Demetre, We only need a modem with adaptive abilities for emergency communications messaging and files plus the use of e-mail or similar message store and forward systems. For normal keyboard use such modes are of limited value and since most take up a large amount of bandwidth, are to be avoided unless you need to use it. As an example, I would not normally use 2 kHz Olivia or MT-63 for a keyboard contact as that would be very poor operating procedures. However, if the conditions warrant the need for a better mode, I can support the wider modes. So a lot depends upon your operating interests. Very few hams are involved with emergency digital communications or with e-mail at this time. If e-mail actually became very popular, my view is that it would eventually have to be banned since it would take up too much band width. Same thing for phone patching, AM DSB operation, eSSB, etc. But since these niche interests are not done that much, they should have minimal impact on the majority of operators.
It is my understanding that right now, the PC-ALE software program has the 8PSK2400 modem. While it can not be used on the text digital parts of the bands, it should be useful for at least testing the capabilities on the voice/image portions of the bands. Thus far, no one has come forward with any testing results. The only results we have heard about the Russian high speed modem, which uses the same 8PSK2400 waveform, or at least something very similar, is that it does not perform all that well. It may be that the reason for silence from the ALE proponents, who have built these modems into the programs, is that they don't work very well. I have asked many times and no response thus far. FAE is basically a slightly modified STANAG modem using the 8FSK125 mode. By the way, I would like to test this 8PSK2400 modem on the voice/image portions of the bands (as required here in the U.S.) and if anyone would like to test this, please contact me privately and we can try things out. We should be able to send picture files for sure. I should mention that in addition to contacting the ARRL CTO a while back about some of the questions I have vis a vis the FCC regulations, I had a number of further questions which I plan to send to the FCC. But before I did that, I sent them to the ARRL Regulatory Information Department and advised them that I had previously sent some of the questions to the CTO. They were not able to answer any of the questions that I had and forwarded them to the CTO, and I expect a response back soon. Then I will be sending a request to the FCC to determine their position (or lack thereof) on a number of digital issues that have not been dealt with here in the U.S. and I believe need to be fully vetted. Then we will have a better idea of what we can and can not do. And what we may want to request be changed. What bashing do you see towards Winlink 2000 in anything I have said? There is a very good likelihood that some illegal traffic is being sent since it is not possible for normal monitoring of other hams and, practically speaking, this is true even if you have the $1000 modem. We do know that some fake "illegal" messages were sent from EU in the past to test how well the system worked to detect business type messages. I don't know how many messages get through but some apparently do. Eventually, if the offenders are caught, they are blocked from using the system. The rules here in the U.S. are no different than when BBS systems are handling similar traffic. I agree that if we don't use a system regularly, then when we need it, we won't know how to use it, or little things will not be in place, etc. and it may not work. That is really the only reason that I can support e-mail via ham radio. If it was not for the emergency component or public service, I would strongly oppose this. As far as Linux OS goes, I have not been able to get it to work with my equipment to a satisfactory manner. It has to work at least as good as MS Windows XP and Vista, both of which are good for the end user. I have tried Linux off and on for over 5 years, but truthfully, the more I have used it and tried it out, the less impressed I have been:( I am sorry to report that, because I really thought that I would like it, considering the intense hype about Linux. 73, Rick, KV9U Demetre SV1UY wrote: >> Well exactly! In ham radio we need a robust mode that can function in >> bad conditions as well as in good conditions and using only our modest >> 100 watts HF radios with our 2.4 KHZ filters. That is why we need a >> good modem that can do all that. >> >> Well I hope we can soon see some decent results from soundcard modes, >> which I doubt will happen soon. Also ALE for me is ALE and STANAG is >> STANAG. Better not mix the 2. There is also ARQ FAE, which isn't ALE >> either. ALE can use any mode after the link has been established, >> unless I'm wrong. >> >> >> > > I don't understand why all this bashing about illegal and commercial > about Winlink2000. I wonder is it jealousy? Looks like it. Also I > don't understand why a radio ham should not get/send e-mail via his > radio! Is it illegal too? How can you expect anyone to participate in > an emergency situation if he doesn't know how to operate his rig? He > is not going to be enlightened by the holy spirit when the need > arises. He needs to operate every day, more or less, in order to be > proficient at it. > > > > Well in that case don't use MS Windows since they are insane! hi hi > hi!! Use LINUX. It's open source, just like the soundcard modes you > would like to use. > >
