Xref: utzoo rec.ham-radio.packet:966 rec.ham-radio:4086 sci.electronics:2333
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att-cb!gwspc!n8emr!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!nrl-cmf!cmcl2!beta!hc!ames!sunybcs!trotter!bill
From: bill@trotter.usma.edu (Bill Gunshannon)
Newsgroups: rec.ham-radio.packet,rec.ham-radio,sci.electronics
Subject: Re: low power license free packet?
Message-ID: <1170@trotter.usma.edu>
Date: 25 Feb 88 13:52:29 GMT
References: <8802111609.AA16271@decwrl.dec.com> <440@n8emr.UUCP> <357@ge-rtp.GE.COM>
Organization: US Military Academy, West Point, NY
Lines: 43

In article <357@ge-rtp.GE.COM>, will@ge-rtp.GE.COM (Will Gwaltney) writes:
>                                                        Venom aside,
> Erik's advice is sound. Get an amateur license and REALLY start
> enjoying radio! I'm glad I did.
> 

I agree with the comments in this reply except for one. And this seems to be
the most prevalent idea every time the concept of license free packet is 
brought up.  Everyone immediately jumps in here and says "Get your HAM 
license".  Of course they are missing what is probably the biggest point in
the whole discussion.  The people asking for a Personal Digital Radio Service
don't want to be hams.  They have no interest in ham radio and probably the
most important idea being missed here is that what they want to use packet for
would be illegal over amateur radio.  Take a look at what is on the various
phone BBS's.  They are loaded with shareware, for sale ads, and advertisements
for various commercial products.  All things definitely out of place on amateur
radio.
One of the items always brought up when people try to justify the continued
existence of amateur radio is the idea of what we were originally chartered
to do.  And one of these is to develop new means of communication.  It now
seems like the majority of hams have decided we are developing this stuff for
our own personal use.
I believe it was hams who pioneerd such technological breakthrus like SSB,
FM, and REPEATERS.  These ideas have since proven their value in the commercial
world and are now considered just a part of the world we live in.  The time has
come for packet to take it's place in the world too.  There is no reason why,
in a few years, it can't be commonplace for there to be a packet box hooked up
to the PC in every house.  Maybe this is the technology it will take to finally
bring services like TELETEXT into the home.

Any comments on this diatribe will be accepted.
(I have my NOMEX underwear on  :-)

#include <std_disclaimer.h>

bill gunshannon


UUCP: {philabs}\		 	US SNAIL: Martin Marietta Data Systems 
      {phri   } >!trotter.usma.edu!bill           USMA, Bldg 600, Room 26 
      {sunybcs}/			          West Point, NY  10996	     
RADIO:         KB3YV		        PHONE: WORK    (914)446-7747
AX.25:         KB3YV @ K3RLI	        PHONE: HOME    (914)565-5256