[CQ-Contest] Hunting in Africa

Mon Mar 24 19:58:22 EDT 2008

David,

Indeed, a green light from respective authorities is the must before the 
whole project starts. It would be much better to have an 
approval/disapproval on that than to let the authorities to find out, a 
thing like this is active without their approval. In the meantime, to be 
very honest, I am quite pessimistic on that. Besides concerns mentionned in 
my previous message, there is something else. And it is Internet. The 
Internet has two basic things which might kill the whole idea before its 
take-off.

1. Internet is a commercial mean of communications. Its inclusion into into 
amateur radio communications develops the latter into something else, and it 
is really up to the telecom administrations to consider it still as amateur 
radio or not.

2. Internet is not a secure mean of communications. Your PC-to-radio link 
can be hacked and somebody else can use your station for their own purposes. 
The mass media report on governments' web-sites hacked. Perhaps there were 
more successfull attacks on serious sites information on which did not reach 
mass media, but the authorities are aware of that for sure. I mean, rest 
assured, amateur internet sites/links can be hacked, too. And internet is an 
international stuff.

My experience of contacts with telecommunication administrations clearly 
shows, they consider the amateur radio just an annoying burden. Among all 
possible options they always start from the worst scenario. Don't call me 
paranoid, but we live in the after 9/11 world. Take a look at your project 
from this point of view, add a possibility to hack your internet link and 
you will see what I mean.

Your announcement on the fact that you have a Jamaican station which can be 
remotely activated trough an existing IP-to-IP link just right away is a 
very clear sign that something has already happen. It is not a future 
project, it is a reality by now. But this thing is not explicitly described 
by respective legislation. The respective authorities have clearly missed 
the fact that things like that can happen.
It is very good that you have made your announcement. Perhaps you or 
somebody else might initiate a process of a clarification of this very 
serious topic.

73,

Vladimir VE3IAE/EU1SA

--- 

> Vladimir,
>
> These are great questions. I am not certain I have the answers to them
> all.
>
> I agree the legal issues need to be explored.
>
> I am almost certain that the Jamaican authorities (Spectrum Management
> Authority) will allow me, and perhaps other, amateurs licensed by SMA to
> operate the station remotely.
>
> Since the station is at the home of 6Y5GC, there would be a local
> control operator onsite.
>
> Right now, I am simply interested in making it all work just to see if I
> can. There are many pieces of equipment that need be controlled to
> operate this station. It certainly is a technical challenge.
>
> I have had several offers to assist me with the project, so I think it
> will become a reality. The first step is to replace the current Internet
> service. The Wifi I am currently using isn't reliable from week to week
> and there is no DSL, cable or telephone lines to the house.
>
> Thanks for your encouragement. It is a welcomed change from all the doom
> and gloom posts.
>
> David ~ KY1V
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------
> David,
>
> Thanks for your initiative. It might finally push contest sponsors,
> awards'
> programs sponsors, etc, to start working on the remote operation topic.
>
> In the meantime did you check the legal part of your project, like:
> - Do the Jamaican authorities accept such such a remote operation? Will
> they
> accept the fact that a station located in Jamaica is supposed to  be
> operated by foreign individuals, located actually in foreign countries
> and
> having not Jamaican licences? Who would be the control operator, and how
> the
> control operator would be able to control the activity?
> - Do the Jamaican authorities accept the fact that it would be you who
> allows foreign operators to access your Jamaican station remotely?
> - Is it legal for, say, US amateurs to remotely operate a station
> located in
> a foreign country? Does the FCC allow that?
> - In some countries of the IARU Region 1 any remote operation is not
> allowed. Therefore what if citizens of such countries ask you to operate
>
> your station remotely?
> - Citizens/residents of what countries can operate your Jamaican station
>
> remotely?
>
> Just first questions rose immidiately having seen your message.
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Vladimir VE3IAE aka EU1SA
>
> ---
>
>
>
>>I have a large contest station in Jamaica, 6Y1V.
>>
>> While I prefer to go there and operate M/S, M/2 or M/M with other
>> amateurs, it is not possible to put a team together for every contest.
>> It is a waste of a fantastic resource for the station to sit idle
> during
>> any contest.
>>
>> I am making preparations to automate the entire station over the
>> Internet so that it can be used for remote operation for either casual
>> DX'ing or single operator contesting. I see no reason why amateurs,
>> myself or someone I permit access to the station, should not be
> allowed
>> to utilize the station to compete in any single operator category of
> any
>> contest from any remote location in the world, so long as the entire
>> operation is performed over a remote link and absolutely no antennas,
>> receivers, etc., outside of the 6Y1V premises are not utilized.
>>
>> Operating the station remotely provides no advantage over going there
>> and operating the station on-site. In fact, as others have mentioned,
>> with latency and external control problems with certain equipment,
> there
>> are slight delays introduced that either reduce or completely inhibit
>> certain operations.
>>
>> It is my plan to make the 6Y1V contest station a showcase remote
>> operation and to occasionally allow amateurs whom would otherwise have
>> no access to the station and opportunity to experience DX'ing and/or
>> contesting from the Caribbean.
>>
>> Imagine...you could operate 6Y1V from the comfort of your living room.
>> What fun!
>>
>> David ~ KY1V
>>
>>
>
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