The satellites/spacestation communications are great. Knowing you're working through that flashy light up in the night sky is a really cool experience.
Some people have a hard time getting through on those guys, though, and that's where this network really shines for DX communications:
1) It's not reliant on when the satellite is passing over your location.
2) It's not reliant on propagation like HF so often is.
One negative aspect I've been able to identify: It requires use of the public switched network. This is something that ham's traditionally have tried to avoid, as the amateur service is there to provide emergency communications when conventional means have failed. HOWEVER, I would argue that it's also important (from an emergency standpoint) to have as many operators trained in as many technologies as possible.
Lots of folks, when they get their Ham Radio license, end up purchasing a little handheld radio with not much range.
The IRLP allows a person, let's say in Florida, to chat with a guy, say, in Hawaii, both of them using a small, low power radio. This is a great way for new operators to experience the thrill of talking to someone really far away.
There aren't many "open" technologies out there right now that allow this freedom of communication. When was the last time you got to build a wireless VoIP network using components that weren't BlackBox, off the shelf offerings from vendors?
Ham radio truly is one of the last "open" fields of wireless exploration. Think of hams as the GNU-guys of the air waves!
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The satellites/spacestation communications are great. Knowing you're working through that flashy light up in the night sky is a really cool experience.
Some people have a hard time getting through on those guys, though, and that's where this network really shines for DX communications:
1) It's not reliant on when the satellite is passing over your location.
2) It's not reliant on propagation like HF so often is.
One negative aspect I've been able to identify: It requires use of the public switched network. This is something that ham's traditionally have tried to avoid, as the amateur service is there to provide emergency communications when conventional means have failed. HOWEVER, I would argue that it's also important (from an emergency standpoint) to have as many operators trained in as many technologies as possible.
Lots of folks, when they get their Ham Radio license, end up purchasing a little handheld radio with not much range.
The IRLP allows a person, let's say in Florida, to chat with a guy, say, in Hawaii, both of them using a small, low power radio. This is a great way for new operators to experience the thrill of talking to someone really far away.
There aren't many "open" technologies out there right now that allow this freedom of communication. When was the last time you got to build a wireless VoIP network using components that weren't BlackBox, off the shelf offerings from vendors?
Ham radio truly is one of the last "open" fields of wireless exploration. Think of hams as the GNU-guys of the air waves!