Dale,
It's peer-to-peer Winlink stations using VARA HF modulation, in the 500
Hz BW mode. See www.winlink.org for details.
The EDM-Target-Stations (EDM = Emergency Digital Messaging) group was
preparing for an exercise today, from 6am to 6pm local time (in each
time zone), to practice sending check-in messages via VARA HF P2P to
target stations from field stations. This is in case of widespread
Internet outages, especially in a disaster area, to enable written
traffic to/from that area. VARA HF is a software modem substitute for
the pricey PACTOR modem hardware, and is finding favor with amateur
stations and government SHARES stations as a lower-cost alternative.
What you were hearing were folks unfamiliar with the process of setting
up their stations to do P2P messaging, to give them an opportunity to
work the kinks out before the actual exercise today.
Also, the assigned frequencies were moved on 30M to avoid other digital
services, like FT8/FT4, etc., so that's likely why you noticed a change
in the location of digital traffic on that band.
It's not easy finding open frequencies for an exercise of this sort,
especially because today was the NA RTTY QSO Party (which doesn't take
place on 30M because it is a contest) that completely wiped out the
digital portions of the bands that we normally use for Winlink
messaging. So it was difficult to work around the KW RTTY stations, to
say the least.
The EDM-Target-Stations group is looking for more volunteers to run
Winlink VARA HF P2P target and field stations. They have an email group
on groups.io that you can join.
73,
-- Dave, N8SBE
On 2024-02-24 13:07, Dale Boresz wrote:
Hello,
For the last week or so, I've been seeing/hearing a lot of digital data
on
the lower 20 KHz of the 30m band. This activity has increased
dramatically
over the last couple of days. Sometimes, a cw callsign is transmitted
when
the data stops, but not always. The data is about 1 KHz wide and
consists
of changing amplitudes of multiple tones. I'm not a digital op, and
have no
idea what digital mode is being employed.
Anyone have any idea about what is going on? Perhaps I missed an
announcement concerning a change to the 30m 'band plan'. (?)
tnx & 73,
Dale - WA8SRA
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