[CCF] [CQ-Contest] Original application of "spotting" network

[Jukka Klemola]

Historiaa niille keitä kiinnostaa.

ma 6. jouluk. 2021 klo 23.43 Kenneth Wolff (ken at k1ea) kirjoitti:
>
> In the late 80's I started experimenting with an ad hoc network of VHF
> digipeaters to pass multiplier announcements around New England. I worked
> with K1AJ, K1GQ, KB1H, K1TTT, K2TR and a few others, but it wasn't very
> reliable.
>
> Around the same time Dick, AK1A, was working on PacketCluster as a way to
> pass calls and QRGs more efficiently. His prototype was the first
> PacketCluster node, and soon he installed it at K1GQ, then K1EA. The intent
> was to use it in contests and regular day to day DXing. The K1EA node
> covered most of eastern Massachusetts and a lot of southern New Hampshire.
>
> In the early 90's I started selling my CT Logging program and used the
> revenue to install computers, VHF radios and PacketCluster around New
> England. Our "backbone" consisted of bleeding edge 9600 baud connections on
> 432, while 144 and 220 were for local users. I built it out as far as
> Eastern New York (K2EK), but failed when trying to get it connected into
> FRC territory.
>
> Dick sold many copies of PacketCluster to contest clubs and other groups.
> PacketCluster was the only communications that survived *Hurricane Iniki
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Iniki>* on Hawaii, September 11,
> 1992. At least, that's what the emcom managers told us later.
>
>  - Ken, K1EA
>
> On Mon, Dec 6, 2021 at 1:51 PM Douglas Zwiebel <dougzzz at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > To the best of my recollection....
> >
> > The original digital "spotting network"was done using 2m packet.  It was
> > making use of packet radio.  DXing had nothing to do with it.  It was ALL
> > contest driven.
> >
> > My understanding was that YCCC tried to develop an approach to increase the
> > mult count for W2PV.  I would like to think that our operation at K2GL
> > using the call N2AA was at least part of that motivation.  It might have
> > been in 1985.  Our best guess was that the idea was to feed mult to W2PV.
> >
> > It was very primitive.  At K2GL, we aimed a bunch of 2m boomers north to
> > intercept the traffic  originating from Mt Greylock.  It was a shaky
> > connection and we had to reconnect every couple of minutes.  We had one guy
> > (a WB2 whose call I do not remember) who sat at the 2m radio.  I don't
> > think we gained much, if anything.  It was interesting.
> >
> > But in December 1986, K2GL went SK and that was the end of that.
> >
> > Even later, it was still a concept for contesters who also liked to DX.
> > When others started to post spots, us original guys (snobs?) sould often
> > comment on "another useless spot."  Is that right AR?  LOL
> >
> > As for the above statements, YMMV
> >
> > de Doug KR2Q