Linux-Hams archive - April 1998: Re: QST content (was: Announcement: TCP/IP over Morse driver
Re: QST content (was: Announcement: TCP/IP over Morse driver
Charles Greene (knpkp@weatherford.com)
Sun, 05 Apr 1998 19:14:00 -0400
At 07:44 PM 4/4/98 +0000, Mike Bilow wrote:
>
>ARRL has fairly solid survey data which lets them know what percentage of
their
>readers have computers, how many of them use computers in the shack, and
so on.
> This information is critical to their ability to sell advertising, and it
>allows them to tailor the content so that it is of interest to the general
>population of readers.
>
>There are also many elements of QST which are there not because they are
widely
>read, but rather because the small number of readers who do read them are
>extremely vocal or fanatical, such as the DX or contest sections, or because
>the editors feel that certain things should be published whether anyone reads
>them or not, such as the board of directors minutes and the section activity
>reports.
>
>There has been a focus on using computers, but it is also probably unwise for
>QST to take on a subject far afield from their established strengths. There
>are dozens of publications already catering to computer users, and hams
can and
>do buy those. There are more magazines catering specifically to Linux users
>than to ham radio operators!
>
>My opinion is that Linux should make appearances in QST in connection with
>useful applications, but it should not be oversold. The average QST reader
>could be convinced to try Linux in order to use its superior networking and
>packet radio capabilities, but Linux really is not practical unless you are
>willing to devote a machine to it. Most people who have computers need them
>for things which cannot be easily satisified with Linux alone.
>
>I do think that Linux has a natural tie-in with the ham radio ethos of
>homebrewing, and every ham to this day feels just a bit guilty when he buys
>something that he could have made. A computer operating system that comes
with
>full source code is really the modern equivalent of winding your own coils
and
>drilling your own chassis. Sure, most Linux users don't actually write new
>pieces of the kernel, but even in the 1930s most hams didn't build their own
>vacuum tubes.
>
>-- Mike, N1BEE
What you say about QST and computers is true, but the problem with LINUX is
the lack of ham applications. Take my case, for example: I use some
programs that conrol my HF rig and log DX, and I have some satellite
programs that track the birds, point the antenna and tune the rig. Of
course, I can use TNOS or LINUX for TCP/IP, but how about those other
programs I paid good money for? I can't replace them with LINUX programs,
yet. So what does one do? In my case, I end up wih one LINUX machine
running TCP/IP and one Win95 machine (or OS2 machine) with Windows/DOS
programs for the rest.
What we need is a concerted effort to port some of the good commercial Ham
applications to LINUX, Logic 5 for example. Also we need a central site
for downloading free/shareware, and references to those commercial aps
which have been ported to LINUX. Any suggestions on how to do this?
73's
Chas, w1cg
-------------
RI TCPIP Address Coordinator
E-Mail yehsmhi.nxzw@inner.net
gsn.ujwr@relay.tunkki.fi
-------------