Lets keep this discussion going - we can change things.
Quoting as required;
Ubiquiti & Mikrotik are great for building highspeed wireless ip networks
Yup I have three APs on 2.4 and another three on 5.8 on a mountain top site. No 44 on it, because the routing daemon doesn't work on Mikrotik.
And the gear costs almost nothing - compare a "new transceiver" for these bands compared to a "new transceiver" for any other band.
If we could change the demographics of the hobby that would help.
I take your point, but you get on PSK31 and have a look at the age demographic there - be prepared to be shocked to see many of these operators over 60y.
You have to have something first to entice them.
Agreed. We need cool toys! And there ARE PLENTY.. As in the next paragraph - engage with these groups and offer them our product.
How many people even know about the 44net space? Maybe we need to reach out to;
-The broadband-hamnet developers - presently they use 10.X.X.X address space
-VOIP developers, like IRLP, Echolink, and Allstar.
-Hams who run internet servers, like qsl.net, etc
I think your suggestion is paramount. I submit this is a way forward, if not THE way forward.
Then there is the issue of how to integrate 44net into your home network.
Agree completely. Do we need a dial-in PPP server for those who "just want a 44/32" ?
The second problem is regulatory. Data bandwidth issues, content issues..
all deturants.
I agree, but the problem is not what quite you suggest here.
I think we need to ditch this attitude of heavily self-regulating ourselves. Hams have traditionally held this concept dear - one of overtly interpreting the rules heavily in our own disfavor. I don't think we do ourselves any positive service at all with this, particularly so when the result is we now stop and do nothing at all because of our own attitude. If some user does something inappropriate, it is normal to warn once then revoke access for some time - a normal and acceptable approach anywhere. I think we should free our attitude up a little.
There have been issues of bandwidth as well, but these days a VDSL or fibre connection isn't expensive, and neither is 100G of data to go with it.
Steve