At 04:57 AM 6/29/2010, you wrote: >You should take a look at this : >http://draf.asso.fr/index.php?post/2010/06/28/D-STAR-situation-in-France
Looks like a Government agency that doesn't really understand D-STAR or other newer digital modes. I'm sure that if someone can sit the officials down and get them to listen, all of their fears could be put to rest. Governments around the world have dealt with the Internet connection issue. Ours, for instance, has considered that as long as general Internet access isn't possible, then the Internet part of the connection is treated more like a dedicated landline link between amateur stations, and is permitted. This issue first came up in the IPhone days (late 1990s), and the ACMA has progressively clarified the regulations in this area. The other key issue seems to be that Government agencies feel they can't monitor D-STAR communications. Someone needs to show them that ANY D-STAR radio can intercept these transmissions, and that a DV Dongle implements the vocoder, which can be used with any receiver or Internet system that can recover the audio stream. There's nothing to stop French authorities monitoring D-STAR transmissions, it's as easy as listening into FM, AM or SSB, with the right radio (i.e. any of the Icom units currently on the market). Someone needs to sit the French officials down and allay their fears about D-STAR, as well as sell the potential benefits to the French public of amateurs with D-STAR capabilities on French soil. 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
