.really no "user" access. It's all a backbone and if your not part of it, then no access.
This makes it sound like the entire idea is rude to newcomers. It's not. The idea is that the newcomers get just as much access as everybody already in the system. The big problem is a lack of transient access. You pretty much have to coordinate with at least one other person in the network just to connect in, and then, while it isn't a life long commitment, the fun only really starts when you expand in the other direction beyond your station. It's sort of a ham radio pyramid scheme haha.
Hopefully when we get enough builders involved, we can attract some talent to solve some of the problems in the TARPN idea. Transient access is a big one.
Packet radio networks used to be expensive and used to be a class society. You were either of the owner class or the user class. TARPN sets that right by making it a hasn't done it yet and has done it yet society. If you can't find a TARPN to be part of, the design is so cheap you can start your own. It's kind of a kick, using $40 computers and $40 TNCs with $40 radios to make a network. The only expensive part is the people and a place to put an antenna. Also, this totally falls apart if the enthusiastic participants are all over the country and not within simplex range. However... this is real ham radio. No Internet required or desired.
I like to think of it as an off-the-grid instant-message system.
--Tadd
P.S. The web site author is really patient and a good person to talk with about the subject.