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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2014-03-31 11:59, Tom Hayward wrote:<br>
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cite="mid:CAFXO5Z2YGnjDPtCHeoQD-mS=ZJ09RRODyFKkhrQmTiYmCPvXiw@mail.gmail.com"
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<pre wrap="">On Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 11:56 AM, Bill Vodall <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:wa7nwp@gmail.com"><wa7nwp@gmail.com></a> wrote:
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<pre wrap="">These were general discussions on repeaters where folks wanted to replace their home Internet access -- out with Comcast and in with HamWAN....
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Well, I'm glad they haven't shown up here yet. Those types of users don't really bring any value to HamWAN (nor would the majority of what they want to do be legal).
Tom KD7LXL
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No kidding! Which brings me to the subject of this message, and my
previously-"promised" message on HamWAN evangelization (now that my
taxes are done!).<br>
<br>
First of all, after discussing HamWAN with Scott Honaker in the
first two months of this year, I went to the Puyallup "Mike &
Key" show for the explicit purpose of checking out HamWAN. <b>It
wasn't easy</b>; after walking both floors, I returned to the
show management table and asked for the HamWAN table location.
After locating the table, I was surprised to a bunch of used stuff
for sale (just like all the other tables), a few flyers, and a
"funny looking" radio. Of course, having seen the radio that Scott
had, I knew what to expect, but for someone just roaming the aisles,
it was easy to miss what was there, even if someone had an interest
in data radios.<br>
<br>
When I exhibited at Puyallup several years ago, I was demonstrating
my own (free) D-Star radio and not selling anything. This got me a
whole table to myself for (I think) $15 in the "non-profit/club"
area, with plenty of room. Second, I had a physical radio
demonstration set up. It didn't do much, but it was something to
attract passers-by.<br>
<br>
If you are going to interest people in HamWAN, you've got to have a
better physical "presentation" of equipment. You're aiming at a
narrow-enough audience (those interested in digital data) as it is;
you've got to have something attracts interest, and as a result,
gets the message out that high-speed data is possible for a $200
investment. Don't try to sell anything; simply say that the web
site describes how to find the equipment. Have setup and working
equipment there (see below for my interest in portable demo
equipment).<br>
<br>
Second, have <b>pictures</b> on the HamWAN web site of the
radio/modem, and <b>especially</b> the antennas (with dimensions).
No one likes to click on a bunch of manufacturer links to get a
first impression of what a setup would look like. Even now I don't
know (because I haven't taken the time to drill down through the
various links and compare them) what alternative antennas are
available. That's even since I have some interest in buying two
more radios and setting them up for portable demos, with antennas
that are of manageable size for portable demos (diameter about one
foot). One can always explain that best results are with a bigger
antenna (a concept not unknown to amateur radio).<br>
<br>
Third, and perhaps the most important, develop some "use cases" and
document them to generate interest. As Tom pointed out above,
replacement of one's general-purpose ISP is not a <b>use</b> case.
Emergency communications, with clearly-described capabilities (both
now and in the future), would be useful. The ability to communicate
with a local DEM is a plus. Nowhere in the flyer does it mention
that the SnoCo DEM is a major node. That information is <b>very
helpful</b>, even if one is not interested in the SnoCo DEM,
because it shows that a local EOC has bought into the concept with <b>funding
and an established node</b>. This implies that it is less likely
for HamWAN to disappear if the leaders lose interest (like has
happened in Connecticut to another part of the 44.x.x.x network).
No one wants to be an orphan; document who is involved. List on
the web site who (with their permission) has a working setup. <b>Post
pictures of working sites (nodes and users)!</b> I know the list
is small now, but amateurs like to talk to other amateurs who have
taken the plunge. In this regard, push reading the mailing list
archives.<br>
<br>
-- Dean<br>
<br>
ps: Monday at 5pm my next-door neighbor removed some tree roots near
our common boundary, and cut through my Frontier fiber-optic cable.
At first I thought, you have HamWAN. Then, I realized that almost
everything I do over the Internet (except browsing) uses SSL:
eMail, filing my IRS tax return, updating my server database with
live D-Star usage data. A quick drive to the local Comcast office,
and I had high-speed Internet ($40/mo) access by 7pm. Yesterday
Frontier laid a temporary replacement fiber cable above ground (that
should get buried within two weeks), and I have normal fiber optic
service again. So, I now have three gateways to the Internet (four,
if I can ever connect to the K7LWH D-Star DD node). Yes, I'm
keeping the Comcast link.<br>
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