Post by Site Admin on Dec 18, 2003 14:00:45 GMT -5
Among amateurs with many years of operation behind them, there has been much discussion over the various new technologies available to amateur operators. Many suggest that the various forms of amateur communications that incorporate the internet are "not really ham" communications. Some say that "talking to a computer" is not what ham is all about.
But seriously, is the internet that foreign to the amateur radio hobby?
I mean, many QSL cards nowadays have an email address on them. Internet message boards related to amateur radio have regular posters numbering in the thousands, and many more non-regular subscribed members. Every ham I know that regularly checks band conditions does so via the internet. I even see most hams who want to check up on callsign validity do so via the internet.
Indeed, one could argue that amateur radio, specifically packet radio, gave birth to the internet in the first place. The structure of the packet radio system is identical to the structure of the internet servers. The only difference is computer data of any kind, rather than voices or messages alone, are what travels from point to point.
So, why is any link between the internet and amateur radio viewed as the beginning of the end, as it were?
I've heard one longtime amateur tell me that the new IRLP technology is something he would never use. He said that "talking to a computer is not really ham radio." Yet his club's repeater does not have IRLP. They have Echolink instead. Since Echolink allows amateur communications without a rig of any kind, only a multimedia computer with access to the internet is needed, then it is more like "talking to a computer" than IRLP is.
But even the makers of Echolink verify the validity of a new registrant's amateur license before allowing communications. They've even annoyed some by actually asking for a photocopy of their certificates. I'm sure most amateurs would agree that verifying a valid certificate before allowing amateur communications is not asking too much. They even admit that since there is no way to allow monitoring without the ability to transmit also, that SWL's are not allowed access. It all sounds reasonable to me.
Even some manufacturers are pushing their own internet-to-amateur links. Many Yaesu models come equipped with Yaesu's own WIRES technology as one-button access.
(You can download an Adobe Acrobat file from Yaesu about WIRES here: www.yaesu.co.uk/amateur/vhf/wires/wiresinfo.pdf
or.. check out N0UQZ's page here: k0swi.microlnk.com/IRADIO/WIRES/1_YAESU%20WIRES%20II%20MAIN%20MENU.htm ).
Now, I'm sure some will say that Yaesu is simply catering to the younger generation hams, who are already immersed in the internet. They are trying to make an extra buck, some will say.
I can't deny that. But I also am not bothered by the thinking behind it. Yaesu is an amateur radio manufacturer interested in making a profit. Just like Kenwood; ALI; Icom and anybody else. The fact that they want to join the progression toward new technologies is a plus, in my opinion.
Here's a point worth mentioning: one ham who had some misgivings about these new internet-radio technologies was using software on his PC to make long distance calls for free (or extremely cheap) over the internet. He was proud of all the money he was saving doing so.
?? But again, it's internet-based communications. I disagree that there should be a distinction between phone internet-based, and ham internet-based communications, especially since both seek to enhance the traditional means.
I use IRLP, and Echolink. I have a Yaesu handheld equipped with WIRES, (a VX7R), but have yet to try it. I use those and other forms of "enhancement," and am not ashamed of it in the least.
What do you think?
But seriously, is the internet that foreign to the amateur radio hobby?
I mean, many QSL cards nowadays have an email address on them. Internet message boards related to amateur radio have regular posters numbering in the thousands, and many more non-regular subscribed members. Every ham I know that regularly checks band conditions does so via the internet. I even see most hams who want to check up on callsign validity do so via the internet.
Indeed, one could argue that amateur radio, specifically packet radio, gave birth to the internet in the first place. The structure of the packet radio system is identical to the structure of the internet servers. The only difference is computer data of any kind, rather than voices or messages alone, are what travels from point to point.
So, why is any link between the internet and amateur radio viewed as the beginning of the end, as it were?
I've heard one longtime amateur tell me that the new IRLP technology is something he would never use. He said that "talking to a computer is not really ham radio." Yet his club's repeater does not have IRLP. They have Echolink instead. Since Echolink allows amateur communications without a rig of any kind, only a multimedia computer with access to the internet is needed, then it is more like "talking to a computer" than IRLP is.
But even the makers of Echolink verify the validity of a new registrant's amateur license before allowing communications. They've even annoyed some by actually asking for a photocopy of their certificates. I'm sure most amateurs would agree that verifying a valid certificate before allowing amateur communications is not asking too much. They even admit that since there is no way to allow monitoring without the ability to transmit also, that SWL's are not allowed access. It all sounds reasonable to me.
Even some manufacturers are pushing their own internet-to-amateur links. Many Yaesu models come equipped with Yaesu's own WIRES technology as one-button access.
(You can download an Adobe Acrobat file from Yaesu about WIRES here: www.yaesu.co.uk/amateur/vhf/wires/wiresinfo.pdf
or.. check out N0UQZ's page here: k0swi.microlnk.com/IRADIO/WIRES/1_YAESU%20WIRES%20II%20MAIN%20MENU.htm ).
Now, I'm sure some will say that Yaesu is simply catering to the younger generation hams, who are already immersed in the internet. They are trying to make an extra buck, some will say.
I can't deny that. But I also am not bothered by the thinking behind it. Yaesu is an amateur radio manufacturer interested in making a profit. Just like Kenwood; ALI; Icom and anybody else. The fact that they want to join the progression toward new technologies is a plus, in my opinion.
Here's a point worth mentioning: one ham who had some misgivings about these new internet-radio technologies was using software on his PC to make long distance calls for free (or extremely cheap) over the internet. He was proud of all the money he was saving doing so.
?? But again, it's internet-based communications. I disagree that there should be a distinction between phone internet-based, and ham internet-based communications, especially since both seek to enhance the traditional means.
I use IRLP, and Echolink. I have a Yaesu handheld equipped with WIRES, (a VX7R), but have yet to try it. I use those and other forms of "enhancement," and am not ashamed of it in the least.
What do you think?
