Joel Koltner wrote: >> ... most of what you're looking to do here is readily done >> with a Windows Mobile-based smart phone, which typically >> have a 320x240 or 640x480 touch screen display, Bluetooth, >> WiFi, and GPS built in, and cost less than $500 (often half >> that...). So long as you stay within range of cell towers >> (which is nintey-something-percent of all U.S. interstates), >> you can run instant messaging programs, play back podcasts, >> surf the Internet, read RSS things, etc. -- very, very powerful. >> >> Hence, where D*Star can really shine is for those small >> percentage of people who want voice and data communications >> outside of cell service areas, and I suspect that percentage >> is probably well under 1% of the population.
I have to seriously question whether D-STAR should ever be used for applications similar to what you've noted one can do with a mobile that is on an EVDO or GSM network or WiFi enabled. Most licensing jurisdictions, including the FCC in the US, limit the use of Amateur Radio to non-commercial purposes. My interpretation is that if you connected a device (PC, whatever) to a D-STAR device (either the high speed 23 cm digital data or low speed data on other modules) that in turn had Internet connectivity ... you can use it as long as there is no commercial aspects. Things I would believe are acceptable in the context of either Amateur or emergency use: - sending emails and text messages - uploading/downloading images and graphics - streaming live images from a camera over the D-STAR network Things that are unacceptable: - booking an airline reservation at a web site - sending/receiving email from your company's servers - general Internet web browsing (because a lot of it has commercial content) This whole area of Internet access through D-STAR is a very precarious thing. It is very easy to abuse; it would be equally as easy for a licensing authority to ban Internet connections all together (if abused). Lastly - how many places in the developed world would one expect to find a D-STAR repeater setup that would not have cellular service? And taking that one step further - if there was a D-STAR system in an area (assuming some high ground QTH with some coverage) with no mobile service ... there would probably be issues with getting Internet bandwidth to such a system. (As the same infrastructure used to deliver connectivity for telco services also brings Internet bandwidth as well.) Bob McCormick W1QA - HS0ZIF - VR2/W1QA
