Thursday, March 04, 2010

ROS not legal after all

I'd sworn I wasn't going to post any more about the ROS digital mode, or even mention it by name again, but the latest bizarre twist in the tale is too much to resist. Here's the story.

On March 3, Dave AA6YQ called the FCC to confirm whether the statement that ROS was now legal for use in the US which had been posted on the ROS website and which I wrote about on Tuesday was true. The FCC advised that the information (which has since been removed) was not true, and that the matter was still under review. Dave was told that the ARRL was involved and would publicize the outcome. This they have now done, and the outcome is that ROS remains illegal for use in the USA on frequencies below 222MHz.

ROS may still be legal in the rest of the world but I have to ask whether amateurs in Europe and elsewhere really want to be using a mode developed by someone who posts false information and rude remarks on his website and issues threats to any amateurs (including myself) who dare to make any statement against his mode. This is not mature, responsible conduct nor is it in the spirit of amateur radio. We don't need this sort of behaviour which has come close to bringing the hobby into disrepute. It might be for the best if everyone stopped using ROS altogether. It isn't as if there aren't already plenty of other digital modes. And be honest, a mode that offers no chance of working any North American DX is not as interesting as one that can, is it?

5 comments:

Steve GW7AAV said...

Just when I thought it could not get any more confused and bizzare, it does. Does that mean you are back on the list after this post?

I was going to post something at CQHQ but the saga is now so complicated I would not know where to start. ROTFL

Jay Dighsx said...

How's that line go "Truth is stranger then fiction"

Jay aka KD8EUR

Paul Stam PAØK said...

Hello Julian, ROS is successfully removed from my computer. Need I say more? 73 Paul

goody said...

I guess ARRL is now on the persona non grata list for spreading lies.... I mean reporting on the legality of ROS in the US. Too bad. I guess we'll never have daily HF bulletins in ROS mode.

Unknown said...

LOL

Me too, I was putting this whole drama to rest, and now this.. Mr. ROS himself faked an authorization from the FCC (now hastily removed from his site).

Bizarre ! like nobody was going to know, especially these days where the FCC and everyone else is just a click away.

This wreck of a digital mode and how its been publicized is just too good to pass, the author himself constructed and de-constructed everything related to ROS.

Pass the popcorn please !! :D

73 and enjoy

Matt - KQ7W