Mark - Thanks for that observation. Agreed that is happening because even using speaker / microphone connections and the most basic audio interface, VARA FM can achieve 12+ kbps. Noted for future reference.
I love the newsletter, you are a talented writer. Perhaps you would consider writing an article for QST about New Packet Radio? There are no "staff writers" who decide what gets written, only hams who submit articles for publication. The other comment I would make is that the minimum monthly subscription for substack of $5/mo is too high. $60 year is nearly the cost of ARRL dues, which pay for a printed magazine, lobbying on behalf of ham radio, expert technical support and so much more. It's also about half the cost of many fine streaming services that provide hugely more content. I am a free subscriber to many substacks, and it would cost me way too much to give each $5/month. I would gladly support many of them with a $10/year option. Is that possible?
Jim - Thanks for the kind words! Zero Retries is free to everyone. I’m grateful for those that can and are willing to be paid subscribers. Understood that $5 / month is a big commitment for some. As for writing for QST, I have a philosophical disagreement with ARRL about putting Amateur Radio content behind ARRL’s paywall. ARRL membership is only 20% (at most) of US Amateur Radio Operators - thus 80% of US AROs would never ever be able to see such a QST article. Writing that same article in Zero Retries potentially makes it available to EVERY Amateur Radio Operator.
Update - I would be willing to write for QST if ARRL was willing to allow republication of my content after a reasonable interval (a few months), but in the few times I've looked into writing for QST, they require exclusivity.
Steve;
Re VARA FM --
You should point out that VARA FM is rapidly displacing "1200 bps packet" for Winlink radio email communications on VHF / UHF bands.
Mark - AD7EF
Mark - Thanks for that observation. Agreed that is happening because even using speaker / microphone connections and the most basic audio interface, VARA FM can achieve 12+ kbps. Noted for future reference.
I love the newsletter, you are a talented writer. Perhaps you would consider writing an article for QST about New Packet Radio? There are no "staff writers" who decide what gets written, only hams who submit articles for publication. The other comment I would make is that the minimum monthly subscription for substack of $5/mo is too high. $60 year is nearly the cost of ARRL dues, which pay for a printed magazine, lobbying on behalf of ham radio, expert technical support and so much more. It's also about half the cost of many fine streaming services that provide hugely more content. I am a free subscriber to many substacks, and it would cost me way too much to give each $5/month. I would gladly support many of them with a $10/year option. Is that possible?
Jim - Thanks for the kind words! Zero Retries is free to everyone. I’m grateful for those that can and are willing to be paid subscribers. Understood that $5 / month is a big commitment for some. As for writing for QST, I have a philosophical disagreement with ARRL about putting Amateur Radio content behind ARRL’s paywall. ARRL membership is only 20% (at most) of US Amateur Radio Operators - thus 80% of US AROs would never ever be able to see such a QST article. Writing that same article in Zero Retries potentially makes it available to EVERY Amateur Radio Operator.
Update - I would be willing to write for QST if ARRL was willing to allow republication of my content after a reasonable interval (a few months), but in the few times I've looked into writing for QST, they require exclusivity.