kr0ne wrote:GeeFull wrote:
Increasingly it is becoming marginalised, and fragmented, by this vast variety of digital platforms, that you either "buy into", or you don't!
I'm sure the same thing was said about FM, SSB and phone modes in general once upon a time. We still hear it said fairly regularly about non-phone digital modes such as PSK and *gasp* WSPR....... "it's not
real radio"
I'd wager that in the 1900s, when AM was invented, the number of amateurs was but a small fraction of our numbers today and that the "fragmentation" caused to this small group by the introduction of phone modes to the airwaves was infinitely more significant than anything happening today!
Now lets go back "that far" and the various "new modes" that appeared in amateur radio, all of which were analogue based.
So we started out with raspy spark gap transmissions, decodable with a simple RX and diode detector, we then moved to AM modulated phone transmissions, which could be easily resolved on existing equipment, and transmitted quite simply with the home brew addition of an audio amplifier circuit, suitable microphone, and modulation transformer!
Then SSB arrived, DSB in the first instance, and reception was possible on any AM RX out in the field, with the simple addition of a BFO, push come to shove!
For TX a very basic modulator could be fabricated, at its most basic, a simple "ring of diodes" inserted after the local prime oscillator, plus a bit of audio injected modulation.
Then FM, on RX it could be either decoded with a simple dedicated FM discriminator, again could be simple diode based pre "IC's dedicated for the job, or at a push simply "slope tuned" on an AM RX.
For TX, it simply required a varactor diode, or similar frequency shifting circuit, plus again some audio from the mic, suitably amplified, for correct deviation level.
This continued for many years, with folks being able to "modify" their current homebrew gear.
Fast forward to D-Star, the first real amateur digital voice platform, initially it was well beyond experimentation for the average amateur, not easy to "modify" that perfectly working FM set for the new fangled D-Star mode, so it was Icom off the shelf, or nothing.
SWL's were completely shot in the foot!
Ok, so these days "others" have chipped in with various dongles, and some PC based software, and the like, but its still mainly "off the shelf".
A complete divergance from what traditionally went before, as you could not simply "get the soldering iron out" and convert what you had to hand.
And this same idea has followed with most of the new "digital" modes, they are in the main proprietary, and not something the "have a go" amateur can knock up and actively take part in!
Unless "buying into" the latest must have mode, you are basically "excluded" from that aspect of the hobby, or even SWL general listening.
In that respect alone I feel they are not in the "general spirit" of true amateur radio, and what it traditionally espouses, namely simple shack based experimentation, and the readily available means for most with a soldering iron, and bit of radio knowledge to homebrew dabble "join in"!
Dress up "progress" any way you like, but when it increasingly takes away the soldering iron do it for yourself avenue, and instead promotes "this is what you want, black boxed at X pounds!, if you don't want to fall behind", then its NOT really amateur radio, its professional radio, cleverly packaged, marketed, and hyped, and sold to ever gullible "amateur users", no more!
