An ALE network and WinLink are both useful. My comments to the FCC were: "RM-11392 attempts to address problems of interference between narrow and wide bandwidth text and data communition modes on amateur bands, but the proposed rule changes will create more problems than they solve. Historicly, communication in the amateur radio service was either narrow-band (100-500Hz) text or wideband (2-7 kHz) voice and each fequency band was partitioned into 2 segments. These were originally for cw and phone, but now are rtty/data and phone/image.
With the arrival of digital modulation techniques text, images and voice may be transmitted alternately or simultaneously using the same modulation method and with various occupied bandwidths. The best solution for the future and the one that minimizes regulatory burdens on both users and the FCC is to redefine these band segments as being for narrow-band and wide-band emissions regardless of content (voice, image, text or data). In my view, the optimal maximum bandwidths for frequencies below 29 MHz are 800 Hz at for the narrow-band segments (usually the lower frequencies in each band) and 8 kHz for the wide-band segments (usually the higher frequencies in each band). 800 Hz allows for CW, RTTY, PSK31, MFSK16 and other modes used for keyboard-to-keyboard comunication and slow-speed image communication and file transfer. 8 kHz is consistant with limits in other countries (when they exist at all), allows existing AM stations to continue to operate and allows simultaneous voice/text/image communiation using analog or digital modulation. A small area (10-20 kHz) for automated stations must also be established in the wide-band segments of HF bands to allow for PACTOR-3 and similar protcols used for message forwaring as they are invaluable during emergencies where the normal communications infrastructure is compromised. If the rule changes are to extend beyond 29 MHz, maximum bandwidths of 20 kHz should be adopted between 29 and 29.7 MHz and 200 kHz between 50 and 225 MHz for the old phone/image segments. This allows for exsting FM voice and medium-speed data stations in the 10, 6, 2, and 1.25 meter bands. Any bandwidth limits above 420 MHz must be 25 MHz or greater to accomodate existing stations using IEEE 802 data trasmission and AM and FM TV. In my opinion, no bandwidth limits are required above 420 MHz as long as emissions stay within the designated bands for the amateur radio service. The rules changes outlined above should solve several problems and decrease regulatory burdens in the future." 73, John KD6OZH ----- Original Message ----- From: expeditionradio To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2007 07:16 UTC Subject: [digitalradio] Ham Radio ALE High Frequency Network (Re: FCC to Kill Digital Radio?) The Ham Radio ALE High Frequency Network (HFN) http://www.hflink.com/hfn/ is the only HF 24/7 network on ham radio that can be accessed and used for text messaging without an external computer or modem. HFN may also be used with a regular HF ham radio and a laptop or PC computer soundcard using one of several free ALE software programs. Ham Radio ALE High Frequency Network (HFN) would cease to exist if any of the objectives of FCC RM-11392 petition were to succeed. HFN covers all of North America, and other parts of the world. All HF bands. All day. All night. see map: http://hflink.com/HFN_PILOT_STATION_MAP1.jpg HFN operates within FCC rules in the Automatically Controlled Data Station HF Sub Bands... see chart: http://hflink.com/bandplans/USA_BANDCHART.jpg The HFN system uses International Standard ALE (8FSK, with 2.2kHz bandwidth) for selective calling, nets, bulletins, data, HF-to-HF relay, direct text messaging, HF-to-Cell Phone texting, and short text e-messaging. The primary purpose of HFN is to provide Emergency / Disaster Relief Communications. When the system is not being used for the primary purpose, it provides normal daily routine text messaging services, propagation services, and many other types of features for hams. HFN ALE stations use a common frequency per band, sharing the same "channel" on a time-domain multiplexed basis, with a combination of automatic busy detection and/or collision detection systems. The transmissions are normally sent in quick bursts. The system is free and open for all ham radio operators... for more information about using HFN, click here: http://www.hflink.com/hfn/ The Ham Radio ALE High Frequency Network does not require the internet to function, but it uses the internet when it is available. It is the only ham radio system of its kind that is truly interoperable on HF for selective calling, voice, and text, with other non-amateur services and agencies. For more information about this, see Interoperable HF Communications: http://www.hflink.com/interoperation/ Who among the "anti-automatic" and "anti-everything-that-is-not-PSK31" hams are going to volunteer to replace the HFN if it were to be killed by this petition? Please show us your alternative 24/7/365 manually operated system on HF. Show us how you will monitor all HF ham bands simultaneously and respond instantly. When will you sleep? How many hams will work 8 hour shifts every day? How will we alert you on HF to run emergency traffic? Will you answer the call? It is time for those who seek to put us back to the digital stone age to step up to the plate and put their money where their mouth is. Happy New Year! 73 Bonnie KQ6XA .
