Sunday, February 28, 2010

New Weak Signal Digital Mode not Legal in US

There has been a lot of chatter on various groups about a new mode called ROS. You can see the initial details on the Southgate ARC website at
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2010/ros_proving_popular.htm

More information and the program can be found at:
http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/
http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/ros/

http://www.box.net/shared/s3ytmqcadu
ROS v1.6.3.zip

Frequencies (Mhz) USB: 3.600 , 7.053, 14.101 , 28.300 (so far no place selected on the 30 meter band..suggestions would be above 10.143)

Download "ROS v1.6.3 beta Windows Vista Compatible"
http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/ros/#comments

According to one ham the performance is equivalent to the Olivia mode. But the bad news is that US hams will not be able to use this new mode. One ham recently wrote the ARRL in regards to the ROS mode and received the reply below from Dan Henderson, N1ND:

From: Henderson, Dan N1ND
Subject: RE: Spread Spectrum
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 7:13 AM

I ran this by our technical experts. They concur that ROS is a spread spectrum mode and as such is not allowed by the FCC on bands below 222 MHz. Remember that approved emissions vary from IARU Region at times as well as between countries. So while the IARU Band Plan for Region 2 would allow it, SS is not permitted on the HF bands by the FCC.

Thanks and 73

Dan Henderson, N1ND
Regulatory Information Manager
ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio™
860-594-0236