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Legally speaking, seems like every user & station would require a callsign, which would likely be a huge barrier to adoption, create massive privacy issues, etc
by nxzero 10y ago
Legally speaking, seems like every user & station would require a callsign, which would likely be a huge barrier to adoption, create massive privacy issues, etc.
- setra 10y agoWhile they are using the HAM portion of the bands this is basically just wifi gear. Granted they are probably using more power than is legal for unlicensed users.
- pingec 10y agoYes common commercial wifi gear with all its pros and cons which some would argue is (among other technical and legal downsides) not true to the spirit of amateur radio anymore. In Slovenia we have this guy working on a new protocol, software and hardware stack purposely built for packet radio with the intention that anyone can solder their own radio station. http://lea.hamradio.si/~s53mv/nbp/nbp.html http://lea.hamradio.si/~s53mv/nbp/nbp.html Right now it is deployed on the 430Mhz band in Slovenia and you need a call sign to use it. Works quite well, can watch youtube from mountains where even 3g does not reach ^^
- tlrobinson 10y agoRepurposing commercial gear seems within the "spirit" of ham radio to me.
- vvanders 10y agoI've often wondered why something better than AX.25 hasn't taken off yet(and wanted to build something better). Will look into this for sure. Thanks for the link.
- privong 10y ago> the HAM portion Just a quick note that "ham" is not an acronym and so isn't written in all-caps.
- wglb 10y agoYes each station would require a call sign. At least in the US, all call signs are publicly discoverable and the records include the physical address of the station. There is, by law, no form of privacy about where the station is located, nor any of the communications by amateur radio.
- w8rbt 10y agoMine has a PO box. So do others I know. My street address is not listed by the FCC. Not that I'm trying to prevent that. Just wanted to state a few facts. http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=3469285 http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey...
- VLM 10y agoPer FCC part 97.23 last amended in '98 you need a US mailing address where you can get USPS mail delivered. In case they want to send a complaint mail, for example. If your postal address bounces they'll cancel your license. The FCC needs a way to contact you and USPS is the one method they demand, not email, not facebook, not phone number, postal mail. 99% of hams, if not more, use their home street address which is probably where their station is located. School clubs usually use the main school address and at a giant uni it never works. Some people use PO boxes, or work address. APO/FPO addresses work fine if you're stationed overseas. With certain weird limitations related to the national radio quiet zone by the radio telescopes and the NSA monitoring posts, the FCC doesn't care where the transmitter is located under part 97. Consider mobile operation or portable operation. You're probably thinking of part 73 "regular ole AM/FM radio broadcasting" where the FCC wants all kinds of detailed latitude / longitude data and surveys or maybe part 11 for the emergency broadcast system.
- wglb 10y agoAh! You are correct. I was licensed well before that, and missed that change.