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I have an inkling of an idea- a modem system communicating over Short-wave. I know that WiMAX already exists, but the difference is that, while WiMAX works on the Gigahertz frequencies, and most concepts for Ham Radio ones think Megahertz frequencies would be ideal, My idea was to make it work on kilohertz, AM, possibly even long-wave frequencies (3Mhz-150KHz). The only thing I have to go on is a Bell 103 300-Baud time code broadcasting from CHU every day.

My question is, can you send Modem signals of a higher quality & baud rate(1200 Baud?) over regular Short-wave and AM broadcast frequencies? If so, how would it work? Is it even legal? Practical? could it be two way?

Rory Yammomoto
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  • There are also low frequency bands, but the data rates are limited. Wikipedia mentions that QRSS, the slow telegraphy, is usually used.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2200-meter_band https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/600-meter_amateur_radio_band

     – OH2FXN May 04 '16 at 17:15
  • Bandwidth limits HF to 300 baud. A solution might be to use FSK each bit simultaneously in parallel, shifting all bits together at 300 baud. – Optionparty May 05 '16 at 01:29
  • "meaning full amount of data" is the question: yes you can, but not at speed. I am a VLF operator and experimenting with signals on 4kHz. The method commonly used is QRSS, which is extremely slow CW (morse code). QRSS software. The problem with VLF transmissions is the compromise you make with the antenna, as a full size dipole of 10's of kilometers is not feasible. However experimenters have crossed the atlantic in the 8-9 kHz band.. That's the VLF answer – Edwin van Mierlo May 05 '16 at 08:12
  • I posted the wrong link, here is the link of the sub 9 kHz transmission across the atlantic – Edwin van Mierlo May 05 '16 at 08:20
  • Yes, please open this, I would like to see if there is an answer.

    and for the range? I was thinking around the CHU atomic clock, around 3300 Kilocycles.

     – Rory Yammomoto May 05 '16 at 13:43
  • It seems like the links included in the comments above are sufficient to answer this particular question. But, I will add two-bits: many years ago during the 1960s, my uncle who was senior scientist at Hughes Aircraft worked on the design (he was principle investigator) of the Navy's (submarine comms) VLF antenna that is located in some northern mid-west state (I think upper Michigan). I can barely remember details and my uncle passed away 20 or so years ago so I can't ask him any questions. – K7PEH May 05 '16 at 14:54
  • @EdwinvanMierlo Please do not answer questions in comments. Comments are intended to suggest clarifications and improvements the question and are subject to deletion. – Kevin Reid AG6YO May 05 '16 at 16:53
  • I've been convinced to reopen this question. I apologize for the interference — as a moderator on this low-traffic site I often have to do things that would be handled by community consensus if more people were around to vote and review. – Kevin Reid AG6YO May 05 '16 at 16:57
  • @KevinReidAG6YO, no problem. You do not have to apologize being a moderator doing what is best for this site. I am moderator on various high traffic forums, and know the drill. I belive the question is changed, and the tag which was VLF is now changed as well. I appreciate that you opened the question again, we are afterall in different timezones. – Edwin van Mierlo May 06 '16 at 06:43

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Modern digital systems communicating over HF (aka short-wave) are legal in the US and practical, and in fact one such system is in routine daily use. Have a look at the Winlink system. (The official web site is here, but the Wikipedia article provides a better general overview.) It uses the PACTOR and WINMOR modes. Winlink messages are formatted as email; the Winlink system is connected to the internet (when the internet works), and a Winlink user can choose to send and receive messages via HF, VHF/UHF, or internet. Because Winlink messages may be sent over a low-bandwidth connection, messages should be short; small attachments are allowed. Winlink is an excellent tool for emergency communications, and is also often used by mariners at sea. (An amateur radio license is required.)

Digital communication on the HF bands is inherently more difficult than on VHF, UHF, and higher bands, due to noise, fading, and many other issues; the bit rate varies according to the signal-to-noise ratio. The newer versions of PACTOR offer better performance than WINMOR, but those newer PACTOR modes require an expensive terminal node controller (TNC), whereas WINMOR is free and implemented in software.

By the way, digital modes are legal in the US and other countries on the 160m band, which is close to the AM broadcast band and is considered a medium-frequency (MF) band. But the noise on 160m is generally much higher than on any HF band, so 160m is not generally used for Winlink.

rclocher3
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