> >Digital voice on HF will NEVER catch on because it is a strong > >signal mode, and HF is the home of weak signals, well except for 80 > > Never is a long time, and vocoder technology marches on. Already, > the biggest limitation is not technology, but patents and what we > hams can get hold of for an affordable price.
Free AMBE wouldn't eliminate the 10 db s/n technologic gap between usable hf digital and hf ssb, or resolve the bandwidth issues here in the USA. The other hf digital obstacle is no "wow factor". Hf digital, so what? Even VHF digital by itself lacks a "wow factor". Talking to NU5D across town digitally versus fm is no big thrill. On the other hand, talking to JI1BQW half-way around the world using my mobile VHF/UHF rig is, so it's not digital voice per se that brings the "wow factor", it's the gateway interconnect and other features of DStar such as reflectors that do. On hf none of that is a big deal. Sure there's a handful of folks who would/will use it, but it will never catch on. 73 -- John
