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Path: utzoo!utgpu!utcsri!utegc!utai!ubc-vision!alberta!auvax!tech
From: tech@auvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: can.general
Subject: Re: A Canadian Unix Network?
Message-ID: <292@auvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Aug-87 15:00:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: auvax.292
Posted: Tue Aug 11 15:00:28 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Aug-87 05:49:04 EDT
References: <1987Aug4.235121.22896@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu>
Distribution: can
Organization: Athabasca U., Alberta, Canada
Lines: 44
Summary: lets talk about packet radio

> Other topics were also suggested, such as  variants  of  Stargate  and
> packet  radio.   The premise that Stargate was developed upon was that

> 			 	Taras Pryjma 
> 				uucp: taras@gpu.utcs

In addition to the flakiness of packet radio comes the question, what medium
will you use to send it?

Most packet radio work is being done by amateur radio operators who are making
great strides forward - the present technology among the technical elite is
tcp/ip on IBM-PC's using vhf multihop networks and some satelite work.  Using
high technical skill and the willingness to adapt obselete surplus equipment
one could set up a tcp/ip packet radio site on 2 metres for under a thousand
dollars easily - but computer professionals might be unwilling to do
this because they are afraid to face the words obselete, surplus, and
(gasp!) the dreaded vacuum tube.  Sorry, I couldn't resist a snarky remark.

The real problem is more serious.  The ITU, DOC, FCC, various GPO regulations
state specifically that amateur radio can only be used for non-commercial
purposes so somebody has to export the technology and the common carriers
aren't the place to go - they have a monopoly and they expect to be paid very
well.

The General Radio Service regulations (CB to you Americans) used to state
that the service could not be used for trivial purposes - it was intended
to provide cheap radio communications for small businesses, farms, etc. and
personal communications for individuals (which means telling the wife to
get the oil changed on the way home etc).  Therefore if you were forming a
non-profit, non-public network among cooperating instiutions and corporations
for the exchange of non confidential information (like usenet) you might
be able to justify it.  I can't imagine using 27Mhz (56000 baud would be a
real bear) but there is a chicken band up in 400 Mhz region some where which
would be appropriate.

I am not recommending this approach, I am just suggesting that packet radio
is a possibility.

     *********	    73
    **********	    Richard Loken VE6BSV
   .      ****	    
  ..      ****	    Athabasca University
 ....     ****	    Athabasca, Alberta Canada
..........****	    ihnp4!alberta!auvax