Radio Interface

Linux of course has full radio modem support (AX.25 its called) so after the pole shift we can get an internet working again without having to run hundreds of miles of new fiber. Great!

Offered by Rob.

To quote from the web page by Bruce Perens:

But, why use an operating system that only a nerd could love? ... it's the best platform for developing the kinds of software that Radio Amateurs need.

I certainly agree, but I disagree with the statement: "it's the best platform for developing the kinds of software that Radio Amateurs need." The two main things going for it are that it's cheap (or free) and there is all sorts of software for it, especially for various aspects of the internet.

As far as ham radio goes, everything the article says about Linux is also true for any other software platform for the internet. The key is that ham radio uses virtually the same packet communications protocol as does the internet (ham radio's AX2.5, commercial X2.5, and TCP/IP are virtually the same thing). In other words, I believe that a Windows NT WWW server can be configured to use the AX.25 protocol (and has probably already been so modified and those modifications are available free from ham web sites). The internet is already available over the air and has been for several years. You just have to find it with some web surfing.

Offered by Ron.
WB5KAN