High speed packet had just begun in other areas of the country, and there were still serious problems with it. Several SEITS members foresaw the time when even the backwaters of Iowa would have more packet radio traffic than the existing speeds and frequencies could handle.

But these were the early years, and the state of the art was crude. After a year of experimentation, we had found the radios we were trying to use simply would not work on speed higher than 4800 baud due to the design of their exciters. The search began for radios that WOULD work. After another long period of experimentation we discovered serious design flaws with the modems we were using. These were eventually replaced and high speed packet became a reality for the area. 

As packet took hold the need for area coordination had become quite evident. To call the packet world chaotic was giving it the benefit of the doubt. Other than the excellent CID LAN in the Cedar Rapids area, there had not been any attempt to organize packet communications in eastern Iowa. SEITS sponsored the first regional conference at the West Liberty Hamfest in 1992. There was a great deal of productive discussion. Several issues were settled including forwarding routes and times, area designators, and forwarding partners.

SEITS continues to offer a friendly forum for the discussion and coordination of packet activities in the area.

Comments or submissions for publication can be sent to muldoon@seits.org