Hi John, Until recently, I did not even think of going much above 14.095 or so. I have heard a number of Olivia stations above 14.100 this weekend. It may be where I live (north midwest U.S.), but there really are not that many digital signals on the bands (compared to phone and CW anyway). There are almost always some 14.070 PSK stations and then open frequencies from there to 14.100 except for Pactor and RTTY. Sometimes a few "other" modes like Olivia, MFSK16.
Even though you can legally do it, I personally do not think it is right to operate in the areas that are intended for automatic operation since they are so small as it is. I used to be supportive of semi-automatic operation outside of that automatic area, but I no longer support that due to the inability of the robot stations to hear a busy channel. I would only support it if the robot station had busy detect software. This has been proven to be possible with my experiences when beta testing the SCAMP mode, so we know it can be done. Over the years there has been a progression with HF networking. In the "old days" the early system was APLink which was an HF BBS system and autoforwarding using AMTOR/Packet. Some of the same people later developed an improved system using Clover II and Pactor I and called it Winlink. They also developed a way to get into e-mail messaging with an intermediate system called Netlink. Eventually they developed a system that dropped the amateur radio HF autoforward part and went to an internet based system for routing and forwarding and called it Winlink 2000. This is a pretty good messaging system for casual use although not a real emergency system that insures operability in case of local or wide spread internet failure. Aplink/Winlink always was as an alternative to the commercial circuits and so was then used for MARS and of course the NTS/D. The irony is that the one Winlink 2000 promoter, who was also a major player for decades with Aplink and Winlink, now claims Winlink is illegally operating due to a fairly minor software glitch. A glitch that could be fixed if they released the source code ... which they won't release. In fact, this same promoter has openly stated that he wished they had put a bomb in the Winlink software so no one else could use it anymore. Needless to say, some of us have said, enough is enough, and distance ourselves from this kind of personal attack against other hams. Any time you have someone who personally attacks what other hams are doing, you have to ask what is the real agenda here. Apparently, he thinks that folks would be forced to use the Winlink 2000 system instead. What is really happening is that others realize the shortcomings and are trying to come up with new software that addresses these limitations and still provides interoperability so that no matter what the conditions, you can still get the message through. Many of us think that is what amateur radio is all about. Some, of course, do not view it that way. By the way, there is the Winlink2000 yahoogroup that does permit open discussion of amateur radio networking as we try and move toward greater interoperability and alternative systems that the ARRL Board of Directors has requested be developed. While very few hams care about building an amateur radio network, there thankfully are a few. There is always the hope that amateur radio will not become totally irrelevant in the coming years. 73, Rick, KV9U John Bradley wrote: > Excuse my ignorance, but why are we trying to use 14105 to 14110 for > OLIVIA and the other modes then? > > Why are we not down between 14073 and 14080, for example? > > I am not up on the FCC rules, our country's regulations would not > prohibit Olivia and the like in that segment. It doesn't make sense to > beat each > other over the head with QRM........ and I always thought Winlink was > winlink, not several different versions > > John Need a Digital mode QSO? Connect to Telnet://cluster.dynalias.org Other areas of interest: The MixW Reflector : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themixwgroup/ DigiPol: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Digipol (band plan policy discussion) Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
