# AMRAD Projects

<ul>
<li><a href="/projects/lf/">LF: Low Frequency Operation</a></li>

<li><strong>Mainstreaming <a
    href="/projects/ss/">spread
    spectrum</a>.</strong> In 1998, ARRL petitioned the
    FCC to liberalize the code sequences and include automatic power
    control for powers above 1 watt. This petition may prove to be
    controversial, as TAPR and other groups want to lower the SS
    operating frequencies below 420 MHz--some as low as HF--yet
    others feel SS should be banned. Bob Buaas and his group on the West
    Coast continue to with their STA, which allows SS at 50 MHz and
    higher. AMRAD members could join the STA and put some systems
    on the air.</li>

<li><strong>Interference testing Part 15 SS devices.</strong> At a
    TAPR meeting, there was some concern expressed about the
    compatibility of Part 15 devices with Amateur Radio systems,
    particularly at, but not limited to, 2390-2400 MHz. Part 15
    proponents, on the other hand, are apprehensive about sharing the
    band with amateurs. In this band and in 2401-2417 MHz, amateurs
    are primary and Part 15 users can use the bands on a non-
    interference basis. Nevertheless, it may be possible to
    demonstrate that there is no problem or find ways of mitigating
    any interference through a test program. I have been in contact
    with Jim Lovette of Apple to run some tests and we talked about
    the desirability of test groups on both the East and West
    Coasts. There is willingness on both sides but nothing specific
    has been done to date.</li> 

<li><strong>Higher speed digital systems.</strong> This is one of
    Terry's favorite saws. Where are the high speed packet modems and
    radios? Dave Sumner questions why US hams are not doing more with
    higher speeds; he cites S53MV's article in CQ ZRS on his 1.2288
    Mbit/s 13-cm system.</li> 

<li><strong>Utilization of <a
    href="http://www.amrad.org/projects/microwave/">microwave
    bands</a>.</strong> Because of 
    line-of-sight propagation in these bands, their popularization
    requires an infrastructure or backbone. Otherwise, microwave and
    millimetric frequencies will be used only for isolated short-range
    links.  There was a remark that AMRAD may not be in a good
    position to develop microwaves. That may be true and there are
    several microwave clubs that may be better able to do
    it. Nevertheless, there may be a role for AMRAD. We could lose
    these bands unless we come up with 24-hour uses over wide
    geographic areas occupying large portions of the bandwidth
    allocated.</li> 

<li><strong>Multimedia systems</strong>, possibly a repeater in the
    Washington area.  At a recent PVRC meeting, I was talking with a
    PVRC member who was pushing this concept. Sandy points out that
    Metrovision has done mixed media for years. Nonetheless, theirs is
    an analog system; some work could be done on a digital multimedia
    system, possibly in cooperation with Metrovision.</li>

<li><strong>Developing an amateur beacon system capable of
    contributing propagation data to the ITU.</strong> Amateurs have
    an extensive array of beacons from HF through
    microwaves. Unfortunately,their transmissions are received only on
    a real-time basis and there is no attempt to automatically
    receive, reduce and report the data to any scientific group such
    as ITU-R Study Group 3 or URSI. IARU President Dick Baldwin has
    recently reinstructed the IARU beacon working group to reorient
    the beacon network into one that includes automatic reception and
    reporting. The ITU has a transmit format that permits machine
    reception. AMRAD could study that and recommend its adoption by
    amateur beacons or come up with one that might be more suitable
    for amateur use. We could also design any hardware and software
    hams would need. Dick Barth showed interest in this project and
    has asked me to supply him with the ITU documents so he can
    prepare an article on the subject.</li> 

<li><strong>Amateur systems for worldwide noise-measuring
    campaign.</strong> ITU-R Study Group 1 wants to establish a
    worldwide network for collecting noise level measurements. The
    contention is that noise levels are rising (and limiting the use
    of radio) but no one has definitive data. Hams could participate
    in one way or another if someone like AMRAD figures out how.</li>

<li><strong>Participate in Mars Global Surveyor Relay
    Experiment.</strong> See January 1996 QST, page 45 for an outline
    of the need.</li> 

<li><strong>Designing <a
    href="http://www.amrad.org/projects/dsp/">DSP/software
    radios</a>.</strong> The time is right 
    to do this. There are several guys at COMSAT Labs who are
    interested in this project and should be willing to cooperate with
    us.</li>

<li><strong>Application of wireless chip sets to amateur
    systems.</strong> There are three generations of chip sets (5, 3
    and now 1-volt) developed for cellular and other so-called
    wireless applications. It could be a worthwhile project to gather
    the specs, study them and decide how we could apply them to
    Amateur Radio designs.</li> 

<li><strong>Experimenting with digital voice</strong> such as APCO
    Project 25. TIA did a lot of work picking the most effective
    digital voice technique for new public safety radios. The one they
    selected may or may not be best for Amateur Radio. The FCC rules
    already permit digital voice, even on the HF bands. </li>

<li><strong>Develop very small <a
    href="http://www.amrad.org/projects/space/">satellites</a>.</strong>
    Mark Kanawati has ideas along these lines.</li>

<li><strong>Experiment with automatic link establishment
    (ALE).</strong> There is now a Federal Standard. QST and QEX have
    carried articles on this subject. We could either push for
    adoption of this standard or develop our own.</li>

<li><strong>Develop path simulation software.</strong> This was only
    for the deep pockets in years past but DSP and fast PCs make it
    possible for hams to do path simulation. At the 1995 ARRL Digital
    Communications Conference, there was a talk on what has been done
    to date. We might want to get involved.</li>

<li><strong>Design some tech toys.</strong> This could be a project
    having no other goal than having fun.</li>
</ul>