Back in the day, more precisely the 1960's Amateur Radio Operators provided a valuable service during the Vietnam war. By coupling the local phone system to their transceivers Hams were able to allow American soldiers "free" phone calls home. Usually, you needed the help of an operator in your own state as interstate trunk calls were expensive, but...
For generations the ARRL has overseen NTS. This national system says in Its documentation "to handle written traffic and participate in directed nets." Reading more of the official documentation, it was difficult for me to get a clear understanding of their charter or administration process. There is a well-developed operating procedures and rules....
What would you use a national digital network for when there was not an emergency? It makes no sense to develop such a complex challenging project just to leave it sitting waiting for its ultimate test. For context, let's consider the lonely UPS powering your computer system. For months it sits apparently powering your electronics, then suddenly no...
Well, like many similar ventures, I want to change the way things are. I am a seasoned professional engineer who has spent his adult life working for large corporations inventing and improving stuff. That all started because at the tender age of 14 years old I met a Radio Amateur who went on to inspire me and develop my gift of being able to unders...