26 Oct
2004
26 Oct
'04
8:45 a.m.
Talk about off-topic: Us hams used to do a lot of passing programs around
by radio. Packet radio, loosely based on AX.25, is a 300 or 2400 baud,
error-check-and-retransmit protocol that is used for mail, bulletin
boards, and transfer of... ...darn near anything. Typically used VHF or
UHF on ham-only frequencies, e.g. 144 to 145 or something up in the 430
mHz area, popularity fell off quite a bit in recent years, until the
advent of APRS.
APRS is automatic position reporting reporting system, which is send using
packet radio. A small handheld radio, a GPS or GPD chip, and a packet
controller or controller chip, allows a public safety vehicle or event
vehicle's location is constantly updated on all maps monitored by event or
rescue coordinators.
FYI.
73 de N9QQB (Tom)
Hi,
julesrichardson said:
Was it this list where people were recently talking about receiving
software via the radio?
Apparently the UK service was called Basicode - I'm just slogging my way
through a pile of documentation donated to the museum to sort out the
useful stuff and stumbled across an apology letter from the BBC. Seems
they'd moved transmission from Radio 1 VHF to Radio 1 MW and they didn't
exactly tell people in advance :-)
The letter's dated 18th October 1984. Seems that the data was
transmitted as part of a radio programme called 'chip shop'.
Now, I'm certain I remember seeing a manual about Basicode; I just left
it in the pile at the museum that I'm yet to look through as it had
'basic' in the title and so didn't look immediately interesting :-) It
was with a Dragon 32 machine (which also came with a lot of software),
but whether any special hardware was needed I don't know.
I'm pretty sure I've got a cassette of the TRS-80 version plus manual
somehere. It's big thing was the same Basic program would run on any
of the machines for which they produced a Basicode interpreter.
--
Cheers,
Stan Barr stanb(a)dial.pipex.com
The future was never like this!