RE: Amateur Two-Way Radio

M0DCD — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 09:36:40 GMT

You've got it one about these modes not being adopted. There isn't a single digital standard, and DSTAR being based on a particular commercial codec means it comes at a premium and from only a small pool of suppliers. Cost has been a factor, you pay quite a premium for a radio and then it's not much use if you can't make any contacts with it.

Repurposed commercial geat has all but vanished from the market, it's either disposed of to prevent misuse or is beyond economical repair, such as P25 never caught on over here. Mind you, some of the ham radios are now much less "amateur" than they were before.

Possibly because some of these modes depend on having some infrastructure behind them does discourage some "purists" from using them.

We've never been allowed phone patches in the UK, but I suppose Echolink and IRLP come close to this.

As for getting a licence, for a basic grade licence (US Technician or UK Foundation) it's actually got a little easier with time.

RE: Amateur Two-Way Radio

DAB — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:31:42 GMT

Nice Blog,

It took me back to my younger days when wireless communication was less defined than it is today.

I agree that the hobby/vocation was much more technically intense than it is today.

I did manage to get a 2nd Class FCC license back in the early 1970's, but the test was not for the unqualified person to take.

I came close to passing the 1st Class license, but did not meet the minimum score.

Still, it was a way to distinguish those who studied communications electronics from those who did not.

DAB