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ZL3AI > APRDIG 12.07.06 01:06l 94 Lines 3675 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: [APRSSIG] Vol 25 #9, 1/1
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From: ZL3AI@ZL2BAU.#87.NZL.OC
To : APRDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. Inernet Server Challenge (Robert Bruninga)
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2006 11:59:34 -0400
From: "Robert Bruninga" <bruninga_at_usna.edu>
Subject: [aprssig] Inernet Server Challenge
I am posting this off-topic note here on APRSSIG because it is where some
excellent APRS-IS programmers are:
We need a free HAM radio Internet Program for Youth:
I have been proposing this for years, and it has come up again on some
HAM-Scout Radio groups.... Here is what I think would help HAm radio and
scouting at the CUB and tenderfoot level.
Let me remind you that I am NOT ***NOT*** a CW proponent. I never use it
on the air since 40 years ago when I was a novice. (Though I can still
copy it.)
But my experience with scouts and HAM radio is that
1) The best time that kids take an interest and are motivated to do
something new is about the 8 to 12 year old range.
2) Most of HAM radio does not impress them. Most already have a cell phone
3) But they ***ARE*** fascinated by the secret code (CW) (Again, at the 8
to 10 year age)... THink harry potter
4) And they can learn enough of it in one hour to communicate some simple
things...
What we need is a FREE HAM radio program that runs on a PC and the internet
and LOOKS like a HAM radio. You turn the dial and move up and down the
"NOVICE" bands. And can swtch "bands".
In there you "hear via your sound card speaker" any CW statios. There is
also a spectrum display to show where to listen.
AND the program lets ANYONE send CW using their MOUSE button. Everyone on
the planet can particapte (just like HF) and the internet ties it all
together by providing the link.
THink about it. It looks and feels 100% like HAM radio, and it is CW based
so that there is a challenge to "entering the secret code room". And the
kids do not need a license to use it.
One thing that is overlooked in the outreach to kids is that they are
intimidated to have to use a Mic to talk to an adult. In fact, they wont
even talk to each other, except make noises... But CW is the great blind
pipeline that eliminates some of the human insecurity issues mostly because
the receiver and sender are concentrating so much on the CW and spelling,
that there are no other human distractions such as race and gender and age
and accent.
I sure wish I knew how to write Internet linked code and I would do this in
a heart beat. I'm not talking about AUDIO serving. I am talking about a
system that APPEARS as audio to the recepient including 100 Hz tuning steps
and QRM and multiple signals all in the same bandwidth. (unless they
select a "500 Hz filter"... etc...
But the Internet link uses digitized CW for speed and efficiency. Timing
and delays are a big problem, but I am sure there are some experts out
there that can take the challenge. It would be a great way to reach these
young kids looking for something "different" and it would help the future
of HAM radio.
Future upgrades could let them "tune" in on any of many NETS and listen to
the VOICE signals (this would be audio streaming)... They could NOT TX
here. Just SWL our existing LIVE HF. Some "SWL" gateways statiosn could
just feed their own HF nets onto a given 3 KHz "channel"... etc.
Then we could add SSTV etc. Just keep them hooked with more and more, and
eventually they would take the interest and get a license...
de Wb4APR, Bob
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End of aprssig Digest, Vol 25, Issue 9
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