2023-09-29 - Breaking News - Raspberry Pi 5 Announced, When I Get Something Wrong - New Packet Radio Data Rate and Channel Size, News from Packet Radio User’s Group
I would be interested in applying some of my time and energy in such endeavors (ARETF or ARSO). I'm sure there are others who might also be interested. How do we make that happen ?
John - Apologies for this late reply to your comment. I think that the way to get started about ARETF / ARSO is... to start. The problem I think that both ideas are trying to solve is that there's no easy / centralized method such as an index or a wiki for someone with a good idea to look and see if it's already been done... is there prior art? One recent example I've seen is that there are three independent implementations of using small, inexpensive microcontrollers as Packet Radio Modems, and as well-connected as I am, I keep finding additional implementations. Rounding all of those up in one place would be a good start. The steps to implementing ARETF / ARSO would be:
* Create a starting point - website, wiki, Wordpress, etc.
* Give it a reasonable lifespan - prepay hosting fees, etc. for at least a couple of years.
* Put a few reference standards up and ask for feedback.
* Try to form a group of likeminded folks.
* Find a group that has a 501(c)(3) that is willing to "pass through" funding should the group obtain a grant.
* Apply for an ARDC grant for funding, such as paying hosting fees for 5, maybe even as long as ten years.
* Lather, rinse, repeat.
Some example standards that need to be gathered:
* Open source AX.25 stacks - there are implementations in Linux, in JNOS, in Dire Wolf, in every APRS tracker, etc. Make those easy to find if you're creating something new that requires an AX.25 stack so you don't waste time re-inventing an AX.25 stack.
Lastly, while I think that ARETF / ARSO is a good idea and needed, I know myself and my limitations (bandwidth) that I cannot create such a project - the majority of my creative energies and time is now being consumed by Zero Retries. That said, I'd be happy to advise, and contribute (hey, look at this, yet ANOTHER open source AX.25 stack...).
John, Thanks VERY much for seriously considering implementing this idea. I think it's really needed in Amateur Radio now that much... MOST... of the technological innovation in Amateur Radio is now being done in the Software realm.
Late update:
Here's a perfect example of a good / needed use of ARETF / ARSO - Improved Layer 2 Protocol (IL2P) Forward Error Correction (FEC). It was originally implemented in the NinoTNC, was added into Dire Wolf Software TNC, and it will be used on the forthcoming MMDVM-TNC. The latter two are independent implementations (with some help from the author) made possible because of a well-written specification document. Amateur Radio data communications has long suffered from lack of Forward Error Correction, and now IL2P is available as open source, and we should make it as easy as possible to incorporate it in any new data communications system in Amateur Radio.
One more thing... The iPhone 15. Photography people have started plugging USB-C devices into the long-overdue port and discovering that pretty much anything that works with an iPad Pro/Mac will also work with the new iPhone. I attached an old USB-C dock and found that HDMI, Ethernet, SD card reader, and USB-A ports were all recognized. And I can confirm that my IC-9100 USB audio works, although I doubt the serial data and CAT control will show up without a driver. But at least it now exists.
This has always been a major pain point for hams who aren't using Android. It doesn't completely solve the iOS (and Apple ham radio software issues in general) but it gets us closer than we were. And without needing OTG adapters either!
Ready - Thanks for that info. I had long hoped that one's "phone" (AKA, one's pocket supercomputer) could be eventually good enough to be the primary computer device with the assistance of a dock. Interesting that we seem to be pretty close to "there" with the iPhone 15's USB-C connector. As far as I'm concerned, if I can display on an HDMI monitor, use a full size keyboard, and a trackpad (the Apple Magic Trackpad 2 really IS "magic" because it completely eliminates "mousing cramp" and is so much more intuitive pointing device)... that's about 75% of what I need in a computing device. I'm coming to rely more on the iPhone's Notes app as my primary idea repository, and it's not too bad for composing text that will eventually be used elsewhere, such as Zero Retries.
I invested in the iPhone 13 Pro Max a couple of years ago - my first top-of-the-line iPhone, and man, that little slab of electronics was pricey, but amazingly capable. It still blows my mind that I'm walking around with a Terabyte of storage in my hand / pocket. So it will be a bit before I'll get an iPhone with USB-C and be able to check that out... but by then, that capability should be mature and quite usable.
Speaking of iPhone being capable for Amateur Radio, a "soon" project for me is to check out using the new RadioMail app on iPhone, along with a TNC4 which will link to the iPhone with Bluetooth. Pretty cool!
I would be interested in applying some of my time and energy in such endeavors (ARETF or ARSO). I'm sure there are others who might also be interested. How do we make that happen ?
John - Apologies for this late reply to your comment. I think that the way to get started about ARETF / ARSO is... to start. The problem I think that both ideas are trying to solve is that there's no easy / centralized method such as an index or a wiki for someone with a good idea to look and see if it's already been done... is there prior art? One recent example I've seen is that there are three independent implementations of using small, inexpensive microcontrollers as Packet Radio Modems, and as well-connected as I am, I keep finding additional implementations. Rounding all of those up in one place would be a good start. The steps to implementing ARETF / ARSO would be:
* Create a starting point - website, wiki, Wordpress, etc.
* Give it a reasonable lifespan - prepay hosting fees, etc. for at least a couple of years.
* Put a few reference standards up and ask for feedback.
* Try to form a group of likeminded folks.
* Find a group that has a 501(c)(3) that is willing to "pass through" funding should the group obtain a grant.
* Apply for an ARDC grant for funding, such as paying hosting fees for 5, maybe even as long as ten years.
* Lather, rinse, repeat.
Some example standards that need to be gathered:
* Open source AX.25 stacks - there are implementations in Linux, in JNOS, in Dire Wolf, in every APRS tracker, etc. Make those easy to find if you're creating something new that requires an AX.25 stack so you don't waste time re-inventing an AX.25 stack.
Lastly, while I think that ARETF / ARSO is a good idea and needed, I know myself and my limitations (bandwidth) that I cannot create such a project - the majority of my creative energies and time is now being consumed by Zero Retries. That said, I'd be happy to advise, and contribute (hey, look at this, yet ANOTHER open source AX.25 stack...).
John, Thanks VERY much for seriously considering implementing this idea. I think it's really needed in Amateur Radio now that much... MOST... of the technological innovation in Amateur Radio is now being done in the Software realm.
Late update:
Here's a perfect example of a good / needed use of ARETF / ARSO - Improved Layer 2 Protocol (IL2P) Forward Error Correction (FEC). It was originally implemented in the NinoTNC, was added into Dire Wolf Software TNC, and it will be used on the forthcoming MMDVM-TNC. The latter two are independent implementations (with some help from the author) made possible because of a well-written specification document. Amateur Radio data communications has long suffered from lack of Forward Error Correction, and now IL2P is available as open source, and we should make it as easy as possible to incorporate it in any new data communications system in Amateur Radio.
One more thing... The iPhone 15. Photography people have started plugging USB-C devices into the long-overdue port and discovering that pretty much anything that works with an iPad Pro/Mac will also work with the new iPhone. I attached an old USB-C dock and found that HDMI, Ethernet, SD card reader, and USB-A ports were all recognized. And I can confirm that my IC-9100 USB audio works, although I doubt the serial data and CAT control will show up without a driver. But at least it now exists.
This has always been a major pain point for hams who aren't using Android. It doesn't completely solve the iOS (and Apple ham radio software issues in general) but it gets us closer than we were. And without needing OTG adapters either!
Ready - Thanks for that info. I had long hoped that one's "phone" (AKA, one's pocket supercomputer) could be eventually good enough to be the primary computer device with the assistance of a dock. Interesting that we seem to be pretty close to "there" with the iPhone 15's USB-C connector. As far as I'm concerned, if I can display on an HDMI monitor, use a full size keyboard, and a trackpad (the Apple Magic Trackpad 2 really IS "magic" because it completely eliminates "mousing cramp" and is so much more intuitive pointing device)... that's about 75% of what I need in a computing device. I'm coming to rely more on the iPhone's Notes app as my primary idea repository, and it's not too bad for composing text that will eventually be used elsewhere, such as Zero Retries.
I invested in the iPhone 13 Pro Max a couple of years ago - my first top-of-the-line iPhone, and man, that little slab of electronics was pricey, but amazingly capable. It still blows my mind that I'm walking around with a Terabyte of storage in my hand / pocket. So it will be a bit before I'll get an iPhone with USB-C and be able to check that out... but by then, that capability should be mature and quite usable.
Speaking of iPhone being capable for Amateur Radio, a "soon" project for me is to check out using the new RadioMail app on iPhone, along with a TNC4 which will link to the iPhone with Bluetooth. Pretty cool!