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France Says D-Star Ham Radio Mode Is Illegal
gyrogeerloose writes "Citing 'national security concerns,' the French Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP, France's equivalent of the US's FCC) has ruled that D-Star, an amateur radio digital signal mode used world-wide, is illegal because it could allow operators to connect to the Internet.The ARCEP also cites alleged concerns regarding cryptography and national security as well as the use of a proprietary codec. While it's true that the D-Star codec is proprietary, its owner has openly licensed it (for a fee, of course) to any manufacturer who wants to build it into their equipment. Any licensed amateur radio operator who lives within the EU can sign an online petition protesting this decision."
I get the idea that you don't understand the issue, yet you try to mock it anyway. I know, welcome to slashdot.
We can't allow you to have free speech, because free speech helps terrorists and pedophiles!
Ham radio is obsolete and outmoded, and this is just a poor attempt at proving otherwise. The French (of all people!) saw through it and put a stop to it.
DStar radios are just commercial radios in a different skin. There is nothing new or revolutionary about them, or ham radio in general really. It's a vast analog waste of space and the sooner we put and end to it, the better. Every time I hear a ham whining about the internet or broadband over powerlines or some other new technology I picture in my mind a rich southern landowner protesting that the gubmint is taking his blacks away... It's no different. The hams are holding vast expanses of prime spectrum as slaves. Just think of what all that space could do for us if it were only freed...
The Writing is On the Wall. The facts are plain for all to see. Ham radio must end, for the betterment of all of society. Only the close-minded do not see this.