There are plenty of digital modes that do not interfere. At the end of the day everything boils down to signal to noise and bandwidth. If a signal is really weak, it will have to be received in a narrow bandwidth. The narrower the bandwidth, the slower the transfer of information. At HF, digital transmission is limited to some fairly basic modulation schemes if it is to work under poor conditions. There is only so much that can be accomplished. Look at the commercial digital systems used by various public safety organizations that operate on more stable UHF channels. When they are needed most, they often fail and authorities revert back to the old analog systems.
Don't get me wrong, I like experimenting with digital modes. It is just that at this point I would never use the excuse of emergency service to justify it. I certainly think that stations that transmit without listening are more of a hazard in an emergency than an asset. It is interesting to note that homeland security is investing in analog SSB systems for last resort backup. Michael Hatzakis Jr MD wrote: > HF digital modes that can operate under very low signal situations are very > useful to many and would be sad to see them be abolished. I agree, their > use needs to be fine tuned, but abolishing them seems draconian. With all > our innovation, why not spend our energy on their fair and more efficient > use rather than chasing them away. > > > > My fear is that if we chase away modes we don’t like, when HF bands become > really quiet because people no longer use CW and the number of hams declines > because the hobby becomes uninteresting, the allocation gets sold to the > highest commercial bidder. We need to promote diversity to survive. The > world is going digital and wireless and this is what many new hams enjoy, > like myself. Announce your digital presence via our Interactive Sked Page at http://www.obriensweb.com/drsked/drsked.php View the DRCC numbers database at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/database Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> 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/
