alt Hacker Newsdoesn't HAM radio already have a digital packet system that works like fidonet store-and-forward system?
this just adds an encryption layer?
Replies
wmf • today at 5:45 PM
AX.25 runs at 300 bps over HF while Mercury is 10x faster.
fragmede • today at 6:08 PM
HAM radio isn't allowed to have encryption. (Someone can write a longer comment on why thats wrong.)
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Ham radio also has the FT8 protocol which is optimized for bad signal to noise environments, but has low bandwidth. However, using this protocol a 10Watt radio has global reach under the right conditions, which is pretty mind boggling.
About encryption, the US rules are that you can use digital protocols but you must publish the specs so anyone can, in principle, decode the signal.