Fall 2003 Issue

What is this HSMM stuff? What kind of radio is that? Is this something
cool and fun that I might enjoy? Is it expensive? Can I afford it?
Will I understand how it works? What can it do? K8OCL and KA3JIJ
provide answers to these questions.

By John Champa, K8OCL, and Ron Olexa, KA3JIJ

First, HSMM stands for High Speed Multimedia radio. It is not a specific operating mode, but rather more of a direction or driving force within amateur radio.

Second, HSMM, although digital radio, it is not primarily keyboard radio communication, as in packet radio. Among the capabilities of HSMM are digital voice (DV) and digital video (ATV). Yes, you can type keyboard messages back and forth (chat mode) as in PSK. Also, you can do file transfers as in RTTY, but at significantly higher speeds! In additional, if there is a server on the radio network, you can do e-mailing and maybe even surf the internet. That is why it is called multimedia radio.

If an operator is using HSMM radio to access the internet, don’t forget amateur radio content restrictions, which means no porn, no commercial business e-mails, etc. Don’t worry about pop-up ads. Although a nuisance, these are no more illegal than an ATV station that is transmitting an outdoor scene inadvertently, picking up a billboard in the station camera.
How about a little history first?

Background

A survey conducted by the ARRL Technology Task Force, consisting of League members and other amateurs, revealed that the number one amateur radio interest in new technologies is high-speed digital radio networks. Some suggestions included:
• High-speed radio data links up to 20 mega bits per second (M bit/s)
• Ethernet at 2 mbps on 10 GHz
• Encourage development of a high-speed amateur digital radio network
• High-speed digital audio/video radio
In January 2001 the ARRL Board of Directors voted unanimously that the League should develop high-speed radio digital networks for the Amateur Radio Service. ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, appointed a group of individuals from the international amateur community and industry who were knowledgeable in the field. The group would report to the Technology Task Force. These were the humble beginnings of the High Speed Multimedia (HSMM) Working Group.

 

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