Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Subject: FREE Usenet via satellite to continue
From: flash@lopez.marquette.MI.US (Gary Bourgois,Hamshack)
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 22:10:34 EDT
Organization: Great White North/UPLink

The past three weekends have proven successful for our SDTS (Satellite Data
Text Service) on the Let's Talk Radio Network.  Too be sure, we are still
running a very primative part time service, but mail from all over the
country indicates that people are finding the service fun... ESPECIALLY those
who have never had net access before.  We have a committment from LTRN for at
least 6 to 8 hours every saturday morning, and a total of 6 hours a week from
the Becker Network.  We continue to explore methods of upping the baud rate
(taking into account that most of the people using the service are simply
hobby type folk, not into building stuff, and without access to hamfests,
etc.  If someone ever finds a cache of BELL 202 modems, I would consider
using them, IF we could get them into the hands of as many people as want to
play.

So right now the transmission is 300 bps.  Obviously there is no way to get
an entire newsfeed online this way, but the goal remains to have a service
that WOULD send the entire net at a high bit rate on a full time basis.  We
have another possibility of an audio transponder in detroit, which could be
dedicated to the project.  Unfortunately it is a part time service, and at
this time it is only a possibility, but we are exploring all avenues.

Because our start time is open ended right now, since the show that comes on
before the data feed is very free form, you can not guarantee receiving all
the data if you do a timer recording on your VCR, you need to start your tape
when the actual broadcast begins.

This week instead of the continuous feed, the first section of the datastream
will consist of several files which will have speech inserted between them,
and one minute of connect tone prior to the start of text.  This will mean
you MUST record the data if you are not staying up, as your modem will shut
off and give you NO CARRIER after each file.  

Start time will be sometime between 3AM and 4AM Saturday Morning and continue
for 6 hours.  The program will be transmitted from the LTRN studios in Los
Angeles from a VHS HIFI tape I will mail.  The past two weeks we fed the show
LIVE by phone lines, but this is prohibitive in many ways.  First the expense
runs fairly high, though this is the cheapest calling time of the week.
Second, staying up past 4AM to get the transmission started is a bit
wearying, and finally it ties up one of my BBS lines all morning.  If we can
find someone to fund the phone costs, we could set up an automated system
though.

Thanks to all who have written both on the net and also via snail mail, and
also thanks to a number of people who have made donations to the service.  We
are a non profit 501 (c) 3  Corporation, so all such donations are tax
deductable.  This includes hardware.  If you have any computer or satellite
stuff that would be of use to the project, please contact me.  While we want
to do this as a NON PROFIT service, and offer it free to the community, we do
need to fund it.  I am, by choice, a pauper.  I prefer to do things that are
meaningful even if they bring no income at all.  MOST of my activity these
days is of that nature, but I have a roof over my head, and never go hungry,
so not to worry.  BUT I also can not fund this project on my own.

I know there is a commercial system that already has the net up.  However, my
BBS certainly can NOT afford the costs involved, and I imagine others are in
the same situation.  I am also a strong believer in "grass roots" user and
grant supported systems rather than commercial ventures.  I guess I got this 
way from 10 years working for NPR and PBS affiliates.
 
In any case, all you need to receive the transmissions is a simple cable to
run the audio from your satellite system (preferably the earphone jack of
your stereo) to your computer modem.  You probably have the making of this
cable laying around.  If you have not yet tried receiving the data, either
put in a T-160 videotape and record beginning at 3AM saturday mornings, or
stay up and start recording on a T-120 for later archiving.  I don't expect
ANYONE to stay up and baby sit this week's transmission (there are a number
of breaks in the transmission, so you need to reconnect)

Comments welcome.

--
    /   Gary Bourgois, WB8EOH, The Birdwatcher: Marquette Michigan  USA   \
   ([-o ~ Tune FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE!  S3/21 6.2. Fridays from 9-midnight ~ o-])
    \  Now a snazzy new DOMAIN address!  flash@lopez.marquette.mi.us      /
        GEnie: SIGNALS   FAX: (906) 228-7477    GWN BBS: (906) 228-4399
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