>>>AA6YQ comments below
--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "expeditionradio"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Most of the "automatic" or "unattended" sub-bands or band segments on
HF were formed many years ago before such operations become so widely
popular as they are now. Presently there are many thousands of hams
actively using these methods, and it is increasing daily.
Thus, the segments devoted to it in the IARU Region bandplans and
various national assignments are woefully inadequate.
>>>Improve the technology and demonstrate that it can share spectrum
with attended stations without QRMing existing QSOs; then propose the
elimination of these constraints.
>snip<
But, automatic or unattended operation isn't just for messaging or
email anymore. Even the so-called "weak signal" digital modes are
using automatic or unattended methods now. JT65A is a typical example.
It is programmed by the operator to send repetitive transmissions on a
schedule. JT65A mode operators rarely listen by ear (because the
signals are often below the noise). If they are involved at all with
the process directly, it is most likely to occasionally view a
waterfall with a long time constant, with the main intention to spot
other JT65A signals with long duration carriers.
>>>It doesn't matter whether you're delivering messages, attempting
weak signal communication, or chewing the rag with an old friend:
transmitting on an already occupied frequency is unacceptable unless
an emergency is in progress. Unattended JT65A stations operating
without busy detectors are no more acceptable than WinLink PMBOs.
As HF digital technology moves forward, we are seeing the distinction
getting blurry between what is "manual" and what is "automatic" or
"unattended".
>>>There is no blurriness whatsoever between attended and unattended;
either the station's transmitter is under the control of an operator
who is in real time copying signals demodulated by the station's
receiver, or it isn't.
>>>For US hams, "automatic" is defined in the FCC regulations.
It seems that the real distinctions that may sift out in the future
are the differences between frequency-division and time-division
methods of digital and analog HF operation. There are modes that may
blur the line between either one of these categories, but generally,
this is the direction it is headed.
Automatic -vs- manual may have become a quaint term of reference that
might better be relegated to 20th century thinking.
>>>The issue on which this thread is focused is the elimination of
conflicts between attended and unattended operations. Semantic games
are not productive.
73,
Dave, AA6YQ
