paull@hplabs.UUCP (Rob KA6SFV) (10/23/84)
The amateur radio service exists for several reasons:
- Establishment of a group of trained radio operators to facilitate
communications during emergencies. (Public service type stuff)
- To advance the state of radio technology.
- To promote goodwill between amateurs of other nations. (DX work)
et al.
It seems to me that accessing a computer, via the ham bands, to do YOUR
work on is not a valid use of amateur radio. FCC laws forbid one way
broadcasting except for news of interest to all amateurs and code practice.
I suppose you could consider a session with a machine some form of two-way
communications, but I think this would be streching the spirit of amateur
radio.
<all of the above is my personal opinion only>
TNX, 73 Rob Paull (KA6SFV)
PS: Why don't you get the FCC to give you a piece of unused spectrum
and you could set up a business renting portable wireless terminals
and computer time.
karn@mouton.UUCP (10/23/84)
Regarding the legality of using ham radio to access your computer, this would be a problem only if it was a "business use" of amateur radio. As long as you're not doing work for which you are paid (or facilitating a company's business), use of packet radio for remote computer access is not only legal, it is encouraged. At this stage of the game, it certainly falls under "advancing the state of radio technology", something that the vast majority of (American, at least) amateurs seem uninterested in as proven by their reaction to the no-code docket. Here is a quote from 97.69: "...an amateur radio communication may include digital codes which represent alphanumeric characters, analogue measurements or other information. These digital codes may be used for such communications as (but not limited to) radio teleprinter, voice, facsimile, television, models and other objects, transference of computer programs or direct computer-to-computer communcations, and communications in various types of data networks (including so-called "packet switching" systems); provided that such digital codes are not intended to obscure the meaning of, but are only to facilitate, the communications..." [goes on to describe transmission standards] The only remaining legal grey area has to do with whether amateur packet stations can be unattended. We have at least temporaily avoided this problem by considering them to be repeaters (by placing them within the repeater segments) and then using the "automatic control" repeater provisions. 73, Phil
cjl@ecsvax.UUCP (10/25/84)
RE "Unused Spectrum":
There is no such thing as "unused spectrum" in the practical frequency bands.
About the only thing available is line-of-sight 23 Ghz microwave...
We have begged, pleaded, and threatened the FCC for an HF, VHF, or UHF frequency
for local packet, and the only response is for all members "to get their
amateur licenses."
If anyone can find an available frequency band and service, PLEASE let me know!
Charles J. Lord
...!decvax!mcnc!ecsvax!cjl