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G3ZHI > IARU 03.09.00 12:53l 145 Lines 10175 Bytes #999 (999) @ WW
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A strong point for the retention of the amateur service is that it can provide all manner
of communications capabilities without relying on public and commercial utilities. It is
often the fixed networks that suffer first in times of disaster, and it is the strength of
independence of the amateur service that can be a major salvation at those times.
Amateurs should be encouraged to always provide some radio only methods of
communications in systems they develop, particularly when considering the service
level aspects of the hobby. In doing so, they retain a major selling point of the existence
of amateur radio.
For example, within an area where VHF/UHF communications is possible, amateurs
should be encouraged to work together to implement suitable bandwidth radio data links
between each other. Not only does this remove reliance on 3 rd party lines, but will also
promote experimentation in digital communications. In the case of long distance
circuits, amateurs should be encouraged to continue to develop and operate new HF
digital communications techniques such as the recent developments of PSK31 and
PacTOR-II for example. The development of new satellite technologies and systems
should also be encouraged, so that the amateur service never finds itself totally reliant
on 3 rd party communications systems.
2.2.2 Access to the Amateur Airwaves by Unlicensed Persons
The possibility of unlicensed persons accessing amateur frequencies through any of the
two way communications gateways is always an argument used by the anti-Internet
lobby to try and stop Internet based amateur radio experiments. Indeed the possibility
does exist, although it is very unlikely provided the operator running the gateway
stations observes all of the issues relating to computer security for their systems and
correctly configures their system.
Gateway systems, another category of amateur/Internet experimentation, however, are
another matter. Where these stations actually allow communications between amateurs
and general Internet users, thus providing a gateway between the two realms, strict
controls need to be maintained and manual operation is essential. The requirements that
gateway stations should observe are already well laid out in existing IARU Region 3
policy.
3 The Internets Relationship to Amateur Radio when Linking
3.1 Experimental verses Service Delivery
When looking at the positives and negatives of amateur radio stations undertaking
linking activities either to or via the Internet, there are two key aspects of these activities
and their benefits to amateur radio that need to be considered. Attention should be
drawn to the fact that amateur radios relationship to Internet has two levels:
(a) Experimental people who enjoy devising ways of linking Internet and Amateur
Radio using voice, data, video and other imaging modes are all contributing to the
technical knowledge base of the amateur radio service.
(b) Service delivery where links via the Internet between Amateur Radio stations
become a major conduit for the transit of amateur information to promote other
aspects of the hobby, including basic communications where RF transmissions are
involved.
The experimental aspects of any amateur radio activity should be encouraged, as this is
directly part of the definition of amateur radio through self education and training. The
service delivery aspects are something to be wary of and their usage needs to be
implemented in ways that dont detract from the value of the amateur service to
governments and the community.
3.2 Dealing with the migration of Experimental activities to Service
Delivery
What to do when something experimental starts to migrate to the service level? This is a
difficult question to answer, as ultimately member societies do not control how
amateurs operate on air. Rather, they can only encourage a particular direction in a self-regulatory
environment.
The main item to consider is that the Amateur Service does not want to develop in a
direction that forces the authorities to impose restrictions. The amateur service needs to
formulate directions and guidelines that can help to guide developments down paths that
benefit rather than hinder the amateur service in the future. The experimental aspects of
amateur radios relationship with the Internet are something that needs no further
guidance than has been given in the past. Provision of guidelines for how things should
develop once they leave the realm of the experimental is something that perhaps is
needed.
In considering such guidelines, it is useful to consider the two main aspects of service
level:
7 Service level to provide access to otherwise unobtainable via RF amateur services -eg
packet wormholes to isolated areas providing real time wide area amateur IP
networking experiments and systems that cant be delivered on amateur HF or
current satellite circuits.
7 Service level simply because it is possible eg multiple wormholes within a city
used to simply send amateur info around a city that could be covered by radio links
instead. This would seem to be a less desirable usage of the technologies. Dont
restrict it, but dont encourage it.
It has already been explained how provision of previously unobtainable services can
assist the development of amateur digital communications in an area, and the use of
these same services within areas where RF paths is undesirable. A direction that could
be added to the existing IARU Region 3 Guidelines could be that:
The Internet: as a transmission medium for high bandwidth amateur digital
communications, should only be used for providing these services into areas that
otherwise would be isolated or left with low bandwidth store and forward
systems, and where viable VHF/UHF systems are not feasible. Further, where
such Internet based amateur radio links are available, that amateurs in those
areas be encouraged to also maintain suitable radio based systems for use in
times of emergency, so that total dependence on Internet transmission media
does not result.
4 Reviewing the Guideline for Extending Amateur Radio
Operations via the Internet
The current IARU Region 3 Internet Guidelines cover most of the operational aspects of
linking amateur radio stations to the Internet well. However, the recommendations
suggesting attended operation be required for store and forward as well as tunnel
wormhole style amateur stations perhaps need to reconsidered.
Most existing amateur wormhole type stations have been running successfully for a
number of years now as unattended stations. The nature of a wormhole station, in that
the tunnel it provides is not accessible to people from the Internet, nor is the Internet
accessible from the amateur stations on the radio channels, means that the risk of non-amateurs
accessing radio frequencies is extremely slight. Short of a determined hacking
attempt on one of these stations by an outsider, it is unlikely that a problem will arise,
and such attempts can be made extremely difficult provided wormhole station
operators observe the appropriate computer security measures of the day.
Traffic and content issues, once the computer security issue is addressed, are no
different to the international HF & satellite packet radio networks, as all traffic is being
generated by and sent to amateur radio stations.
As a result, the guidelines suggesting that only attended mode operation should be used
for stations that dont allow access between the Internet and amateur radio realms could
be reviewed to also allow unattended operation. This would be provided adequate
computer security measures are taken to prevent the wormhole or port-hole station
from allowing non-licensed persons to access amateur frequencies from 3 rd party
networks such as the Internet.
5 Conclusion
The relationship between the Amateur Service and the Internet has developed rapidly
over the past 5 years in particular. The Amateur Service needs to review these
developments and seek to integrate these into its activities while not harming its
existence. The following recommendations seek to provide additional or amended
clauses to the current IARU Region 3 Internet Guidelines, to further recognise this
growing segment of interest in the hobby.
6 Recommendations
(1) Member Societies should wherever possible continue to encourage experimentation
in new communications techniques where they involve amateur radio and radio
transmissions in the amateur radio services allocated spectrum.
(2) Societies should discourage the establishment of wormhole and gateway stations
in areas where suitable amateur radio based transmission media are available to
access such services already, where the intention of the operator of these stations is
to provide a service rather than conduct experiments. A suitable wording for
addition to the IARU Region 3 Internet Guidelines is given in section 3.2.
(3) Noting that unattended operation of port-hole and tunnel or wormhole stations
has been occurring for a number of years with very few incidents, that the IARU
Region 3 policy be amended to recognise that unattended operation, where
permitted by national regulations, of these categories of stations be considered
acceptable. Unattended operation should, however, not be extended to gateway
stations or any other activity whereby amateur to Internet or Internet to amateur
access is possible.
7 Glossary of Terms used in this Paper
port-hole a one way amateur to Internet link that allows the general public to
observe amateur activities without being able to actively participate.
tunnel or wormhole a two way amateur to amateur station link that uses a third
party transmission medium such as the Internet between the amateur station on each end
of the link. No opportunity is provided in this situation for the general public to access
or observe the traffic as it passes over the tunnel which is like a conduit carrying fresh
water under the salty sea.
gateway a two way amateur to Internet link station that permits controlled
communications between amateurs on amateur radio frequencies and non-amateurs on
the Internet.
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