[Lowfer] OPERA Legal in USA

[JD]

>>> OPERA uses a single frequency to transmit on, WSPR uses multiple 
>>> frequencies, albeit extremely narrow bandwidth.. .

Not strictly true.  More accurate to say one frequency at a time.   It _can_ 
use a single frequency, period; but apparently, left to its druthers in SSB 
operation, it's all over the place!

In the HF bands, where propagation can come and go over a given path at a 
moment's notice, I have grave doubts about it being able to reliably select 
a frequency that's not in use.  Rather than annoy other users in a 1 Hz 
bandwidth, it can annoy them across the better part of 100 Hz (maybe 
more...that's the widest spread I have seen to date.)

As for legality and station ID, etc., perhaps there have been changes in the 
Rules since I took my test, but didn't digital/binary formats have to have 
generally published detailed technical specs to be legal on ham bands? 
Anyone seen any solid details of those yet, or are they still just inventing 
this protocol on the fly?

(I decline to use the word "mode" at this point, as the big attraction of 
this software seems totally unrelated to communication, but solely its 
ability to use the Internet to give instant feedback on whose computer is 
seeing whose across the airwaves.  There's no need for humans to be involved 
in the process, as there's no information being exchanged apart from "I see 
you."  And it's not even a human saying that to you!  That message isn't 
even coming back to you by radio.  It's all software protocols.  Have your 
machine call my machine and we'll do lunch sometime.)

John