Sometimes I find how we use new technology is as interesting
as the technology itself. You may not know or care what DCS reflectors are, but
the way they’re developing tells us a little about ourselves, I think.
DCS reflectors are basically a new generation of servers or
chat rooms we use with digital amateur radio to link repeaters, nodes and
individuals together. They were developed recently by some very clever enthusiasts
in Germany and are growing in an organic way. A bit like dandelions.
Each DCS reflector has modules from A to Z, which are a
blank canvas. The way in which these are being filled is like a group of sugar
drink-fuelled children scrambling to choose their bunk-beds in a large
dormitory at summer camp.
Let me explain: The first two DCS reflectors, DCS001 and
DCS002 were hosted by the Germans. They had neatly and orderly divided up the
entire globe into modules. It was a good start. For their own country they had
a national module of course, with additional modules for north, south, east and
west Germany respectively. But anyone who knows a little about Germany should
not be surprised to see that Bavaria has broken away and formed its own module. The
states of Hessen and Baden-Wuettenberg followed suit, of course. The states of
the former East remain quiet for the moment, it seems.
There are now nine DCS reflectors at the time of writing,
all now hosted by different countries who wanted their own national servers. The
Dutch are fastidious in their egalitarianism. They’ve gone and divided their
reflector into nation-wide, north, mid and south Netherlands as well as – wait
for it - thirteen different regions
including the colonies of the Dutch Antilles. The inhabitants of Flevoland must
be ecstatic.
The Swiss, however, have no national module at all. No, they’ve
divided their piece of DCS cake in language-slices: German, French and Italian.
I’m also sure it will be the most reliable DCS reflector ever known to man.
The Italians seem a little less self-assured. They have a
record number of four test channels, just in case.
The US reflector is well-ordered, with a couple of the
noisier states, like Texas, having their own module. Even the Canadians are
accommodated.
And as for my lot, the Brits? Well, we would have to be a little bit different, wouldn’t we? At the time
of writing there is a national UK module, with a Northern Ireland, Wales &
West, Midlands and South module. No Scotland so far. Maybe it’s the expense. And
uniquely in the new DCS community, the city of London has decided that it is elevated enough among the great and good capitals of the world to merit its very
own module.
I think we can rightly take most pride in the four inconspicuous modules
simply labelled as ‘chat’. You can transfer to these modules for your one-to-one
conversation without tying up the repeaters of an entire small country. I have
heard less-than-scintillating conversations occupy worldwide reflectors for
some considerable periods.
The pace of development is astonishing. An idea whispered in
the ear of a developer is often embodied overnight. And we’re just one month
into the story…..
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UK DCS005 shown on he excellent (German) DV-RPTR
Control Centre software |
