Bill and all, The thing is that I really don't think that we would actually use high speed digital data for everyday use. Right now we can use Pactor modes for about the fastest current modes on our frequencies and it is rarely done except for connecting to an e-mail server. It is not just the cost, either, as folks like me spent plenty of money back 15 to 20 years ago before there were sound card modes.
The main thing that requires high data throughput seems to me to be images and we can already do that on the image portion of the bands, but very few do this. And right now we could chat on voice (digital or analog), send images and send faxes anytime we want under current rules and yet almost no one does this. What I am basically saying is that we already have the ability to do these things and for whatever reason, there just is not that much interest except for a small subset of the digital ops. The Winlink 2000 system is intended to send via e-mail, particularly to those who are not radio amateurs, although for time shifting convenience, it can include a radio amateur's e-mail. The old Winlink system died because of lack of interest in maintaining an RF amateur radio path, not because of technology difficulties. After all, it used the fastest available technologies at the time. Because of the practical size of the "pipe," there is really not much more room for very many additional wide band modes. That is why I think we must promote narrow modes as much as we can, and certainly try and use 500 Hz or less in the data/RTTY area. This is exceptionally important on 80 meters where the NTS traffic folks already know that there simply is not going to be enough room for all the nets at the heavier useage times. I don't think that amateur radio has much to offer young people on digital HF modes compared to their expectations with cell phones and messaging. The only possible way to sell it is to point out the fact that much of HF amateur radio does not require other supporting systems such as the internet, cell towers, repeater systems, etc. The younger generation can never do what we do on HF, since they do not have those frequencies, nor would those frequencies be practical for them to use commercially. We do have the VHF and UHF frequencies which are closer to the frequencies used for cell systems. We also have a number of microwave frequencies that we rarely use, and I expect will eventually lose. I have had several calls from folks who know of my interest in computers and amateur radio and they have asked about coming up with some kind of local communications for neighbors that would work even when our normal telecommunications are inoperative and I suggest MURS for voice and WiFi for the higher throughput needs and depending upon what will be permitted in the future, some kind of WiMax system. Of course hams are licensed to have the equivalent of WiMax right now:) Interesting that the OLPC program will have a mesh network built in to the laptops that will apparently enable some rudimentary networking between students in the countries that are purchasing these units. After having experimented this summer with some video/laptops/high gain antenna/WAP, I can say it does have potential. 73, Rick, KV9U Bill Vodall WA7NWP wrote: >> I will also ask the question again: >> >> If we had the ability to send high speed digital data on HF, what would >> we be sending to each other that we don't do now? >> >> > >Anything. Everything. There's no 'technical' reason we don't do >everything on HF. Discussion groups like this, pictures, favorite >songs, audio/video snapshots. > >WL2K is right in one sense that it's good to offload as much as >possible to the Internet as soon as possible. On the other hand, the >"Land Line Lid" folks were right that putting traffic to the Internet >stifles innovation and technology. > >My stock question again: > >What would have to change to make what we do (Amateur Radio - digital) >interesting and relevant to the typical Jr High School computer >hobbiest? We can talk forever about A1C's and X0Z's but in 10 or 20 >years it's going to be that Jr Hi generation that's doing what ever >is being done. > >73 >Bill - WA7NWP > > >
