AMRAD Projects

LF: Low Frequency Operation
Mainstreaming spread spectrum. In 1998, ARRL petitioned the FCC to liberalize the code sequences and include automatic power control for powers above 1 watt. This petition may prove to be controversial, as TAPR and other groups want to lower the SS operating frequencies below 420 MHz--some as low as HF--yet others feel SS should be banned. Bob Buaas and his group on the West Coast continue to with their STA, which allows SS at 50 MHz and higher. AMRAD members could join the STA and put some systems on the air.
Interference testing Part 15 SS devices. At a TAPR meeting, there was some concern expressed about the compatibility of Part 15 devices with Amateur Radio systems, particularly at, but not limited to, 2390-2400 MHz. Part 15 proponents, on the other hand, are apprehensive about sharing the band with amateurs. In this band and in 2401-2417 MHz, amateurs are primary and Part 15 users can use the bands on a non- interference basis. Nevertheless, it may be possible to demonstrate that there is no problem or find ways of mitigating any interference through a test program. I have been in contact with Jim Lovette of Apple to run some tests and we talked about the desirability of test groups on both the East and West Coasts. There is willingness on both sides but nothing specific has been done to date.
Higher speed digital systems. This is one of Terry's favorite saws. Where are the high speed packet modems and radios? Dave Sumner questions why US hams are not doing more with higher speeds; he cites S53MV's article in CQ ZRS on his 1.2288 Mbit/s 13-cm system.
Utilization of microwave bands. Because of line-of-sight propagation in these bands, their popularization requires an infrastructure or backbone. Otherwise, microwave and millimetric frequencies will be used only for isolated short-range links. There was a remark that AMRAD may not be in a good position to develop microwaves. That may be true and there are several microwave clubs that may be better able to do it. Nevertheless, there may be a role for AMRAD. We could lose these bands unless we come up with 24-hour uses over wide geographic areas occupying large portions of the bandwidth allocated.
Multimedia systems, possibly a repeater in the Washington area. At a recent PVRC meeting, I was talking with a PVRC member who was pushing this concept. Sandy points out that Metrovision has done mixed media for years. Nonetheless, theirs is an analog system; some work could be done on a digital multimedia system, possibly in cooperation with Metrovision.
Developing an amateur beacon system capable of contributing propagation data to the ITU. Amateurs have an extensive array of beacons from HF through microwaves. Unfortunately,their transmissions are received only on a real-time basis and there is no attempt to automatically receive, reduce and report the data to any scientific group such as ITU-R Study Group 3 or URSI. IARU President Dick Baldwin has recently reinstructed the IARU beacon working group to reorient the beacon network into one that includes automatic reception and reporting. The ITU has a transmit format that permits machine reception. AMRAD could study that and recommend its adoption by amateur beacons or come up with one that might be more suitable for amateur use. We could also design any hardware and software hams would need. Dick Barth showed interest in this project and has asked me to supply him with the ITU documents so he can prepare an article on the subject.
Amateur systems for worldwide noise-measuring campaign. ITU-R Study Group 1 wants to establish a worldwide network for collecting noise level measurements. The contention is that noise levels are rising (and limiting the use of radio) but no one has definitive data. Hams could participate in one way or another if someone like AMRAD figures out how.
Participate in Mars Global Surveyor Relay Experiment. See January 1996 QST, page 45 for an outline of the need.
Designing DSP/software radios. The time is right to do this. There are several guys at COMSAT Labs who are interested in this project and should be willing to cooperate with us.
Application of wireless chip sets to amateur systems. There are three generations of chip sets (5, 3 and now 1-volt) developed for cellular and other so-called wireless applications. It could be a worthwhile project to gather the specs, study them and decide how we could apply them to Amateur Radio designs.
Experimenting with digital voice such as APCO Project 25. TIA did a lot of work picking the most effective digital voice technique for new public safety radios. The one they selected may or may not be best for Amateur Radio. The FCC rules already permit digital voice, even on the HF bands.
Develop very small satellites. Mark Kanawati has ideas along these lines.
Experiment with automatic link establishment (ALE). There is now a Federal Standard. QST and QEX have carried articles on this subject. We could either push for adoption of this standard or develop our own.
Develop path simulation software. This was only for the deep pockets in years past but DSP and fast PCs make it possible for hams to do path simulation. At the 1995 ARRL Digital Communications Conference, there was a talk on what has been done to date. We might want to get involved.
Design some tech toys. This could be a project having no other goal than having fun.

Last modified: Sun Dec 12 18:47:21 CST 1999