Friday, February 22, 2013

PSK-31 Code Gets ITU Official "Seal of Approval"


The code behind the popular PSK-31 digital mode has now been officially endorsed by the International Telecommunication Union and given its own "recommendation" number. The ARRL reports that the technical characteristics of "Varicode," developed by Peter Martinez, G3PLX, in the 1990s and which serves as the underpinning of PSK-31, has been officially enshrined by the ITU as Recommendation ITU-R M.2034, Telegraphic Alphabet for Data Communication by Phase Shift Keying at 31 Baud in the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Services.
 
ARRL CEO Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, says the primary value of the designation is that it "provides further documentation in an important international forum of radio amateurs' continuing creativity and contributions to the art and science of radio communication."