[HCARC] FW: SYSTEM FUSION NET

Tue Nov 25 16:01:21 EST 2014

Bill and HCARC,

I'm moderately active on our club repeater.  Despite the fact that I 
believe we have several club members who have only 2 meter equipment, I 
just don't hear many stations on the repeater.  I don't think there is 
enough activity to support another repeater in the area.  With a digital 
repeater, I believe only a small number of the locals would purchase a 
digital 2 meter rig.

That said, I think the history of digital voice on VHF has been driven 
by the manufacturers and 2-way radio people.  As i understand it, the 
two ways to meet the FCC 6.25 kHz bandwidth requirement is either with a 
trunked system where several stations share a small number of channels 
or by using digital techniques.  I doubt that trunking has a role in ham 
radio.  Digital could but we need to look at what the 
advantages/disadvantages are.

On the disadvantage size, interference is not obvious with digital 
data.  You really need 3 pieces of information, signal to noise ratio, 
signal strength and Eb/N0 (energy per bit / noise spectral density).  
You don't get the clues you get in an analog system where you hear the 
signal is noisy or you hear the heterodyne from another station.  Some 
of the commercial/military non-voice data systems give you this info, 
but I don't know of any ham equipment that does.  A second disadvantage 
is you may not be able to hear traffic on the channel that isn't 
addressed to you.

On the advantage size, I don't know if it provides any better coverage 
than an analog system but it might.  I also don't know what bandwidth it 
uses, but 6.25 kHz is probably a goal.  Fortunately in our area and 
everywhere I've been recently bandwidth on 2 meters seems to not be an 
issue.  Several years ago we changed from 30 kHz channels to 15 kHz 
channels.  We also expanded the FM portion of the band from 146 - 148 
MHz to 144.5 (?) - 148 MHz.  Now I'm lucky to hear 2 or 3 channels 
active in that whole spectrum.

As everyone may or may not know, The big 3 from Japan are big in the 
two-way radio biz.  The only market for analog FM may be hams.  I'm 
convinced that most of their production is now digital VHF/UHF radios.  
I'm sure they would like to get rid of the analog FM business entirely.  
I think that is what d-star and Fusion is all about.

In any event, I haven't seen anything to convince me that digital FM is 
the way to go for hams.

What do the rest of you think?  From what Bill says, we may get asked if 
we are interested.

Kerry

On 11/25/2014 12:11 PM, Bill Tynan wrote:
> Hi HCARC:
>
>   
>
> Greg, N5XO is, as you can see, is very enthusiastic about this Fusion
> business. He has been spending his own money to buy repeaters for
> installation around the area. I don't know if he would be willing to install
> one at our site here in Kerrville or not, or if he would want some help from
> our club. I also don't know if the Club would want to put up some money for
> all or part of the cost of a Fusion repeater.
>
>   
>
> Something to think about.
>
>   
>
> I really don't know the advantages of Fusion over D-Star or why we would
> want or need either. Again, that's something to think about.
>
>   
>
> Just thought I would pass it along.
>
>   
>
> 73,
>
>   
>
> Bill Tynan, W3XO/5
>
>   
>
>    _____
>
> From: N5XO [mailto:n5xo at 144200.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 6:37 AM
> Subject: SYSTEM FUSION NET
>
>   
>
> Good morning ladies and gentleman...
>
>   
>
>                          Unless you have been buried in a snow drift some
> place for the past couple of years, you have most likely heard about the new
> Yaesu System Fusion. There have been some great articles and reviews in both
> QST and CQ Magazines over the past 6 months and the Internet is filled with
> a wealth of information and reviews of the new System Fusion and the
> products that support it.
>
>   
>
> Myself and the Unusual Suspects were blessed to been selected as part of the
> original Yaesu Fusion BETA Team and as such we were able to upgrade our
> 443.025 Repeater to a new Yaesu System Fusion Repeater back in early March
> of 2014 and have been working {and playing} with the Fusion Radio' s and
> System for some time before everything entered into the general public.
>
>   
>
> We have bought into the System Fusion Project so deeply that we have
> purchased 3 additional repeaters and are in the process of building a linked
> network of repeaters that will be offering Amateur Radio Operators with a
> continuous communication system {Analog or Digital} through out the region.
>
>   
>
> We are hoping that our enthusiasm is infectious and that the Unusual
> Suspects can play a major roll in promoting this exciting new mode of
> operating for not only our local region but Central Texas.
>
>   
>
> Over the past month I have seen signs that many Hams are picking up Fusion
> Radio's in one form or another, and that the excitement and energy is
> increasing, or repeater activity is seeing more and more increased Digital
> Activity.
>
>   
>
> With our strong lead in this new technology, the Unusual Suspects intend on
> taking the lead in promoting and putting to use this new technology. With
> this in mind we are very excited to inform everyone of an all new net that
> will be starting this evening.
>
>   
>
>   
>
> EVERY TUESDAY EVENING AT 7:PM
>
> ON 443.025 {GROUP MODE}
>
>   
>
> THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS PRESENT THE
>
>   
>
> FUSION NET
>
>   
>
> We intend on making the most of this technology and so we will be checking
> into this net in a totally new fashion.
>
>   
>
> To join the Fusion Net this evening, please put your radio in Group mode.
> This will display your call sign for the Net Control Operator to log
> everyone in and allow everyone to see who is on the net.
>
>   
>
> This net will be focusing on the technology
>
>   
>
> We will be sending out over the repeater several TEXT reminders today for
> the net.
>
>   
>
> again the Unusual Suspects are proud to take the System Fusion Lead and
> present
>
>   
>
> The Fusion Net
>
> 443.025 Group Mode
>
> TUESDAY EVENINGS @ 7:PM
>
>   
>
> NET CONTROL: Tim N9RO
>
>   
>
> PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE NET TO ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS WHO HAVE YAESU
> FUSION RADIOS TO JOIN US TONIGHT. NO MATTER WHAT CLUB AFFILIATION THEY ARE,
> THE UNCLUB IS FOR EVERYONE WITH EVERYONE WELCOME TO JOIN IN.
>
>   
>
> No virus found in this message.
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>
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