[Milsurplus] A New Concept: Virtual Spectrum

[Ray Fantini]

Perhaps the concept of Virtual Spectrum along with modes such as echolink =
and the like miss the entire point of radio communications.=20
When you use a external "wired " network like the internet as the mode of =
communications, such as voice over IP, regardless of what the end =
interface mimics it is not radio as amateur radio is currently understood, =
and at least by some backward thinking Ludities like me will not be =
considered amateur radio.
I will speculate that perhaps this is a proposal to produce a broad band =
spectrum or baseband signal and transport that via IP, in this case it can =
be a incredible waste of bandwidth to simulate radio phenomenon, although =
I will admit it will have virtually unlimited range.
At least with echolink their is always the possibilities of connecting =
thru a remote transceiver and being on the air.
Please excuse the fact that I have not read Mr Stinsons publication and =
can make no valid judgement on his proposal other then this comment that I =
have submitted.
The relevance of this statement in this forum is that as chousing to =
operate vintage military equipment as apposed to "modern " off the shelf =
items I view this endeavor as a challenge, when everything is working =
correctly and on the rare occasion when I get it all right it all works =
and I can talk with another person over the air , directly, without the =
aid of a third party network.=20
Please do not think that I oppose Mr Stinsons work, It has many valid =
points, but the future of amateur radio is not the internet, and if we =
make it the internet we may as well all turn our licences in now.
And just a thought about the specter of PBL, isn't this being brought to =
us by the same  utilities who ten years ago lobbied so hard to provide us =
telephone service? They did receive the right to do this. Who out their =
has their phone service thru their electric company?
Ray Fantini KA3EKH