2025-04-18 — IP400 Update 2025-04-18, Software Defined Radio is THE Imperative for US Amateur Radio, Some Selected Comments from FCC Docket GN 25-133, A Vision for Open Innovation: ARDC’s Strategy
Steve let me know if you get LinBPQ set up. I'm an active user of my local packet BBS. Look me up in the white pages and send a message!
Also, I think you know my stance on filing comments on this FCC proceeding! I completely disagree with KE9V's take. Michelle just posted a good example of what speaking up can do on ORI's site:
"Turtle mode" would have let interference run rampant. Cowering the corner is no way to improve the hobby. This post also contains our upcoming reply comments. By the way, we agree with more than your 219 comments, but wanted to keep these short, sweet, and focused on 219.
Justin - Thanks for the heads up and the reference to my 25-133 comments in ORI's Reply Comment. ORI's article that you linked is instructive. On one hand, it's kind-of encouraging that Part 5 licenses are granted so easily. But, on the other hand, the one referenced was granted too easily. There's NO spectrum in the US, DC to daylight, that isn't allocated by now to SOMETHING, and very little of it (other than unused television broadcast channels) that isn't actively in use. I agree that it's concerning that there wasn't a heads up of this experimental license for Amateur Radio spectrum, but on the other hand, that license was easy enough to discover once someone thought to look. This "pay attention to experimental licenses for Amateur Radio spectrum" would seem to be something that should be a regular "check" that is done by "someone" in Amateur Radio.
I understand the use of FreeDV to make your point. Another example would be an FT8 implementation that can decode across a 25 or 50 kHz slice. There’s a chicken-and-egg with such an app and a radio to use it with, but I believe it’s an inevitability. Even the Flex 8000s are a step in that direction. As for FreeDV itself, I’ve been somewhat disappointed with real-world performance.
Chuck - There are any number of indicators I could use for "Real" SDR, but the bottom line for me is can a user load software (that the user potentially developed themselves) to run on the RADIO. FreeDV is impressive that it's been in continuous development / evolution for some time now, and are able to pay for professional development services with the grant they received. The RADE capability is even more impressive than the original FreeDV.
Bernerd - Thanks for this! I had not heard of this project previously, now bookmarked for potential mention in ZR. I think 802.11ah / Wi-Fi HaLow has a lot of potential, and hopefully it can be ported to 440 MHz or 1240-1300 MHz.
Steve let me know if you get LinBPQ set up. I'm an active user of my local packet BBS. Look me up in the white pages and send a message!
Also, I think you know my stance on filing comments on this FCC proceeding! I completely disagree with KE9V's take. Michelle just posted a good example of what speaking up can do on ORI's site:
https://www.openresearch.institute/2025/04/19/connecting-the-dots-protecting-and-improving-amateur-radio-access-to-219-220-mhz/
"Turtle mode" would have let interference run rampant. Cowering the corner is no way to improve the hobby. This post also contains our upcoming reply comments. By the way, we agree with more than your 219 comments, but wanted to keep these short, sweet, and focused on 219.
Justin - Thanks for the heads up and the reference to my 25-133 comments in ORI's Reply Comment. ORI's article that you linked is instructive. On one hand, it's kind-of encouraging that Part 5 licenses are granted so easily. But, on the other hand, the one referenced was granted too easily. There's NO spectrum in the US, DC to daylight, that isn't allocated by now to SOMETHING, and very little of it (other than unused television broadcast channels) that isn't actively in use. I agree that it's concerning that there wasn't a heads up of this experimental license for Amateur Radio spectrum, but on the other hand, that license was easy enough to discover once someone thought to look. This "pay attention to experimental licenses for Amateur Radio spectrum" would seem to be something that should be a regular "check" that is done by "someone" in Amateur Radio.
I understand the use of FreeDV to make your point. Another example would be an FT8 implementation that can decode across a 25 or 50 kHz slice. There’s a chicken-and-egg with such an app and a radio to use it with, but I believe it’s an inevitability. Even the Flex 8000s are a step in that direction. As for FreeDV itself, I’ve been somewhat disappointed with real-world performance.
Chuck - There are any number of indicators I could use for "Real" SDR, but the bottom line for me is can a user load software (that the user potentially developed themselves) to run on the RADIO. FreeDV is impressive that it's been in continuous development / evolution for some time now, and are able to pay for professional development services with the grant they received. The RADE capability is even more impressive than the original FreeDV.
I am looking forward to the physical layer for supporting:
"The primary emphasis of IP400 development will be on a newer, faster, more exciting data mode - at least a couple of hundred kbps."
https://github.com/DO3RB/WirelessNetworkTransceiver
Bernerd - Thanks for this! I had not heard of this project previously, now bookmarked for potential mention in ZR. I think 802.11ah / Wi-Fi HaLow has a lot of potential, and hopefully it can be ported to 440 MHz or 1240-1300 MHz.