[CQ-Contest] RM11708 and the Future

Jim Brown k9yc at audiosystemsgroup.com
Wed Aug 24 22:00:36 EDT 2016


On Wed,8/24/2016 12:16 PM, Ward Silver wrote:
> There are a lot of things in ham radio that don't particularly float 
> my boat but I am willing to consider the use of our allocations by 
> licensed amateurs to be "ham radio." 

My problem with broadband digital modes is that, for the most part, the 
only thing they have to do with ham radio is their use of the ham bands 
for transmission. I strongly suspect that most if not all of what they 
are transmitting also has little if anything to do with ham radio. I see 
little, if any, difference between them and the mindless ragchewing on 
our SSB bands and on FM repeaters.

To me, ham radio is about the technical side radio and other technology 
that is related to using it. It is not about exchanging email to 
boaters, nor to the mindless transmission of "brag" files on various 
digital modes, nor to mindless ragchewing. I have no problem with 
broadband digital modes on ham bands provided that 1) they are limited 
to frequencies where broadband modes like SSB and AM are permitted, and 
2) they must abide by the some non-interference rules as all other 
modes, and 3) those rules are enforced.

One practical problem is that users of one mode often fail to respect 
(or even recognize) signals produced by another mode. Another is that 
some broadband digital modes are not all that easy to decode, so that, 
for example, most of our volunteer OO team are unlikely to be able to 
even identify them.

> I don't want to start off an argument about hybrid network-RF 
> operating - it's something we do via ham radio and that is sufficient 
> for me.  I happen to think it's pretty cool that hams have created a 
> world-wide network to exchange messages using sophisticated digital 
> protocols that in some cases, such as WINMOR, were developed 
> non-commercially.  You are entitled to your preferences, of course.

Yes, that's cool. But why on the HF bands, as opposed to VHF and UHF?

73, Jim K9YC



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