Rick and Dave, NBEMS was created and submitted at the eleventh hour as a reply to Rinaldo's search for an HF protocol, but instead as a VHF system, mainly for emcomm. We afterwards expanded it to include HF messaging for extended range where VHF does not work, but is still primarily a digital messaging system, which only a few have any use for. I am now working with Navy MARS to help them incorporate the benefits of point-to-point digital communications, but much of their activity is already focused on messaging, so it is a good fit. For messaging, transmission of a message phonetically is much less efficient than digitally, but still important to have when no computer is available, or when your computer batteries run down.
However, hams in general are apparently much more interested in contesting or ragchewing than in either emcomm or mailboxes (including leaving messages using ALE). So, for most, a computer may only be used for logging, which is not hard to understand. Nothing is simpler than just picking up a microphone, or if you know Morse Code, sending with a bug and listening with your ears. Digital modes are also more enjoyable if you can type than if you cannot, so typing proficiency is another drawback to using digital modes. However, the release of fldigi after this next one will incorporate both speech-to-text and text-to-speech, making using narrowband digital modes somewhat like using phone (with macros for callsign exchanges), but with a synthesized voice. This is now my top priority for 2009. The competition from email, text-messaging, email reflectors, and the now almost everywhere broadband Internet access, has probably relegated the popularity of BBS and radio mailboxes to the dust bin of history. Why then should programmers spend a lot of time writing code for such a shrinking audience? It is even hard to interest teenagers in radio itself, since they are so accustomed to text messaging or picture transfers instantly with their cell phones (which is also "radio" of course). They do not understand the appeal of "random" contacts like we hams do on radio, and neither do many hams that only work repeaters, as that is just "too easy". I hope that taking some interest in FM DXing will provide a deeper glimpse for some repeater users into what ham radio is REALLY (mostly) about, and has always been. If anyone is not familiar with the idea of FM DXing, see page 95 of the March QST. 73, Skip KH6TY
