Internet is better than Packet Radio

The Internet was originally set up to provide a means of computer communications between Universities, to exchange and disseminate information to other like-minded people.

Roger Cooke - G3LDI

It has expanded exponentially on the original network, new users coming on-line every day. This has been helped along by the hype of the media, encouraging people to join in this hi-tech revolution. All sorts of information exists from science to gardening, Home pages to advertising, private mail to banking. There is even the sordid side which has also made news in the media. I am referring to the sick individuals who are perverse enough to make available pornography for other sick individuals.

All this is available at a cost to the individual. These vary of course, depending on the provider that one signs up with, and can range from £7 to £11 per month. On top of this is the telephone bill. There is no such thing as a free lunch, and once an individual gets hooked on downloading files and sending mail etc., this can be a very large bill! Estimating this on the figures I have given, this could come to as much as £200 per year, even more if a lot of time is spent on the telephone!

Packet Radio was originally set up to provide a means of computer communications, and a means of disseminating and exchanging information to other like-minded individual amateur RADIO operators. Sound familiar so far?? Packet has also expanded exponentially, comparing it to what it was ten years ago, new users coming on-line every day.

All sorts of information exists, in the form of bulletins, files, the Library section, the Teletext section, not to mention the various servers that exist. Mail can be sent to any part of the world, via an ad hoc network, HF links or Satellite Gateways, using UO-22, a low earth orbiter. There are two such Gateways in the UK, GB7LAN, and GB7LDI, each handling different traffic. There are Conference Bridges, Chat nodes, direct connects, DX Clusters and much more.

All this is available at virtually NO cost to the individual. However, as I have said, there is no such thing as a free lunch. It does cost a lot to run the Network, the BBS, the Satellite Gateways, and we are developing the network all the time. High-speed links are coming on-line, high-speed ports are becoming available, so we are trying to maintain a useful network.

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I do get very upset when I hear amateurs denigrating the packet network, only to say they use the Internet. There is a place for both, and they are indeed interconnected in a gray sort of way, BUT, if only the amateurs would support the network with a tenth of what they spend on the Internet, it could be that much better. Anybody can hook up to the telephone network, but to do it via radio takes a whole lot more dedication.

If you are not already active on packet, try it, you might like it. I am certain you would find something of interest there. We also need you to join the local AX25 Group, support the amateur radio network, and join in the fun. Come to the annual BBQ at G3LDI QTHR and be sociable at a local social event. It's a fun and relaxed day! Look forward to seeing you!