 
           The Radio Amateur Telecommunications Society


The Radio Amateur Telecommunications Society (RATS) is dedicated to
the development of software and networks which are based on the
internationally recognized Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)
Reference Model.  OSI provides a communications environment which
allows many different computers and systems to exchange data using
common "languages" or protocols.  These protocols have been developed
by ISO and CCITT for a variety of networking environments including
packet radio.  We have taken these protocols and produced the software
provided to you in this release.

We hope that you enjoy the software and help support our efforts by
sending us a contribution.  This provides us with the ability to
expand and improve our test network here in the northeast U.S.  If you
would also like to join RATS and receive our quarterly newsletter,
please complete the application below.

If you have any questions or comments please contact us:

Packet:      ASKRAT@kb4cyc.nj.usa.na

Telephone:   (201) 387-8896  Nancy, N2FWI and Gordon Beattie, N2DSY

CompuServe:  User ID 74756,2055 (Andy KB7UV)

Internet:    RATS@kb2ear.ampr.org  (not a packet address)

Modem:       (718) 956-7133 (Message server - latest software
             versions) 300 to 9600 Baud, 8n1.

Mail:        The Radio Amateur Telecommunications Society
             Post Office Box 93
             Park Ridge, NJ 07656


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                           MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION


                THE RADIO AMATEUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOCIETY




Name:______________________________________________________________


Callsign:____________________________ @BBS_______________.____.____


Address:___________________________________________________________


City, State, Zip:__________________________________________________


Telephone:______________________________ ARRL Member ?_____________



We'd like you to become involved with our on-going projects.  If you
have skills with hardware, software, RF, etc; PLEASE jot them down:













Please enclose a check (payable to RATS) for $20.00 for one year's
membership, which includes a subscription to our quarterly newsletter,
and mail it to: RATS, PO Box 93, Park Ridge NJ 07656-0093.


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                The RATS Open System Environment (ROSE)


The Radio Amateur Telecommunications Society (RATS) is dedicated to
the improvement of communications systems in the Amateur Radio
Service.  This objective has been guided by individuals who are
willing to develop software, operate, and use systems which push the
current state of the art.  Our packet switch, the ROSE X.25 Packet
Switch, communications server, ROSErver/PRMBS, and Online Callbook
Server, ROSErver/OCS, have from their inception been ambitious
projects providing increased functionality to the users and network
management.  These systems were developed to support communications
using conventional packet radio equipment.  Any AX.25 TNC user can
access a network of ROSE switches, and likewise any W0RLI-compatible
packet bulletin board system can exchange mail with ROSErver/PRMBS.
The ROSErver/OCS provides network users with a means of searching a
CD ROM-based callbook database in real time.

The objective was not another home-grown packet switch or BBS, but to
add features needed by the users and network management while also
facilitating interoperability with (or through) other networks.  The
vehicle for this interoperability was the then-emerging Open Systems
Interconnection Reference Model (OSI-RM) developed jointly by ISO (the
International Organization for Standardization) and the CCITT (the
International Consultive Committee on Telephone and Telegraph).
Adherence to the model has provided a modular framework in which
protocols could be tested, used, and replaced as new solutions
(software and hardware) became available.


                               Why OSI?

We chose to base our systems on OSI because it is a blueprint for
communications not bound to the design methodologies or marketing
objectives of private companies like IBM or DEC, or of governmental
agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense.  Instead, these
protocols have been developed and agreed upon by both user groups and
telecommunications carriers.  This blueprint defines the various
aspects of communications in terms of a seven-level stack.  For
example, the switch provides all required network services needed to
interconnect remote users.

These include:

  Connection establishment - creating a data path through a
     network

  Data transfer - transfer of data between users will be free
     of:

     Most bit-errors - the kind that turn an "A" into a "B";

     Sequencing errors - the kind that change the order of
      the data;

     Undetected packet loss - dropped or missing packets;

     Undetected packet duplication - unrequested
      re-transmission;

  Connection clearing - the orderly termination of
     communications.

The OSI reference model is the blueprint that was applied to
facilitate the evolution of the ROSErver/PRMBS Message Handling
System.  This system began its development as a packet bulletin board
system (or PBBS), but has outgrown this label by adding
interoperability support for CCITT X.400 Message Handling System and
DoD Internet RFC822 message headers, providing for remote file and
database requests, and remote execution of applications for a user.
The system is progressing toward support for Directory Services, CCITT
X.500 and Management Information Services, ISO 9596.

The progress of OSI-based development has been fraught with
difficulties, including apathy ("Why Change?"), limited resources of
developers, and the collection of dialogues that became known as the
"protocol wars".  Many of these problems occurred because we
recognized the impact of OSI very early and, as such, were faced with
no base of software or expertise from which to build.  Many of the
required standards were not yet defined, or were defined poorly.
These difficulties have been overcome.  The interest in OSI protocols
to support multimedia electronic mail (X.400), directory services
(X.500), and other applications in the marketplace today has helped to
fuel our efforts, now that a larger community exists for the exchange
of ideas and problem resolutions.


                         Hierarchical Routing

In any communications environment there are always real and artificial
boundaries where special handling is needed for communications to
occur.  In amateur radio we have local, regional and area nets for
traffic handling.  While these are geographically-based boundaries,
they are artificial, since a moderately equipped HF station can easily
cross those boundaries.  In the commercial land-line based
communications systems these boundaries also occur, and in fact are
encouraged in order to facilitate management of the equipment involved
(such as modems, telephone lines, microwave stations, etc).  The term
"Domain" is used to describe a large collection of systems that
interoperate in a cooperative manner.

A domain name (or "identifier") is assigned to each specific
collection of communications systems, to identify the political or
management group responsible for proper operation of those systems.
In order to keep the size of the list of Domain Identifiers to a
minimum, the identifiers are based upon a tree-like structure.

NJIT-EIES.MAILNET.EDU  is an example of a system name where "edu" is
the domain name for the educational/university communications networks
and "mailnet" is a sub-domain within the "edu" domain.  There can be
many levels of domains.  The management group responsible for the top
level domain can add sub-domains as needed, without having to notify
the groups managing the other top level (or "global") domains.  This
allows flexibility that is especially important to dynamic and fast
growing networks, such as networks found in the Amateur Radio Service.

In order to fully integrate the worldwide Amateur Radio Service into
the global OSI community we needed a unique domain identifier for OSI-
based Amateur Radio systems.  This identifier had to account for
national identity in order to provide the basis for recognition by the
regulatory bodies in each nation.  This objective had one serious
logical caveat: we did not want to request a piece of the global
domain name space from each country with Amateur Radio activity.  To
do so would have been a nightmare of paperwork and expense.  What was
needed was a global Domain Identifier for the Amateur Radio Service.

ISO and CCITT recognized needs of certain activities and organizations
such as Amateur Radio when they devised the global domain name scheme.
Under ISO is a place for "Identified Organizations" (ISO 6523).  Since
the Amateur Radio Service is recognized as a global service by the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the International
Consultive Committee for Radio (CCIR) and the International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU), we approached ISO for a global Domain assignment.
After some discussion, the International Code Designator (ICD)
identifying the Amateur Radio Service was issued.  With the Amateur
Radio ICD of "ampr", OSI-based Amateur Radio systems will be known by,
and accepted by, non-Amateur systems operating throughout the world.

RATS will continue the development of user applications to support and
expand the needs of the Amateur Radio community.  We will continue to
work with other individuals and groups to cooperatively develop new
and innovative applications and support systems.  Your support and
involvement in our activities is welcome.  Please contact us for more
imformation.

73, The Radio Amateur Telecommunications Society.
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