Thursday, April 01, 2010

VOIP contacts now valid for ham radio awards

With the growing popularity of ham radio simulations like QSONet and HamSphere, I guess it had to happen sooner or later. According to an announcement just out on the IARU website, from today contacts made using these VOIP systems are now officially amateur radio contacts and can count towards amateur radio awards.

The announcement says: "There is an ever increasing use of computer and internet technology to facilitate the making of contacts between amateur radio operators. For many years use of the DX Cluster has been permitted to locate DX contacts to work and many operators now use internet sites to arrange skeds for needed contacts. We also see the development of new digital modes that can make possible contacts between stations that neither side can even hear. Permitting the use of VOIP modes to make contacts is simply an extension of the use of this facilitating technology, by removing the unreliability caused by the behaviour of the ionosphere. This move will also be welcomed by the many radio amateurs living in antenna-restricted locations who are no longer able to be active on what have traditionally been regarded as 'the airwaves'."

Addressing the criticism that no radio is actually used when making contacts via QSONet or HamSphere, the statement says: "Many amateur operators nowadays use laptop computers which are connected to the internet via a wi-fi router. This does, of course, involve the use of radio. Initially, therefore, only contacts made using a laptop with a wireless connection will be allowed to count under this new ruling. The frequency should be logged as 2.4GHz. This restriction will be reviewed at a later date."

More information on this development will apparently be posted on the site at midday today.

9 comments:

Tjeerd, PA3GNZ said...

A April 1 joke?

73, Gose (Tjeerd)
PA3GNZ

M0JEK said...

Yeah, gotta be an April Fools Joke!

Theodore said...

If I use a wireless keyboard can I get a multiplier, or does that count as cross band operation.
And yes, I think it must be an April fools joke.
If not, the joke is on us.

73s

Jay Dighsx said...

They're considering allowing you to get credit for contacts you just think about having.

Example: Always wanted to work VK land. Easy.... just imagine what it would be like... imagine what you would say... imagine the qsl card you'd get. There ya go jacks a donut bobs your uncle put that one in the log. hahah

Jay aka KD8EUR

Steve Silverman said...

Is there a multiplier if I can use 802.11a,b,g, and wifi modes?

Steve Silverman said...

Is there a wifi QRP category too? And what about multi-operators sharing one wifi link? And why leave out those cute 3G wireless dongles for laptops; they are wireless too!

Chip said...

Happy April Fools Day...

Kelly Keeton said...

ahh hahaha I was about to comment a rant!

Lynn (D) said...

"More information" == April Fools!

Good writeup though!