Actually, the only concern I'd have about this is that places amateur radio interdependencies on the public telecom network - something we're supposed to not depend upon as part of our public service mission.
The IRLP is a value-added, fun feature, it is not meant to take away from the public service mission of amateur radio. Our repeater can still run as an independent node without all this high tech com-pew-tur wish-wash.
In fact, in two weeks our node will be offline as we use our repeater to help with an upcoming public service event.
Though I guess one of these days we really should get those backup batterys installed.... =)
It doesn't have to be an overly high speed connection, I believe our connection at master node is via a wireless (900MHz) network card from the University of British Columbia Student Union building to to our club room, then another wireless connection from the club room to the top of the Gage residence tower.
Some nodes run off cable or ADSL connections, which are usually slower then a T1. We're not streaming cd quality mp3s here!
Yes, the IRLP has been a great project to watch grow over the years. I'm a member (and currently the outgoing president) of the amateur club which is the home of the IRLP and have had the privilage to watch Dave work long and hard over the past few years to grow the IRLP from a system of about 3 nodes to what it is today.
Any hams out there with a repeater and a high speed connection I suggest you investigate joining up. It's brought all kinds of life to our repeater.
This might be slightly off exactly what's being asked for, but one data visualization product that's now on the market is called VisualNet (http://antarcti.ca). It's designed to help users navigate large stores of information in a more meaningful manner.
The other cool thing about it is the protocols and data formats it uses to transfer information in both it's 2D and 3D mode are publically available. The idea is in the same way Palms are popular because anyone can develop for them, that's the goal with this product.
In fact, the 3D client is Open Source!
I hope this might be some where close to the kind of tool you're looking for.
Complaining about bugs is bogus because Sun's own VM was in MUCH worse shape. Netscape's VM always was a joke and still is (the one bundled with the 4.x series browsers).
Funny, I wrote (well, borrow and modified, keeping the new version under the GPL!) a nice irc client in Java and it ran BEAUTIFULLY in netscape, not a single problem. However when I tried to run it in IE, it crashed the computer. I finally tracked it down to a bug in MS' implimentation of listboxes (a deadlock condition), something they fixed in a later release. However forcing our users to dl and install a new VM just to use our chat functionality was obviously not acceptable.
I wasted many hours tracking down this bug and trying to create a kluge work-around which just slowed down the entire applet (how much did ms' bug cost our company in development time?). So I have zero respect for MS' VM.
However my post was more related to how the ms exec side-stepped the question, he can't even give an honest, complete answer. However, what did we expect?
It's been a long time since I've seen such double talk, this guy should be in politics!
One question explicitly asked about MS' dealing with issues such as Kerberos and Java, and how MS basically broke those standards (don't deny it, they fucked those standards so far up the ass they could taste it), and what do we get, double talk about 'intellectual property'.
Java (using one of those two refered to) was VERY well defined, and there are many good implimentations. What was 'incomplete' about this standard which forced them to break it. And not only do they modify the standard, but they can't even impliment it correctly without a discusting number of bugs.
You really expected MS to be honest and complete with their answers? When I first say the call for questions up, I dismissed it knowing the amount of spin doctoring which would be done would make all answers worthless.
We are the enemy, the only reason they bothered to do this is to try to gain our trust (ha! like that'll ever happen) and throw us off balance. Anyone who buys the bullshit they just spewed or think these answers are at all complete is a total moron.
Intelectual property my ass, if they were so concerned with interoperability they'd publish these standards which they've extended. No one said they'd have to publish the source code, but at least TELL US how you changed the standard and maybe, we might embrase your modification.
When I submitted that comment my query was on the value people were getting for their dollar. Not "how far you are from the CO and the speed you get". Just from talking to American friends it seems our plans up here are better, and I'm wondering why. Maybe because the CRTC regulates such things....
Which is kinda funny, the American "free market" screws out the consumers. In the same way the "free market" has let California power prices now skyrocket, this free market is letting you all be screwed by your telephone and cable providors.
My plan currently is $65 for 4Mbps down and 640k up, and 5 IPs. For $40 I can get 2.5Mbps down, 512k up and 2 IPs. Why are the plan so bad down there? And "the network can't handle it" isn't an excuse, why aren't they upgrading the networks? We can obviously handle it. I usually run into no bottlenecks until I reach the server at the far end of the connection.
Anyhow... maybe it's just the exchange rate... 4Mbps up here in 256k down there. =)
A number of us have been looking forward to this movie for almost a year!
You see, it was filmed on the campus of the University of Britich Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada. It was quite entertaining watching them film it. We all got a good laugh over the giant monitor and keyboard sticking out of the ground by one of the arts buildings.
As well, the large white building with the glowing "Computer Science Department" sign is actually our CS department! Unfortunately they didn't leave that nice glowing sign. =)
Anyhow, it sounds like a typical lame movie plot line, but who knows, it could actually turn out to be cool!
We're definately going to see it when it comes out, and will be playing "spot the UBC building" through the entire movie.
Cool to see Gnome was used in it too! I only wish we actually HAD linux machines available for student use.... well, we will in about 2 months, but that's another story. =)
Slashdot Mirror
The IRLP is a value-added, fun feature, it is not meant to take away from the public service mission of amateur radio. Our repeater can still run as an independent node without all this high tech com-pew-tur wish-wash.
In fact, in two weeks our node will be offline as we use our repeater to help with an upcoming public service event.
Though I guess one of these days we really should get those backup batterys installed.... =)
antarctican at antarcti dot ca
It doesn't have to be an overly high speed connection, I believe our connection at master node is via a wireless (900MHz) network card from the University of British Columbia Student Union building to to our club room, then another wireless connection from the club room to the top of the Gage residence tower.
Some nodes run off cable or ADSL connections, which are usually slower then a T1. We're not streaming cd quality mp3s here!
antarctican at antarcti dot ca
Yes, the IRLP has been a great project to watch grow over the years. I'm a member (and currently the outgoing president) of the amateur club which is the home of the IRLP and have had the privilage to watch Dave work long and hard over the past few years to grow the IRLP from a system of about 3 nodes to what it is today.
Any hams out there with a repeater and a high speed connection I suggest you investigate joining up. It's brought all kinds of life to our repeater.
antarctican at antarcti dot ca
The other cool thing about it is the protocols and data formats it uses to transfer information in both it's 2D and 3D mode are publically available. The idea is in the same way Palms are popular because anyone can develop for them, that's the goal with this product.
In fact, the 3D client is Open Source!
I hope this might be some where close to the kind of tool you're looking for.
antarctican at trams dot ca
Funny, I wrote (well, borrow and modified, keeping the new version under the GPL!) a nice irc client in Java and it ran BEAUTIFULLY in netscape, not a single problem. However when I tried to run it in IE, it crashed the computer. I finally tracked it down to a bug in MS' implimentation of listboxes (a deadlock condition), something they fixed in a later release. However forcing our users to dl and install a new VM just to use our chat functionality was obviously not acceptable.
I wasted many hours tracking down this bug and trying to create a kluge work-around which just slowed down the entire applet (how much did ms' bug cost our company in development time?). So I have zero respect for MS' VM.
However my post was more related to how the ms exec side-stepped the question, he can't even give an honest, complete answer. However, what did we expect?
antarctican at trams dot ca
It's been a long time since I've seen such double talk, this guy should be in politics!
One question explicitly asked about MS' dealing with issues such as Kerberos and Java, and how MS basically broke those standards (don't deny it, they fucked those standards so far up the ass they could taste it), and what do we get, double talk about 'intellectual property'.
Java (using one of those two refered to) was VERY well defined, and there are many good implimentations. What was 'incomplete' about this standard which forced them to break it. And not only do they modify the standard, but they can't even impliment it correctly without a discusting number of bugs.
You really expected MS to be honest and complete with their answers? When I first say the call for questions up, I dismissed it knowing the amount of spin doctoring which would be done would make all answers worthless.
We are the enemy, the only reason they bothered to do this is to try to gain our trust (ha! like that'll ever happen) and throw us off balance. Anyone who buys the bullshit they just spewed or think these answers are at all complete is a total moron.
Intelectual property my ass, if they were so concerned with interoperability they'd publish these standards which they've extended. No one said they'd have to publish the source code, but at least TELL US how you changed the standard and maybe, we might embrase your modification.
Geez, micro-morons.
antarctican at trams dot ca
When I submitted that comment my query was on the value people were getting for their dollar. Not "how far you are from the CO and the speed you get". Just from talking to American friends it seems our plans up here are better, and I'm wondering why. Maybe because the CRTC regulates such things....
Which is kinda funny, the American "free market" screws out the consumers. In the same way the "free market" has let California power prices now skyrocket, this free market is letting you all be screwed by your telephone and cable providors.
My plan currently is $65 for 4Mbps down and 640k up, and 5 IPs. For $40 I can get 2.5Mbps down, 512k up and 2 IPs. Why are the plan so bad down there? And "the network can't handle it" isn't an excuse, why aren't they upgrading the networks? We can obviously handle it. I usually run into no bottlenecks until I reach the server at the far end of the connection.
Anyhow... maybe it's just the exchange rate... 4Mbps up here in 256k down there. =)
antarctican at trams dot ca
A number of us have been looking forward to this movie for almost a year!
You see, it was filmed on the campus of the University of Britich Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada. It was quite entertaining watching them film it. We all got a good laugh over the giant monitor and keyboard sticking out of the ground by one of the arts buildings.
As well, the large white building with the glowing "Computer Science Department" sign is actually our CS department! Unfortunately they didn't leave that nice glowing sign. =)
Anyhow, it sounds like a typical lame movie plot line, but who knows, it could actually turn out to be cool!
We're definately going to see it when it comes out, and will be playing "spot the UBC building" through the entire movie.
Cool to see Gnome was used in it too! I only wish we actually HAD linux machines available for student use.... well, we will in about 2 months, but that's another story. =)
antarctican at trams dot ca