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Let's remember: The Internet is a DARPA War Baby, and thats precisely why it was born. Whatever it takes! Say want you want about the messages going through the Internet, but links, backup links, and packets splitting up and going through multiple points of infrastructure makes such delivery more Robust. Today, that's going to be multilayered: By radio, by wire, by microwave link, by satellite, by Internet.one or ALL of these means. In time of war or emergency, we need the messages to get through: By any means. "To recognize the value of emergency communications, advance the radio art, and improve communication and technical skills"Īnd this is one of the things that Echolink DOES. Q "What are three reasons that the amateur service exists?"Ī. Rules? Regs? How about INTENT and the SPRIT of Rules and Regs when it comes to Echolink: So although the Echolink "System" is legal, the Echolink "users" are essentially blind-folded, and therefore non-compliant with Part 97 "good amateur practice", since they could not possibly exercise any fundamental control beyond station ID, and clearly the fundamental structure of good amateur practice which applies independently to every station in the chain, goes well beyond a simple station ID.
#Cw internet echolink ham radio drivers#
In the case of a licensed amateur logged into echolink while using their phone, although Part 97 does not govern the cell phone itself, the "actions" of the licensed amateur still are.Ĭonsider this: Can you safely operate a car while blindfolded? - Even if you have a drivers license? Of course not!
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Either way the equipment and operator must be jointly compliant. We are allowed the freedom to choose our radio gear, or even build it from scratch. Also, the fact that most cheap modern equipment does not offer a lot of "bells and whistles" for operator control is irrelevant. The fact that the "echolink transmitter" is compliant and legal, does not apply to any other independently licensed station. Remember, every licensed operator, even separate operators, which operate in a "daisy-chained" fashion, are still required to independently employ "good amateur practice". How is it possible for a licensed Amateur Radio Operator, to log into echolink via their phone/Internet, and still exercise "good amateur practice", when they have no real tangible access to any actual radio gear, so that they may directly control frequency, bandwidth, deviation, and transmit power? Now to the final question about Echolink, which has never been asked: General station control, such as frequency, bandwidth, deviation, and transmit power. I hope that we can all agree that, "good amateur practice", probably includes all the basic fundamental aspects of radio, including: (a) In all respects not specifically covered by FCC Rules each amateur station must be operated in accordance with good engineering and good amateur practice. Station Operation Standards 97.101 General standards. OK, now we have decided the system is legal, and this is where the discussion has always ended.īefore we get to the next part, we need to discuss basic Amateur guidelines that we are all familiar with. This gray area, which does allow Echolink, at least in part, is largely due to the fact that Part 97 was written long before the Internet was ever created (which is another topic all it's own). Now keep in mind, so far we have only discussed the "system" itself being legal, basically due to a "technicality". This means that Part 97 is essentially "blind-folded" to any aspect outside the scope of Amateur Radio, and as long as the Echolink RF transmitter system is compliant (which is within the scope of Part 97), Then yes, the equipment that comprises the echolink apparatus, is indeed legal. So if we interconnect radio equipment with other technologies, such as the Internet, Part 97 can only govern the Amateur Radio aspect.
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The reason for this is that Part 97 does not govern the Internet or cell phones. Lets start with the classic discussion regarding whether or not the "Echolink System" is actually legal. However, this is not a debate of it's "usefulness". I intend to provide a fresh look, one which has never been considered, and to possibly show that Echolink may not be legal after all. Over the years, there have been many debates regarding the legalities of Echolink.