[time-nuts] WWVB Format Ownership

WB6BNQ wb6bnq at cox.net
Fri Sep 28 01:57:24 UTC 2012


The transmitted format on WWVB (and for that matter on the WWV HF
stations) is owned by the government and thus the "PEOPLE."

As stated to me, John Lowe (WWVB Broadcast Manager) claims he is the
person who has designed and is implementing this new broadcast format.
Because he is a paid employee of the government (i.e., us PEOPLE) his
new protocol is thus, presumably, unencumbered and free to use by
anyone.

What I find interesting is how a functional system is completely shit
canned in favor of a new and yet proven process; particularly seeing as
how no means of utilizing said new (and still being tweaked) modulation
existed at the beginning of the design process.  Obviously, the process
was driven by external forces for the total benefit of those external
forces.  In other words, the benefit was not for "we the people" per se
even though that is the stated reason.

Conceptually, what Xtendwave seems to be doing is designing a "detection
& demodulation" process that they feel is unique and thus eligible for a
patent.  If that is the whole truth and nothing but the truth, then more
power to them.

However, if they are attempting to construct their patent verbiage to
exclude others from creating or using any other means and thus having
sole use of the WWVB format, then one should question the propriety of
the whole process including the WWVB staff.

If the previous paragraph is the aim, then it is a parallel to a certain
medical program where non participation is met with a hefty penalty.
Here the hefty penalty would be having to buy the Xtendwave receiving
apparatus in order to use said modulation process.

Xtendwave would be hard pressed to go after all the "John Doe" hobbyists
from both a monetary and political point of view.  In the commercial
market that would be a different case.

Someone on the list posed the question of a "Public" comment period.
YES, that would have been nice.  BUT, such an action would have been
disastrous for the project, if it really made a difference, because
those who would bother to respond would likely be negative to the
concept.  That certainly wouldn't do, so instead it is done in quasi
secret and sprung on the unsuspecting as a done deal.  Clearly, DO IT
and ask for forgiveness afterwards.

So much for government transparency !

Bill....WB6BNQ





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