N9OGL:

That was enlightening, I have never read that part... I had started believing
what everyone has "said" for decades... thanks.

John

"N9OGL" wrote in message
oups.com...
John:

Well the problem is the rules, the rules are so obscure that many
amateurs believe that encrytion isn't allowed on the amateur bands.
however, really this isn't the case. 97.113(a)(4) states:

"..... messages in codes or ciphers intended to obscure the meaning
thereof, except as otherwise provided herein..."

and many amateur operators will tell you that amateur's operators are
not allowed to do any form of coding. however, if you read 97.309(b) it
states:

"....b) Where authorized by §§97.305(c) and 97.307(f) of this Part, a
station may transmit a RTTY or data emission using an unspecified
digital code, except to a station in a country with which the United
States does not have an agreement permitting the code to be used. RTTY
and data emissions using unspecified digital codes must not be
transmitted for the purpose of obscuring the meaning of any
communication. When deemed necessary by an EIC to assure compliance
with the FCC Rules, a station must:


(1) Cease the transmission using the unspecified digital code;
(2) Restrict transmissions of any digital code to the extent
instructed;

(3) Maintain a record, convertible to the original information, of all
digital communications transmitted"

So unspecified digital codes are allowed as long as they are not there
to obscure or hide the meaning.

Todd N9OGL