hobby cellular (was: Re: The future of our hobby (was Re: ImageDisk project is canceled))

[Scott Stevens]

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 21:30:02 +0000 (UTC)
Alexey Toptygin <alexeyt at freeshell.org> wrote:

> On Fri, 30 Dec 2005, Scott Stevens wrote:
> 
> > I have pondered installing a rotary dial phone on our line here
> > at home.  I suspect, though, that it would REALLY mess up our DSL
> > connection.
> 
> Shouldn't. It'll probably eat all your REN though.
> 
> Speaking of homebrewed cellphones, the hardest part will be getting the 
> specs. Even with GSM, where the 3GPP has thankfully published everything 
> for free, reading and understanding all of that is a mamoth undertaking.
> <cough>9.02</cough>
> 
> Then again, you'll need at least a base station, MSC and protocol analyzer 
> just to test the damned thing... <sigh> the barrier to entry into voice 
> telecom is still astronomic, and not likely to lower much if the current 
> players have any say in the process.
> 
>  			Alexey

The barrier is also high because of the relative shortage of
experienced RF design engineers.  In the modern era, everybody
goes 'digital' and the arcane art of RF design looses out in the
educational system.  Companies compete to hire the good
designers, and the designers with a knack for it are busy making
a mint, probably too busy to do a 'hobby' project.

I worked in telemetry for a biomedical device company, and have
seen how 'coddled' a good RF Design engineer is when working on a
critical project.