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

[Richard Hoskin]

Hi James,

Encoding is different to encryption.

Encoding is the process of compressing audio or video data.

Encryption is the process of translating data into a secret code for
protection purposes.

D-Star uses encoding which can be listened to by anyone with a D-Star radio
or DV-Dongle.

Cheers
Richard
VK3JFK

> -----Original Message-----
> From: dstar-bounces at lists.wia.org.au [mailto:dstar-
> bounces at lists.wia.org.au] On Behalf Of James Cameron
> Sent: Monday, 1 September 2008 5:38 PM
> To: dstar at lists.wia.org.au
> Subject: [Dstar] Encoded for the purpose of obscuring the meaning of
> thesignals
> 
> 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
> _______________________________________________
> Dstar mailing list
> Dstar at lists.wia.org.au
> http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/dstar