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NET-9.TXT
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1992-07-02
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NET-9.TXT
LAN USAGE
---------
Most of us know how rapidly 1200 baud file transfers can take place over land
line circuits as compared to packet radio. This is because of three things.
First the LL circuit is full-duplex. This means receive and transmit can occur
simultaneously. Second, there are no other users (interference) on the
circuit. Third, the signal to noise ratio is high.
If one were to upgrade the radio network, it seems logical one should emulate
to the extent possible, operating conditions found on telephone systems. We
are further constrained that as a volunteer group, upgrade activites need to
be done as economically as possible. Up til now, we have not discussed going
to modem speeds beyond 1200 baud. This is because higher data rates aren't all
that effective in a simplex network environment. If greater efficiency is
wanted, it is necessary to establish a radio network configuration satisfying
the LL system criteria mentioned above. After the basic network configuration
is installed, attention can be directed towards higher data speeds.
The "ideal" network concept under discussion consists of two components, the
user access (LAN) port and the backbone trunk.
Access nodes, or LAN interfaces, should be frequency isolated from neighboring
LAN nodes. The reasoning for this is to eliminate on-channel interference
from neighboring access nodes and their users. Use of TheNet version 2.08
or later, nodeware at the LAN node will prevent QRM from node broadcasts and
accidental user node dumps from congesting the LAN frequency. Also, having the
HEARD feature available on the LAN node will encourage keyboard-to-keyboard
contacts across the network and perhaps help in influencing newcomers to stay
in packet.
To the extent possible, local BBS to BBS forwarding should take place on a
frequency other than that of the LAN node. With multi-connect software, there
need only be ONE full-time, full service BBS publically serving the coverage
area on the frequency of the LAN node. Knowlege of other BBSes with ports
accessible from the LAN frequency should be subdued. BBS and TCP/IP nodes
should not be allowed to broadcast on the LAN channel unless there is some
over-riding networking reason for their presence. Rather than beaconing,
users should be encouraged to place announcements of their activities on the
local BBS for all to read.
The above recommendations set the stage for operating a LAN frequency that
has a minimum of unnecessary overhead congestion and interference. As user
activity increases, thought can be given to changing the LAN node over to
duplex-regenerator (packet repeater) operation as this would improve LAN
frequency throughput. When the duplex regenerator becomes saturated, then
it's time to consider establishing a second LAN frequency, if one does not
already exist.