GB7FCI Packet Radio BBS Blog

After mostly finishing a major project to migrate most of my server based systems to Kubernetes I was ready to dive back into Amateur Radio. The last couple of weeks have seen a flurry of activity.

GB7ESC - the other Blackpool BBS - shut down so I spent some time seeking out new links to connect GB7FCI to the outside world. I now have links to Cambridge, Kidderminster, Swindon, Oswaldtwistle, Sheffield and St Bees in Cumbria. These are internet links, but for now without nearby RF connections that’s all I can use.

Another major change is that GB7FCI is now hosting a WPS node. WPS is a chat/instant messaging system which uses amateur packet links (RF and Internet) to provide the service. It’s a replicated service, so any messages posted on GB7FCI will be visible on all other servers and vice versa. If you’d like to use WPS look on frames.oarc.uk/. If you’re in the North-West of England then you’re welcome to connect through my node. Please contact me for details of how to connect.

There are other developments too, but I’ll leave those for another day because I’m still working on them.

I (Chris, G6FCI) ran an Amateur Radio Packet Bulletin Board from about 1987 to 1996. It’s callsign was GB7FCI. With the birth of two sons, and other work/life changes, I found I had less time to run the BBS, and for amateur radio in general, so reluctantly I surrendered the callsign in early 1997.

Roll on nearly 30 years and I’ve retired and have more time available. I started to get back into amateur radio and wondered about the state of packet radio. It seems it’s still a thing, but very different to the 1980/1990’s. There was still a local BBS, GB7ESC run by Alan G0WDA, but with very few users. The radio-based forwarding links that existed way back have gone with much inter-BBS forwarding now taking place over the Internet (using AXIP).

I’ve been working with Alan on a number of projects and we’ve become good friends in a very short time. I soon ended up with my own mini-node and personal mail system. Then a few days ago Alan prompted “Why not get a Notice of Variation for your installation?” Back in the day this was a serious undertaking, requiring lots of forms to fill in and delays whilst seemingly everyone on the planet approved your application. It took months and I wasn’t keen on the idea of paper chasing for that long. Alan kept on saying “Try it, you’ll see it’s easy”. So I tried it, and saw how easy it was. Within an hour or so my application had been approved and I was once again the custodian of GB7FCI.