wd8chl wrote: > Good. D-Star and other digital voice modes do NOT need more spectrum on 2M. > > If a digital voice mode does not have some sort of provision for > monitoring for non-digital activity, or preventing transmission if there > is any, it needs to be redesigned, as it can easily be considered > illegal. P25 has it.
The requirement for repeaters to monitor their output frequency was dropped years ago Jim, if that's where you're headed. A D-STAR repeater doesn't monitor for non-digital activity, and neither does a modern analog repeater monitor for someone talking on the output frequency. (Yes, there were once requirements long before I was even a ham to do so, as I've learned from others.) As far as user rigs go, the Icom D-STAR user rigs do have the ability to do a busy channel lockout on both analog and digital signals. So that's covered. Just like SOME P25 rigs. (Remember D-STAR is just an open protocol, Icom just happens to be the only manufacturer making them right now. A ham in Japan has built a fully-working D-STAR interface to hook to his FT-817 that works just fine also.) Your assertion that ALL P25 rigs do busy channel lockout, is flat out wrong. Some do it, some can be programmed to do it, and others can be programed to completely ignore analog signals. I can program the one I'm using to lock out the PTT on signals received, or just to mash over the top of anything being received, and most P25 rigs are the same way. The situations where AUTOMATED digital operations are a problem is in bands where no coordination and/or no room is available for multiple modes to have their own "dedicated" spectrum (HF, primarily). Where the spectrum is shared by multiple digital and other modes, problems occur between automated and non-automated operations. Repeaters have been coordinated for decades now to avoid such problems, since they're fixed assets that can't "easily" be moved. So if you're talking about repeaters -- since this is the RB list after all -- I'm not sure what you're grousing about. I grump about certain automated digital stations on HF, but grumping about someone else's coordinated repeater, sitting there in its own coordinated frequency, not bothering you... seems odd. Almost like you're mixing your opinions of digital modes with your technical assessment, which isn't even accurate about the mode you're comparing with? With all of the above said, I too applaud the FCC for not making the repeater sub-band bigger. As a weak-signal/satellite/everything else enthusiast BESIDES being a "repeater guy", I see no compelling reason to let repeaters of any kind "take over" 2m. Move on up... plenty of room on the upper bands. Around here.. 2m = Full 220 = Underutilized 70cm = Almost full 900 MHz = Wide open 1.2 GHz = Wide open 5 Bands all generally suitable for local communications, 3 of them empty. I think I see the problem. (GRIN) Nate WY0X
