[FARC] Olivia/Digi Modes

[Kirk Talbott]

I downloaded the Ham Radio Deluxe package which includes Digital Master 780 (DM 780).  Is a pretty neat package.  You can just enter Ham Radio Deluxe in your browser search engine and find the download site for it.  Is free, but they do ask for a donation.  Ham Radio Deluxe and DM 780 are much nicer programs than FLDigi as I have tried both.

Ham Radio Deluxe and DM 780 include all the digital soundcard modes so it is pretty comprehensive and should be all anyone needs for digital ops.  If you want you can even do rig control with it but I haven't and don't plan to.

DX activity on 20 meter PSK31 is really hopping.  Just worked France, Italy, and the Czech republic minutes ago, Scotland, Netherlands, and Italy yesterday morning.  35 watts and a shortened dipole is all it takes.   Of course it works even better if you have a better antenna, but it's not absolutely necessary.  Were it not for the digital modes I'd have no DX contacts and very little long-range US contacts.  

Olivia contacts are sparse so be aware of that.  I'm still looking for my third contact in three days.  Olivia is supposed to be very reliable in the high-noise, low signal environment of HF radio.  There is a Pennsylvania group that is experimenting with Olivia for emcomm use.  My only comment on its reliability comes from my one Olivia contact in Minnesota yesterday.  Almost an hour and a half QSO with error-free copy.     

Fire up those RigBlasters and get going on digital.  Actually some FARC members have built their own digital interfaces so you can save some bucks if you can do that.  The RigBlaster Plus interface will run about $150 and the Signalink interface is advertising anywhere from $89 to $99.   The Signalink has a soundcard in the interface, the RigBlaster Plus does not.  

Is snowing and sleeting here in Braddock this morning so I'm stuck in the house for a ham radio day.

73
KB3ONM
Kirk



    
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