Kurt wrote:
>
> -
> > I'm afraid that there is no simple solution to the problem of who
> is working what mode where. But each operator must be diligent to
> try as best possoble not to QRM another signal on the portion of the
> band that they are "working."
>
> Walt and others this is the problem. We are required to check to
> make sure the freq is not busy and to not interfer with other
> communications, if we hear them.
>
> Yet WinLink is automatic and never checks before it starts
> transmitting. So who is at fault the operator in qso on a certain
> freq, or the automatic station that comes on over the qso in
> progress. Simple logic would say that the automatic station is
> wrong, but it seems that FCC/ARRL/IARU if not others, do not care if
> the automatic station comes on over the stations already in qso.
>
> Being this is the digital radio, maybe somewhere down the road a
> programmer will get a program going that will listen before it
> transmits, but I guess I will continue to use the computer between
> my ears to make sure the freq is not busy. Hey it's an old computer
> but still works great.
>
It's quite clear that automatic stations in the automatic sub-bands
are not going away.
But hey - let's try something truly radical: How about - wait for
it, this is truly a novel idea - how about manually operated stations
operate somewhere away from the automatic subbands?
I know, I know, just because there are *wide* swaths of practically
unused frequencies that are legally available for use for digital modes
doesn't mean that they're any fun to use. It's *much* more entertaining
to work *within* the well-known automatic segments and then wail and
complain about getting stepped on, even when there's a vast wasteland of
unused space a kHz or two down the band. But hey, if we wanted to use
logic and reason, we wouldn't all be hams, right?
- Rich
