---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <k4...@comcast.net> Date: Sun, Mar 21, 2010 at 9:08 AM Subject: [wl2kemcomm] FW: Digital communications for IARU Region 2 Band plan To: wl2kemc...@yahoogroups.com Cc: winlink_programs_gr...@yahoogroups.com
All, If you have seen the IARU's view of what a band plan should look like, take a look at the attached. My response is no literary masterpiece, but I thought it important to state a case. Anyone else wishing to do likewise, please have at it. Steve, k4cjx, aaa9ac -----Original Message----- From: k4...@comcast.net <k4cjx%40comcast.net> [mailto:k4...@comcast.net<k4cjx%40comcast.net>] Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2010 6:27 AM To: 'bandplan2...@arrl.org <%27bandplan2010%40arrl.org>' Cc: 'Mickey Cox'; 'k...@arrl.org <%27k5uz%40arrl.org>' Subject: Digital communications for IARU Region 2 Band plan To all it may concern: These comments are being sought by the ARRL regarding considerations for the proposed IARU Region 2 band plan. I wish to speak toward the lack of opportunity available toward any future expansion of digital communications under such a proposed plan. With the exception of Amateur Radio, the growth of digital communications has saturated all facets of radio communications. The obvious reason for this digital saturation is the effectiveness, and efficiency of such a modes of operation over their older analog counterparts. Fact is, in other services, especially those which are responsible for our safety and well-being, digital operations are now being mandatorily imposed by the FCC. Because OBVIOUSLY, those who lead the charge toward the future direction of Amateur radio have no interest in enhancing the ability to communicate by modern standards, we are left with a tremendous scarcity of talent in the digital arena, especially in our ability to transfer data traffic. The very small digital segments proposed become a matter of popularity, and most certainly, nothing to do with developmental considerations toward the enhancement incentives to produce more effective methods of communications. As we fall further behind in our antiquated methodologies, our own effectiveness and efficiency suffers relative to our commercial counterparts, leaving us vulnerable to intrusion from other services. Is this currently not the situation we face continually? To snuff the opportunity for experimental and operational enhancements by severely limiting the frequency spectrum is one certain method to insure the retardation of any future for digital enhancements in our communications toolbox. During the days of dominance with Amplitude Modulation (AM), no progress toward Single Sideband (SSB) would have been made without available spectrum for development and operation. Today, developers and manufacturers of Amateur radio equipment have little to no incentive to develop and use digital methodology and protocols because they have no band space to use what is developed and produced. Thus, very little progress is being made. The very few KHz devoted to "narrow" and "wide" band digital operations, attended or unattended, are absurdly small for any future development. In addition, on 80 meters, such operations falls within the new SSB sub-band, where such operations were just recently moved by the FCC. On 40 meters, the operation is not in our digital "alley" and on the higher HF spectrum, such operations are so limited that it is not practical for anyone to continue operations or development. Modern digital methods such as those used by our own government's MIL SPEC STANAG protocols are not legal due to the absurdly slow 300 baud symbol rate. Thus, all past development has been severely limited, while those who control the expansion and collapse of our spectrum by mode operations could care less, even if they were aware of these issues. After all, future expansion is not within their radar. If it were, these impossibly small digital segments would be optimal for enhancing the Amateur service opportunity to develop more efficient and effective means of communicating. It is with these considerations in mind that I highly recommend the expansion of digital band segmentation throughout the HF spectrum. THINK about any other operation being squeezed into such a minute band space. How about putting the SSB DX segment within these small segments and see what comments you receive? But wait, those segments are important to the "grass roots" efforts. After all, future development toward digital communications is only a concept to most, not a reality. However, without it, we will continue to remain antiquated and vulnerable in the eyes of those who determine our future. Steve Waterman, K4CJX Winlink Network Administrator Winlink Development Team Assistant Director, ARRL Delta Division Army MARS National Automation Coordinator/Agency Liaison COML
