I'll say again... the only thing wrong with the concept of ALE is the lack of active users. Everything else about ALE makes perfect sense to me. Here are the basics.
Automatic Link Establishment = the software (or firmware) stores reception reports and when you want to call a known station it will automatically search for that station based on propagation data. ALE will automatically link via a digital mode and then the operators will negotiate another mode suitable for the task in hand. The software (or firmware) has the ability to call up specific nets or lists of stations making such things as ARES nets MUCH easier. The standard digital method used has unique capabilities that enable the software to detect a signal and pause for decode even when the radio is scanning many channels in a few seconds. That's it. Pretty simple, but quite powerfull. Taking PC-ALE and MARS-ALE as examples, there is no other software in the ham world that will provide you with as powerful a communication tool . The problems of ALE are quite simple too, just two. PC-ALE requires more precise soundcard timing that most other ham applications and poor decode is the result from sound cards that are not accurate enough. The concept of ALE requires automated beacons, "soundings", that are often unattended. Thus some people get upset at the QRM caused. These are the only real problems associated with the software or concept of ALE. The lack of activity is caused by a poor performance of the standard digital mode and the quasi-military design of the concept in the ham world. If there was a help file written in plain language and a more open mail reflector for help, I suspect there would be more operators. As I think Steve and Bonnie have frequently pointed out, a concept of ALE is that you use the automatic nature of ALE to establish a link and then move to other frequencies and modes . The new FLARQ seems to be tailor made for this. Use ALE to find your stations and use FLARQ in a variety of modes/speeds to pass 100% accurate traffic. It'll will often be a whole lot faster than most of the digital modes that are options the ALE software or firmware. Andy K3UK On Jan 12, 2008 12:18 AM, Steve Hajducek <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > > John, > > Sorry but I know the relative level of activity > at times. There is far less ALE than various > other modes and more ALE than various other modes > as well. It all depends on your point of > reference, just as there is Hellscriber than GTOR > and more CW than PSK31, regardless your statement > as to the amount of activity is false, but its > also moot in my opinion. I view ALE within the > scope of Amateur Radio application as tool that > needs to trained on and have networks in place > for use as necessary, not necessarily used daily > by all, although such use is just fine and the > best tool for many pursuits within ARS, however > its the application of ALE for ECOM where I see > ALE having the biggest benefits to the ARS. > > Rather than sitting on 20 meters you should try > programming all the ALE frequencies into your > choice of ALE controller and scanning for 24 > hours with appropriate antenna for NVIS below > 14Mhz and Skywave above 10Mhz for Amateur Radio > and if you are properly configured you your results will be much different. > > As to you what you are seeing on Channel One, it > will depend on the geographic location of the > HFlinkNet stations and what they are hearing > based on the antenna type being used. Some are > using NVIS antenna only, others Skywave antenna > only, some are using something thing in between, > those using automated antenna selection will be > optimum, I do not know what all the stations are > running. The MARS-ALE software which is being > used by HFlinkNet stations supports programmable > antenna selection during scanning using various > devices, the CAT ANT ports in radios, external PC > controlled ATU's with ant ports and dedicated > antenna switches under PC control. > > /s/ Steve, N2CKH > > > At 11:05 PM 1/11/2008, you wrote: > > > >If the statement below is False, why are there > >not more call signs showing up on the main ALE frequencies? > > > >I can leave my rig on 14109.5 or 10145.5 for 24 > >hours and only see, at most 4 or 5 stations? Ditto for the ALE website > >At HFlink. And 99% of those are soundings. So > >where are the QSO's and the like? > > > >Who is up for testing the ability of PCALE to > >handle a standard test document between 2 distant stations, compared to > 141A or > >ALE400. Ditto for a file transfer? I can't on > >PCALE since I can only receive, since I have a > >problem getting the software to TX. > > > >Anyway , in the past I have told you guys at > >least 20 million times not to exaggerate…… > > > > > >John > >VE5MU > > -- Andy K3UK www.obriensweb.com (QSL via N2RJ) Announce your digital presence via our Interactive Sked Page at http://www.obriensweb.com/sked DRCC contest info : http://www.obriensweb.com/drcc.htm Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
