Time + technology= options.
Ham radio has a lot more options than it did years ago. Back in the day your choices were phone or CW and that was about it. In the 1970s/1980s slow scan TV and early data such as RTTY came about, but they were niche modes used by, well, hardly anyone. From an off grid ham perspective, what advantages do data modes have? Do they truly advance the avocation, or are they just a gimmick?
Our purpose is not to go into technical detail about each mode, or argue that data is better or worse than conventional phone and Morse code. Instead, we’ll pick apart the pros and cons of data and examine how it applies to off grid operation.
That was then and this is now.
Today, hams can choose from a large buffet of data modes with more being developed all the time. As these modes became more popular, various cliques and factions formed around them. If you frequent the ham radio social media pages, you know the discussion can sometimes get unnecessarily acrimonious, descending into a middle school-ish pissing contest over which is “better”. I don’t get it either; the internet has a strange ability to turn otherwise sensible people into total…well you get it.
One of the main selling points for ham radio data modes is that they can get a message through with only a few watts of power, even when there is a lot of interference and poor band conditions. For the most part, this is true. Also, some data modes such as Weak Signal Propagation Reporter (WSPR) have an on line resource that will report where in the world your signal is being heard. It’s great for testing antennas or getting a feel for band conditions. Winlink allows hams to send emails with attachments via radio.
What are your goals?
If you are into ham radio purely for recreational/experimental reasons, then you don’t need to read the rest of this article (but I hope you will anyway!). Pick the mode that suits you, have fun with it, and don’t sweat the details or engage the haters.
If you are into EMCOMM or are a survivalist/prepper, then data modes require more consideration. To you folks, radio is not just a pastime and deciding on how you will communicate is a serious matter.
The pros.
As already mentioned, most data modes are very effective at getting a message through even with low transmit power and poor band conditions. This alone makes them worthwhile. In addition, data provides a modest level of communications security. If this sounds like an odd claim, keep in mind every ham who is not set up to run data will be unable to interpret your transmission. Right out of the box, data reduces the number of stations that can eavesdrop on your comms. Although the exact number is unknown, it is likely significant. On the other side, traditional phone and CW comms can be heard by anyone, even non-hams with simple equipment.
Another great capability of data is that it is or can be asynchronous. This means that a received message can be stored and read later, thereby eliminating the need to have an operator on duty to copy messages in real time.
The cons.
There are not many downsides to data. Perhaps the biggest drawback is the technical requirements. In addition to the appropriate hardware and software, you’ll also need charging cables & power supplies for all devices if you plan on long-term operations.
Obviously, the more complexity you have, the greater the chance of something going wrong. Furthermore, it’s not enough to have the proper gear yourself. Anyone you wish to communicate with will also need to be similarly equipped. Working the “bugs” out and getting everything to work can be a challenge even for experienced operators.
Imagine this scenario: You and some family/friends/neighbors want to form a group for SHTF preparedness. If you collectively decide to use radio data modes, then everyone in the group will need to invest in the needed equipment and be competent using it. While the technical intricacies of setting up one station is not particularly a big deal, duplicating it across multiple stations in the group might be.
The internet: Is it a weak link?
Generally, data modes do not require an internet connection. But this claim needs some context. While while most data modes technically do not need the internet to work, not having an internet connection may limit functionality.
WSPR: For starters, WSPR is not as much a ham radio “mode” as much as it is a service or feature. Since receiving stations report activity via the internet, not having an internet connection disables the service. It’s a moot point anyway. In a disaster scenario WSPR won’t have much utility.
Winlink: Winlink technically does not require the internet. But not having internet will significantly reduce its usefulness. You will be limited only to point-to-point communications with other Winlink-equipped stations. The good news is that it’s unlikely the internet will go down everywhere at the same time. If you can contact at least one Winlink station with a working internet connection, then it should be ok.
Are you really off grid? Does it matter?
It’s really important to point out a glaring truth: If you are using the internet as part as your SHTF communications plan, then you are by definition not off grid! There’s nothing wrong with this, and I’m not trying to be pedantic. However, if having an off grid, wholly independent comms system is a high priority, then you need to look into other options, or at the very least have a “Plan B” that does not involve the Internet. Of course, many hams use both data and traditional voice/CW for SHTF communications. Don’t get yourself into a rut and think that it’s an either/or choice.
In a world where everyone seems to have an opinion on everything, I’m not trying to persuade for or against data modes. My goal is to lay out the pros and cons and encourage careful thought. Choose data modes if they will serve your needs or solve a problem that conventional communications cannot, and if the technical requirements do not present an undue burden. Do not choose data solely because it’s trendy or cool. Technology for technology’s sake, in the context of SHTF communications, is a horrible idea.
Resources.
Check out this recent article from QRPer.com that lays out in great detail how you can set up a data mode ham station…for cheap!
While I only use data/digital modes like JS8Call and PSK31, there are indeed some significant problems associated with them in an emergency situation. The first is, of course, that it requires additional equipment like a computer, appropriate software and perhaps a special interface between the radio and the computer. That’s more things that can potentially fail, require their own power sources, increase the complexity of operation, etc.
The second problem is perhaps more important, and it’s that the person you’re trying to contact also has to have al of that equipment, and in an emergency you can’t depend on the person you want to talk to having the right equipment and the knowledge of how to use it.
IMO when it comes to emergency communications the KISS system is best, keep it simple.
Oh, FYI: Had a real world test of the whole solar power system here a few weeks ago when a major winter storm rolled through and resulted in wide-spread power failures over the whole area. Some parts of the state were without power for 3 days. Hardly even noticed here. I just flipped a switch an the whole house was running off the battery bank. The outage here only lasted 14 hours so it was nowhere near as bad as some other people around here had it. Town about 3 miles from here didn’t get power back for two and a half days.
Here at home we hardly even noticed. It was business as usual. Only way we knew we had an outage was because it took out the internet as well. After 14 hours when the power came back on my batteries were still at around 75% capacity which surprised me, but we were pretty careful about not running anything we didn’t need to. I was lending out my little Yamaha generator to the neighbors to pump out their sumps.
I tested my backup generator set up too using the big Generac to charge the batteries and that worked well also.
I might have been feeling a wee bit smug sitting here having my morning coffee and cooking breakfast that morning while the rest of the town was blacked out.
Hi Randy, you are exactly right. Data is fine for what it is but it does come with some baggage. I used to mess with it a lot but lately have be drifting towards old-school modes. I believe that in a SHTF situation everyone will take the path of least resistance and use phone or CW. No one will have the time or resources to mess around with computers and diddle with software just get a message out.
I’m really glad to hear your home solar came through for you. I do not have that much confidence in mine. My wet cell batteries are past their shelf life. One of them completely failed last year and had to be removed from service. The longer daylight now that winter is over is helpful, but sometime soon I’m going to have to replace my batteries. You spent more money on the front end and now it’s paying you back. Well done!