2002-10-27
Notice: Folks, here I am going to discuss some rule'n'regulation issues that we, radio amateurs, every day face to. These problems make rather significant obstacles for this nice way of communication to be more developed and widely used.
First of all, anybody who might be interested in running Linux amateur radio software, as a way of using radio amateur stations on the international HF waves, in a digital manner, has to learn manual analog Morse telegraphy and pass the similar manual Morse skill test. For a long time now, I have been trying to explain myself, why manual Morse telegraphy is still being kept as the requirement without an amateur is not allowed to use HF radio frequencies under 30 MHz, in order to contact other Linux and remaining digital radio amateurs world-wide. I still have no answer, except that all of those who have wasted lots of time learning Morse, now don't want to allow newcomers to use the same capabilities - without the same (useless) tests!
You all know, there are so many Linux enthusiasts world-wide (including myself) who have been fighting against all types of monopols (like a company from Redmond, USA). The Morse obligatory test is the same: just another type of a monopoly!
That's why I have been trying to persuade all relevant authorities to remove such outdated regulatory principles, that make more and more obstacles for not only Linux users, but for other kinds of computer users - when it comes to the modern ICT technologies. I hope, all of you, readers of this mini-HOWTO, can now understand what does it mean to endlessly use outdated rules and regulations. For example, I often contact people from the academic world, students and scientists, in order to motivate them to join amateur radio wireless activities. They mostly refuse to start with amateur (also called "ham") radio, as soon as they hear they have to pass the Morse test, as the legal requirement before they become allowed to connect to remote computing radio users world-wide, using the HF radio bands and devices. I am sure, the absence of those high educated people in the ham radio is one of the most negative consequences in ICT areas we face to.
I have been thinking what to do, since early ninetees when I was the secretary of YU7 (Vojvodina province in Serbia) amateur radio union. It seemed to me that it was a very hard task to persuade the people who govern the amateur radio organizations, to remove such outdated rule. When I realized that the removing the mandatory manual Morse test is almost impossible to be expected in a short period of time, I decided to suggest the implementation of another regulatory principle: To adopt a new type of amateur radio licenses, a Ham Digital Licence (the HDL in short). The HDL licensees would be allowed to use ALL amateur radio frequencies, including ALL international HF bands under 30 MHz. But, they rather should be allowed to use ONLY digital types of amateur activities, including the use of computers with LinFBB packet radio software. The HDL holders might use some dedicated radio transmitters, without the capability for both voice microphone and Morse key connections, in order to avoid possible misuse of unwanted amateur activities (like voice SSB operations).
All HDL candidates would have to learn various topics like computer hardware and software in general (operating systems and system software configuration, amateur radio software setup etc), connecting amateur radio stations to the computers (connecting radio modems to the transmitters etc), building simple antennas (like 1/2 wave wire dipole for 20m I used long ago), English language (or German etc) in the written exam etc. The Morse requirement would not be used anymore, as well as some other obsolete tests, like highly complicated radio circuits or skills needed for building home-brew radios from the scratch (instead of buying modern factory manufactured devices) etc. Of course, regulatory issues should also be tested (like band plans - in particular recognizing the sub-bands dedicated for digital ham radio), RFI issues and how to avoid them etc.
I believe that amateur radio digital activities have their future only if we all do our best to improve the regulatory principles that govern this fine hobby. You should also know that, besides the telegraphy skill requirement for HF access, here in Serbia we have some further restrictions: we have all to be the members of the national amateur radio unions (SRV in YU7 province and SRS in Serbia in whole), as the legal requirement, before we become allowed to use any type of the amateur radio activities. Such a stupid rule does not exist elsewhere!
Should you want helping us to adopt internationally known principles, that do NOT require to join any type of an amateur radio organizational system, i.e. an amateur radio society (that only wants to get our membership money), you are invited to lobby for that. Our outdated amateur society leadership has their email address: yu0srj@eunet.yu (I suppose they may have more than one email address, but you may try to use this one). You may also use an Internet search engine and scan for more info related to "Savez radio amatera Jugoslavije", "Savez radio amatera Srbije", etc). Your valuable help would be highly appreciated. Case you need more info regarding these legal issues, do not hesitate to contact me too.
If you find yourself interested enough in making amateur radio rules and regulations better and updated (say to spread the idea of liberalize the ICT areas and make them free of any kind of monopols), I would suggest you to look for your national radio amateur society and/or national telecommunication regulatory agency (like FCC in the USA). Lobby to them in order to remove the obsolete manual Morse proficiency test. In addition, should you have some opportunities to attend to some ICT related science conferences or something like that, you are also invited to let me know of.
Case we all do our best to remove obstacles mentioned above and allow the new people who may wish to enjoy the amateur radio digital and Linux-related operations to do so, the technology would become the part of more homes. I hope you, the readers, may help. So I look forward to hear from you soon!