Re: AX25 write up anywhere?

[Ray Wells <vk2tv@exemail.com.au>]

Terry Dawson wrote:
> On 1/05/2010 9:49 PM, Ray Wells wrote:
>> With the greatest respect to Jeff Trantor and the previous author of the
>> ax25 howto, Terry Dawson (a fellow vk2), I've always found the official
>> document to be of limited value. The principal problem is currency of
>> the document in a changing environment.
>
> I haven't looked at the AX.25 HOWTO since I handed it over to Jeff in 
> 2000. Indeed, I'd pretty much left amateur radio about that time. I'm 
> getting back into it somewhat again now.
>
> Is packet still popularly used with Linux? Things seem very quiet in 
> Sydney, hard to find a packet radio signal at all, let alone anyone 
> using Linux.
>
> Has there been much demand for the HOWTO? If there has I might 
> consider updating it again.
>
> Terry
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Terry,

Nice to see you back on deck.

The packet network has greatly diminished in size over the last ten 
years, with many (most) nodes (of all flavours) and bbs's having 
disappeared. There was never a lot of Linux users in vk.

However, packet is still surviving in UI mode courtesy of APRS, and 
nodes are springing up everywhere. Programs such as xastir, which is 
Linux based, are ensuring a future need for ax25 under Linux. With many 
operators opting for soundmodem, the need for a howto is still current, 
IMHO.

Getting back to packet, there is still a world-wide Netrom network and, 
both Rose and Flexnet are in use in small(ish) pockets around the world. 
The fpac implementation of Rose for Linux by F6FBB, and now maintained 
by Bernard, F6BVP, is really excellent and new nodes are appearing in 
the US and Australia, among other places.

I've been using Linux for packet since John Tanner, VK2ZXQ, introduced 
me to it (Linux) in 1992/3, and I still use it today because it lets me 
do things Windows has never let me do - in AR.

I'm happy to converse privately if you want more local information.

Ray vk2tv