[FARC] Digital Modes

[Bob Moroney]

PSK31 is definitely cool stuff, Kirk.  If you haven't read up on the 
protocol already, it's pretty interesting.  The math involved is way 
over my head, but it definitely seems like the word "elegant" should 
apply to the encoding/decoding approach.

Is 10W the minimum power you've tried?  If you can get a solid contact 
going with someone who's willing to experiment, it can be interesting to 
see how far you each can crank down the power and still maintain good 
copy both ways.  It's been a few years since I tried the mode, but for 
some reason I found Stateside Hams on 40m more willing to humor me and 
play around with output power.  Maybe since 40 can be a challenge to 
begin with because of all the big broadcast signals, folks operating 
there are more willing to see how little power they can get away with 
and still maintain a QSO.  But even at 10W it's still cool to have a QSO 
with a station whose signal may not even tweak your s-meter over the 
QRN+QRM+BCI floor.

73, Bob K9CMR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kirk Talbott wrote:
> Hello all, KB3ONM (Kirk) here.  Just wondered how everyone was doing after 
> hamfest and field day.
>
> I've been experimenting with the digital modes on HF and I'm impressed.  I 
> hooked up a Rigblaster Plus unit to my laptop and Kenwood TS-2000 and I use 
> a freeware program called WinPSK.  On 20 meters, 14.07015, I've made 18 
> PSK31 contacts in 2 days, two of which were DX in Russia and Eastern Europe, 
> my first DX stations.  No fuss, no pileups, no slit operating, no waiting. 
> Just listen for the warbling sound, click on a white mark on the waterfall 
> display, and answer a CQ.  And to top it all off, I only needed between 10 
> and 30 watts to do the job.  SSB phone and the brute force method, who needs 
> it!
>
> Another interesting digital mode I used was slow scan TV.  The "TV" part of 
> it seems a bit of a misnomer because in reality it is just sending still 
> pictures via radio. It kind of reminds me of Facsimile. I used a freeware 
> software package called MSCAN for Windows and it is pretty simple to 
> operate; note that some programs aren't. It's a neat mode and will give you 
> a chance to practice your computer photo art work.
>
> Now, not all is a bed of roses as I ran into some quirks and pitfalls.  The 
> Rigblaster was a little tedious, at least for me, to install.  The unit 
> comes with its case open and that is so you can install the 10 or so teeny, 
> tiny, strap jumpers that are necessary for the type of radio you have and 
> the software you want to use.  Want to change a microphone, radio, or 
> software, you have to change the jumpers.  Add to this my first Rigblaster 
> was damaged out of the box and I had to return it to HRO in Woodbridge VA 
> and get it exchanged.  However, the Rigblaster's installation and testing 
> instructions were clear and the new unit is working fine.
>
> After years of working with mainframe and PC computers, usually when I 
> encounter tedious installation problems and damaged or ill-designed units, I 
> throw them against a wall as hard as I can in a fit of rage.  But I'm glad I 
> stuck with the Rigblaster and got to see how PSK31 and some other digital 
> modes work, it was worth the extra frustration.
>
> FARC FARC de KB3ONM KB3ONM 73 clr 
>
>