[Dstar] Encoded for the purpose of obscuring the meaning of the signals

[James Cameron]

G'day,

I'm interested in hearing from any amateur operators who might be
concerned that the use of D-STAR for voice may violate part 2 section 8
subsection 3A of the Radiocommunications License Conditions (Amateur
License) Determination No. 1 of 1997 including the ammendments up to
Radiocommunications License Conditions (Amateur License) Amendment
Determination 2008 (No. 1).

The section says "The licensee must not operate an amateur station to
transmit signals that are encoded for the purpose of obscuring the
meaning of the signals,"

D-STAR voice uses a method of encoding and decoding the audio waveform
into a digital bit stream.  This method, or codec, is called AMBE.  This
codec is closed to experimentation by amateurs because the specification
of the codec is not available.  The codec has the purpose of obscuring
the meaning of the signals, and the only way to decode the signals is
with the purchase of an AMBE chip included in a D-STAR radio or dongle.
It is not possible to decode the signals any other way.

Corrections and facts welcome.

Reply-To: vk2lqz at tooraweenah.com

-- 
James Cameron
VK2LQZ