation” by ARRL ARESCOMM. Do I need Pactor? Only if you are going to pass traffic over HF to other Pactor equipped stations. (SCS is the *only* source of P2 and P3 modems) Should we use the Internet? Certainly! Use whatever resources get the job done. If there are no Terrestrial RF paths to your destination, or you need gobs of bandwidth (i.e. to move huge JPG images) use of the Internet is a good choice. Internet survivability is excellent. 12/6/2018

Who do I get to build this thing. Where do I learn how to use it Who do I get to build this thing? Where do I learn how to use it? When will the job be done? “If you built it, they will come”. You will need to build *something* to attract interest. More people means more available resources (time, money, manpower). Google for Packet related websites and tutorials. Ask questions on the MEDN-HAM Yahoo list. Ask others to come in and do “Packet Training Seminars”. It will NEVER be done! REMEMBER: It’s your equipment, your time, your skills, and your money – Built what YOU understand and what YOU can support. 12/6/2018

Our “ToDo” List: Begin using LAYERED network topologies (multi-freq) Each County use its own Local Access Frequency Establish Gateway Nodes between neighboring networks Establish reusable backbone frequencies and setup links using directional antennas wherever possible Develop and use an SSID assignment “standard” SHARE your network topology maps with others! We need a Frequency Coordination body now! Each District needs to assign Packet Representative(s) to the Digital Committee Section Digital Committee needs to meet ASAP! 12/6/2018