Message-ID: <9605011223.AA25736@lan.vita.org> Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 08:23:22 EDT From: Gary Garriott <mailto:garyg@VITA.ORG> Subject: Special training available To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Special Training Opportunity
Since 1987 VITA has provided a week-long course on digital packet
radio techniques (computer-to-computer communication using two-
way radio) under the auspices of the United States
Telecommunications Training Institute. We have trained over a
hundred individuals from dozens of countries through a
combination of lecture and "hands-on" exercises.
This year, because of reductions in USTTI's funding which
curtails their ability to fill the course, we are
opening the training to the general development community (in the
U.S. as well as abroad). In the past, non-USTTI participants have
paid as much as $1000 to take the course.
Others can take this same course for $250 per person! The fee
includes five days of classroom/laboratory training, copies of
all written materials, a graduation certificate from VITA, an
introductory luncheon (Monday, May 20) and the graduation dinner
Friday evening (May 24).
The only exam is to successfully have sent and received messages
to and from other participants! It's fun!
Dates: 20-24 May 1996
Place: VITA, 1600 WIlson Blvd., Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22209 (in the
Washington, DC metropolitan area; about three blocks from Rosslyn
blue/yellow Metro Line).
PLEASE EMAIL, TELEPHONE OR FAX YOUR INTEREST IN ATTENDING THIS
COURSE TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS A FIRST-COME, FIRST-
SERVED OFFER. (Space is limited to a maximum 8-10 additional
participants).
COURSE CONTENT:
The course consists of a set of lectures, discussions, and
demonstrations that will give the participants a broad view of
the capabilities of low-cost digital techniques, particularly
packet radio, for point-to-point communications (store-and-
forward satellties in low-earth orbit will also be described).
Data codes (ASCII, Baudot, RTTY, EBDDIC, etc.) used with a
variety of radio modulation techniques (AFSK, FSK, PSK, MSK,
etc.) will be discussed. Fundamentals of packet radio mailboxes,
bulletin board systems, and packet network implementation will be
stressed. Operational comparisons of packet radio with other
digital methods will be made. Hands-on demonstrations using
packet radio techniques for humanitarian and scientific purposes
will be provided, as well as discussion of ancillary topics such
as international regulatory issues on frequencies and
security/encryption.
The course is designed for individuals who wish to learn more
about the enormous possibilities for providing reliable digital
communications through the marriage of personal computers with
HF/VHF two-way radio transceivers, increasingly popular for
specialized communications needs such as scientific data exchange
and international development and relief applications in remote
or rural areas.
Learning objectives include: 1) technical overview and
operational understanding of reliable and efficient digital
communication methods and applications to specialized
communications needs; and 2) a greater knowledge and appreciation
for system integration fundamentals of low-cost (several hundred
dollars) multi-mode packet radio controllers with microcomputers
and HF/VHF two-way radios.
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| Gary Garriott, Director, Informatics |
| Volunteers in Technical Assistance |
| 1600 Wilson Blvd., Suite 500 Tel. 703/276-1800 |
| Arlington, VA 22209 Fax 703/243-1865 |
| |
| Email: mailto:garyg@vita.org |
| Web: http://www.vita.org |
| Gopher: gopher://gopher.vita.org |
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