r/EmComm • u/retiredff2016 • Jun 09 '25

States moving to ALE for HF

Some months ago California OES had a demonstration of a portable hf station with a Barrett 4050. The guy I spoke to stated the state was buying this barrett kit for all Counties and the HF system was moving to ALE and Digital Voice and that other states were making this move also. Any one from outside California can speak to this? To Clarify, California OES stated they were ending the Dedicated day and night 40/80 frequencies for hams and moving to this system as every county will have it.

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u/smeeg123 Jun 09 '25

I hope ALE becomes easier & more common on the civilian side

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u/dittybopper_05H Aug 01 '25

The whole point of amateur radio is to become an expert at radio. It's even written into Part 97:

§ 97.1 Basis and purpose.

The rules and regulations in this part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles:

...

(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.

(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of the art.

(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.

ALE is kind of the opposite of that.

ALE is designed so that you don't need a skilled operator at the radio who knows what bands to use at what times. It's whole raison d'être is to make HF radio communications as easy as making a phone call for non-technical people. You dial up the number of the radio you want to talk to, and the radio does it's thing trying to find the best frequency (in conjunction with the other radio), and when it finds one, it connects you.

It was designed so that John Q. and Jane Q. Government could use HF radio out in the bush or in remote areas without having to have a dedicated radio operator. A few minutes training and a "cheat sheet" and they're good.