If it was really child's play, it would have been done several years ago. I too used to think that this could be done, even if current OS's were not adequate for ARQ modes with that kind of timing. My understanding is that some have tried to do it but not succeeded.
The Winlink 2000 folks (Winlink was discontinued several years back except for use with NTS and possibly some other non ham systems), were openly pleased with the fact that these modes were difficult to decode. Especially with the additional compression scheme used. I believe you will find a number of hams who support these kinds of systems who now would like to see encryption on the ham bands. At least on VHF and up. They claim this is needed for security for emergency communications. So they felt pretty good that they could point to the fact that few, if any, could monitor their P3 transmissions. I suspect that most hams are like me and do not support any encryption at any time, even on VHF and higher. I do agree that proprietary modes should not be on amateur radio, but it is many years too late to make a change unless a groundswell occurred and I don't see that happening. 73, Rick, KV9U N6CRR wrote: > I don't believe for a second the claims that are made that Pactor III > cannot be decoded with software. Software might not be able to be made > to work in a full linked mode, but decoding any signal is child's play > with the fire power in any modern computer. The DSP algorithms and > such that have been developed can decode anything that I know of, if > the coding scheme is published. If there is an additional set of > codes, which in effect encrypt the link, i.e. IP Sec or others, that > would not be legal as all amateur communications are by regulation > required to be un-encrypted. > > If the Pactor III and the WinLink folks have nothing to hide, they > should be encouraging someone to develop an open source PT III > decoder. As a matter of fact, the ARRL should fund the development of > such a beast in my book, if for no other reason to increase the > transparency of communications and to allay the rumors and such that > Winlink is doing some nefarious. One of the hallmarks of this hobby is > the self policing of every communications being able to be monitored > by my peer amateurs. This is not possible with PT III and is one of > the major issues I have with the whole deal. > > >
