Posted: 6/1/2012 5:14:11 PM EDT
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Surprised I haven't seen anyone mention this new radio. Embedded Linux. Something for those that like to experiment with digital data or digital voice and I know there are a few Mesh guys too!
http://nwdigitalradio.com/ http://nwdigitalradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/UDR56k-4.pdf I wouldn't call it SDR as only the protocols are software defined. |
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I said over 10 years ago that one of the best things amateur radio could do for emcomm capability and relevance is to have the capability of establishing long distance (relatively) high speed data connections. It seems obvious that the ATV channels on the 70cm band would be most suitable for this function.
56k isn't what I'd consider high speed, but at least it's a start in the right direction. |
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56k on that band is probably about max.
If this radio takes off then there might be a step up to 900MHz and 1.2G. There is a lot of bandwidth there for higher speed. I love the idea of the embedded Linux. The ability to add or create protocols is going to be wide open. My understanding is the hardware will not be open source but the embedded software will be. Development possibilities are endless. I have already heard of it test DD-WRT and creating mesh networks. Some of those interested talk mostly about echolink and IRLP. Neither interest me. I am more interested in creating an intranet with no dependence on the internet or cell use. We could lose those at anytime without notice. |
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Quoted:
Kinda neat. Still disappointing that we can't seem to break that magical 5kbps barrier 
I'd really like to see a wideband 900 mhz radio that does actual high speed data. Hang.on to your hat! Give it a year I bet you see 900MHz and 1-2M data rate. My vision of use is a network of routers able to find anyone anywhere within the network. Good example of use is I am out in the boonies camping in the BOV. Someone calls me via digital voice and informs me of severe weather headed my way and at same time sends me a weather radar image via digital data. Problem I see is getting that image from NWS without using the internet. Maybe a node located in the NWS. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Kinda neat. Still disappointing that we can't seem to break that magical 5kbps barrier
I'd really like to see a wideband 900 mhz radio that does actual high speed data. Hang.on to your hat! Give it a year I bet you see 900MHz and 1-2M data rate. My vision of use is a network of routers able to find anyone anywhere within the network. Good example of use is I am out in the boonies camping in the BOV. Someone calls me via digital voice and informs me of severe weather headed my way and at same time sends me a weather radar image via digital data. Problem I see is getting that image from NWS without using the internet. Maybe a node located in the NWS. Do you have knowledge of any particular product that does that? |
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No I don't at this time. If this new product performs as well as it has in testing I see no reason why the hardware could not be developed to move to 900MHz.
That is the beauty and versatility of this new radio. With open source software the development of applications or protocols is not restricted such as D-Star is. No huge fees for a SDK or product licensing. |
I've been watching this evolve with great interest 
Part of my job is maintaining the 2.4 and 5GHz site-to-site infrastructure in our FL offices. The potential is absolutely there, and I am thrilled about open source development. Like you, I'm convinced that once the throughput barrier is overcome the rate of development will explode. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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They have a group on Yahoo.
If your not a member join! Most of it is over my head but I understand the principles. This old dog isn't too old too learn something new. I have plenty of time to experiment. Only problem I see is getting others locally involved. I talk to myself enough already. |
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56k on that band is probably about max. If you can't get more than 56k out of a 6-10 MHz wide channel there are serious issues. 900 is already full of ISM/no license wideband devices that you'd be dealing with interference from. 1.2 has lots of bandwidth space but tons of line loss, poor propagation, less availability on antennas, expensive equipment/components etc. |
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I don't know what the bandwidth limit is on 70cm band. ATV is probably one of the widest.
1.2 is nice and quiet but obtaining an omni-directional with lots of gain is next to impossible. If any of you remember in the early years of packet we had SEDAN and Rose net. I think Florida still uses SEDAN state wide. Any packet station can connect with anyother station for keyboard to keyboard and even small file transfers for standardized message traffic. There are even mailboxes. I see something like this happening but in a true digital form at a much higher throughput and including voice with it. |
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They are local, as are some of the developers for things like DRATS, etc.. I saw this radio today at Sea-Pac. Neat looking rig and the guys seem to think it's going places. They said that some of the guys doing new stuff with DSTAR, etc.. already have units in hand and are developing some applications for it now.
Sounds like around Thanksgiving time 2012. |
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Just got this emailed to me to share after I referenced the arfcom thread for why I was joining the yahoo group.
John D. Hays [email protected] I found the thread –– there are a couple of points you might want to share (I can't join every list :( - please invite everyone to join the UniversalDigitalRadio forum): 97.307(f)6 - Governs data transmissions on this band (as opposed to image) " (6) A RTTY, data or multiplexed emission using a specified digital code listed in Sec. 97.309(a) of this part may be transmitted. The symbol rate must not exceed 56 kilobauds. A RTTY, data or multiplexed emission using an unspecified digital code under the limitations listed in Sec. 97.309(b) of this part also may be transmitted. The authorized bandwidth is 100 kHz." Also, the faster you go, the wider the bandwidth and the wider the bandwidth, the greater the power distribution in the modulated signal, thus reducing the effective power. [Read that faster rate, shorter distance] Bauds do not equal bits per second, so with more sophisticated modulation techniques, one can gain higher effective bps. Also, the higher the bps, the greater a chance for a bit error, so you would like to trade some of the additional bps for an error correction scheme to improve throughput and reliability. This radio shoots for a sweet spot, where frequency, power, and data rate meet so you can get reasonable data transfer (email, smaller files, etc. or voice run through a vocoder using very low bit rates). |