[arm-allstar] HamVoIP statement for Reddit and Facebook accusations

[David McGough]

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "If a man can write a better book, preach a
better sermon, or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, he will find
a broad hard-beaten road to his house, though it be in the woods."

The HamVoIP team makes both an apology and warning about messages being
posted on the Reddit Amateur Radio Groups and elsewhere regarding HamVoIP
and its integrity. These messages are being generated and backed by
principles from the AllStarLink, Inc. group (ASL)  who are directly,
personally attacking us, our businesses, and even innocent bystanders who
question support for HamVoIP.

The statements these parties are making are untrue and in many cases
libelous. It is unfortunate that this is happening and just shows the sad
state of affairs at the AllStarLink, Inc., organization.

It should be noted that these actions on ASL's part are being done in
jealousy of our product and the large and growing numbers of Allstar users
choosing to use the HamVoIP software suite. The HamVoIP and AllStarLink,
Inc., groups are in fact competitors.  It's as simple as that. We both
produce an AllStar software distribution based on the original work by Jim
Dixon (SK).

Neither ASL nor HamVoIP have any disclosed Copyright ownership rights.  
While ASL started business AFTER Jim's death, the HamVoIP project forked
at Jim's request many years earlier. Jim never desired any code from
us, but I did continue to send him patches periodically. It's ironic that
his last patch, which became the 0.327 version, came from me, KB4FXC. Jim
posted this patch to the original SVN server in late November, 2016, and
he documented it as from me.  He also allowed me to make a mirror copy of
the original SVN server. It would seem he, above all, wanted this project
to survive. This also explains why he placed the app_rpt software in the
public domain, as per documentation from many years earlier.

Now we move forward about 18 months. It would seem that ASL thinks they
are loosing this struggle of FREE SOFTWARE. They perceive the simplest way
to regain lost ground is to attempt to force HamVoIP to release our source
code, screaming GPL violations, illegal activities and other FUD. Getting
the HamVoIP source code will level the playing field, in their minds. The
outside view clearly shows this to be a smear campaign and hostile
takeover attempt launched by ASL against HamVoIP, nothing more.

It is our intent to serve ALL AllStar users to the fullest and continue to
produce enhancements and improvements to the Allstar system, including our
own registration, status and management servers, which are running and
being tested now. We have a very successful system and intend to keep it
that way, regardless of what happens with the AllStarLink, Inc. 
group. It should also be obvious that a dual set of servers benefit the
whole AllStar user-base. The major ASL server outage experienced last
week, during their hastily announced "upgrade," left about a thousand
users off-line for days---both ASL AND HamVoIP users. This showed just how
vulnerable to disaster the original network design was and still is. We're
fixing that.

Fortunately, ASL's Facebook tirades have been moderated, with entire
threads being removed. Reddit moderators have been unresponsive, so far.  
As we all know, social media is the wild west these days---take baseless
claims with a grain of salt.  If you have direct questions, send them
directly to us and you will get a prompt response. I've said this many
times. My e-mail address is: kb4fxc at gmail.com...And, no, the HamVoIP team
doesn't hide behind some anonymous Reddit user-names, attempting to
obscure our identity. The original ASL posting authors continue to hide.  
Integrity?? Transparency?? Who are they kidding??

Folks, we still live in the USA. We believe in competition and project
teamwork. The ASL group expresses NO interest in working WITH HamVoIP. Nor
do they own any of the code in question. I don't believe in unjustified
handouts to undeserving parties.


"If you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your
door."  And, a well worn path it has become.


Sincerely,


The HamVoIP Team
David McGough, KB4FXC
Doug Crompton, WA3DSP