I was also wondering about radio packet data capable HAM sets. There might be a few of them floating around the sandbox as well. 12V Mobile sets would be best.
It's good to use this situation and take notes for possible use here at some future date.
“I was also wondering about radio packet data capable HAM sets.”
I have been a Ham since 1976 (Extra) and hold a commercial license. I do not own packet radio’s, but the originals were adaptations to analog radios, not digital.
I know a lot more about TTY and those systems including ASCII versions. I built several of the AFSK Modulators and detectors. A good TTY detector can copy Sigs that are barely audible if they have little fading. The slicer type circuits work the best. I played with diversity reception type receivers, and was dissapointed with the performance. All of these are pretty limited on data rate.
These were fine for text as was even morse (CW). Again data rate is slow, I can copy 20WPM, but knew others that could do over 60WPM.
The good thing about radio is that it is not network dependent. Only propogation. Except for Satellite, which has higher data rate and better stealth characteristics. But requires precision antennas to function well. There is also EME, but requires much higher power and larger antennas and is harder to hide the Sig.
You will remember when Boris Yeltsin was pinned down and resisted in Russia, it was Russian Hams who got the word out and he prevailed there. This was done on HF if I remember correctly.
RF is wonderful stuff, but never assume it is secure. WWII hinged on a failure of that.