[FARC] Digital Modes

[Kirk Talbott]

Roger Anthony.   I have used MixW also and I like it.   In fact, in two 
years of digital HF operation and trying various software packages the 
easiest to install, configure, and use are WinPSK, MMTTY, and MixW.    I 
recommend, as do the West Mountain RigBlaster Plus digital interface people, 
that beginners to PSK31 use WinPSK.

I use Ham Radio Deluxe and DM-780 right now and it has a lot of features 
I'll never use.   I am experimenting with Ham Radio Deluxe's rig control and 
have found that nobody really needs this.    In fact,  I've been wondering, 
with the Flex Radio systems I've seen advertised in the magazines, what 
happens with your "Flex" radio when new computer operating systems come on 
the market and aren't exactly older hardware friendly like the countless 
printers and scanners I've had that won't operate under Windows XP and 
Vista?

Roger on the use of handheld digital devices for doing the digital HF modes. 
I have never done it, but know of people who have.   W3PO Pat in Myersville 
is one I can think of right now and you can find him occasionally on the 
146.73 repeater.

I would go so far as to say that PSK31 should be the QRPer's dream HF mode. 
Without PSK31 and RTTY I'd have very few DX contacts at all.    I can think 
of 3 or 4 DX HF phone contacts I've had in the last 2 years, while with 
PSK31 I can do 3 or 4 DX contacts a day.    They're not exactly lengthy, 
warm, and fuzzy DX QSO's, but contacts nonetheless even if they are with a 
Ham Radio Deluxe macro.

The digital modes are fun though, no doubt, and I have thoroughly enjoyed 
them.

73
KB3ONM
Kirk








--------------------------------------------------
From: "Anthony C" <n1ig at hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 6:45 PM
To: <farc at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [FARC] Digital Modes

>
> just throwing in my 2 cents, I've been using MixW for about 5 years and 
> it's very easy to setup and use.  It's not freeware, and I believe the 
> current registration fee is $50, but it's been worth every penny.  Since 
> it doesn't use registry entries, I have actually installed it onto a 
> flashdrive and able to use it on whatever computer happens to be around. 
> The nice thing about that is that my qso logs travels with me and i dont 
> have to go back and copy and paste the info.
>
> I've tried Ham Radio Delux, and although I love the cost ($0), it just 
> doesn't seem as easy to use.  I've also had some configuration issues with 
> my interface, but that may be more user than the software.
>
> another thing people may want to consider in addition to the standard 
> computer software, is some of the pda based software that is available. 
> pocketdigi is a freeware program that will run on windows mobile devices. 
> the web site for for info and a loink to the download is 
> http://www.n0hr.com/PocketDigi/PocketDigi_intro.htm.  pdas may be a bit 
> small for regular use, but if you are looking to build a very small jump 
> kit, or take it with you hiking, it might be something you want to 
> consider.  I've played with it quite a bit and it does seem to work well, 
> as long as you keep in mind it's main purpose is to provide some digital 
> capability on a small handheld platform.
>
> one idea I have been playing around with is to build one of the PSK20 
> units from Small Wonder Labs.  This unit costs $105, with another $30 if 
> you want the custom case, and provides about 3-5 watts on 20m.  The 
> excellent thing about this unit is that it only requires audio in and out 
> connections, so no other interface devices (rigblaster or rigexpert or 
> signal link) are necessary.  essentially you could carry around your 
> software on a flashdrive, some sort of computer, a pair of audio cables, 
> this unit, and a portable antenna, and start working PSK on 20m.  The web 
> site is http://smallwonderlabs.com/swl_psk31.htm.  The reviews on this 
> unit at eham and elsewhere dont seem to be able to speak highly enough of 
> this unit (http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/847).  This would be another 
> great option for a jump kit, and being able to provide digital 
> communications capability.
>
> while i am on the topic of small wonder labs, I have just ordered 2 of the 
> 40m rock-mites on 7122khz for Robert (KB3JYR) and I to put together.  from 
> what i have read and been told from a few qrp types, this is one of the 
> better kits to put together.  no toroids to wind, and only one smt with 
> large spacing.  there are also a number of mods you can find for it 
> online, and it fits into an altoids container.  at $29.00 each, it's worth 
> the $ as a first or second kit building project.  The reviews on that unit 
> can be seen at http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2547, and the web link 
> for the unit is at http://smallwonderlabs.com/Rockmite.htm.
>
> finally, if you are really adverterous, great at soldering, and looking 
> for a 5 band digital qrp rig that will fit into an altoids container, you 
> may want to look at the ATS-3B.  Although it wont be available again until 
> the fall, this unit seems to be very highly sought after and probably 
> worth the wait.  Give it a look at 
> http://kd1jv.qrpradio.com/ATS3B/ats3b.HTM.
>
> Anthony - N1IG
>
>
>
>
> From: kirktal7237 at msn.com
> To: FARC at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:59:34 -0500
> Subject: [FARC] Digital Modes
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I know a few people in the FARC whom have
> experimented with the Ham digital modes and I wanted to pass along my
> experiences with these modes.  I want to say these are great modes
> especially for the "minimalist" station like my own.  The digital modes 
> I've enjoyed the most so far are PSK31,
> RTTY, Packet, CW, and Olivia.
>
> PSK31
>
> I've had the greatest of pleasure
> operating this mode over the past two years and I can tell you that had it
> not been for this mode I would have given up on HF for good.
>
> If you've got a computer, an HF transceiver,
> and an antenna, all you need is a digital interface and some software and 
> you're
> ready for PSK31.  My digital interface is the West Mountain
> Rigblaster Plus and included with the interface is a digital soundcard
> application CD.  Everything you need to run PSK31, RTTY, and other
> soundcard applications is on the CD.   Other manufacturers of digital
> interfaces, such as the Signal Link by Tigertronics, also offer a 
> soundcard
> application CD.   One caveat, most of the software on these software
> CD's is too old to run correctly on Windows Vista so be aware of this.  It
> runs fine on Windows XP and older operating systems however.
>
> To run PSK31 you don't need a lot of power and you
> don't need much of an antenna.  My antenna is a HY-Power QRP shortened
> dipole rated for a maximum of 150 watts.  It is 20 feet long and I have it
> in a sloper configuration.  This would be a perfect antenna for
> an attic installation.   In typical application I use between 15
> and 35 watts.  If I've got a real strong DX station coming in I really
> want to make contact with, I'll bump it up to 55 watts.  Beyond
> that I just have to let him go because if he can't hear me on 55
> watts he probably won't hear me at all.   This weekend I worked
> Scotland, Belgium, Spain, and France on PSK31.
>
> 20 meter PSK31 action can be found on 14.070.15, a
> calling frequency supposedly, but more realistically the center of the 20 
> meter
> PSK31 universe.  Activity goes on here all day and early evening.
> Look for most DX action between 6:00 and 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 and 6:00 p.m..
> There is also plenty of DX PSK31 action on 40 meters on 7.038.
>
>
> RTTY
>
> I use a software package called MMTTY, included on
> the Rigblaster Plus's software CD.  There is not as much RTTY action
> on 20 meters as there is PSK31 unless you happen to be a RTTY contester 
> and
> caught the RTTY contest this weekend.  RTTY can be found on 20 meters on
> 14.080 to 14.095 typically.   RTTY is a cool mode and very similar to
> PSK31 in operation.  I just wish the software designers had put some sound
> effects in the software that would actually make it sound like an old 
> radio
> teletype machine.  It takes a little more power to make contacts with 
> RTTY,
> typically 30 to 40 watts I found.
>
> CW
>
> No computer and digital interface needed to operate
> this "digital" mode, just a straight key.  I've been working and studying
> CW for the past 3 months now and have been using a computer program called 
> "Just
> Learn Morse Code."  The program gives you the dits and dahs in
> random sequences and you type the letters in at the keyboard as you hear
> them.  You set the speed and just practice, practice,
> practice.  This got old after a month or so of doing it every day and I
> wanted to get on the air.  So I just jumped on in
> there.    Am not real fast on
> receiving but can do between 5 and 7 WPM accurately.  I send out CQ's on
> the straight key and wait for the response.  Then I grab a notepad and
> pencil and start copying.  I know you're supposed to do this in your
> head but I'm just not there yet.  I try to do CW every day to stay in
> practice.
>
> OLIVIA
>
> This is a new HF digital mode I'm experimenting
> with.  W3FDK Rolan Clark turned me on to this mode.  Additionally
> there is an interesting article in the December 2008 issue of QST magazine 
> on
> Olivia entitled "Olivia, the Magic Mode."   I can do the various
> formats of Olivia on 20 meters on 14.107.50 as this is supposed to be a 
> calling
> frequency for Olivia.  The software I use for Olivia is called
> FLDigi.  FLDigi will also do all the other digital modes like PSK31, RTTY,
> THROB, THOR, Hellschrieber, MT63, MFSK16, et. al..  Other multi-mode
> digital soundcard applications will run Olivia such as Ham Radio Deluxe's 
> DM780,
> MixW, MultiPSK, and others.
>
> I've only made one contact on Olivia on 20 meters,
> 14.107.50, Olivia 1000/32 format (which means 1000 HZ and 32 tones) and 
> that is
> W3FDK Rolan Clark.  I check it all the time though, looking for those
> "GHOST" QSO's.  What does GHOST QSO mean?  Supposedly, according to
> the QST article, you can receive decoded Olivia messages on your computer 
> screen
> without seeing any Olivia signal traces on your waterfall or hearing any 
> Olivia
> signals.  The messages just start appearing on the screen right out of the
> blue.  I haven't had this happen yet, all I receive is garbage characters,
> but I'm still trying.
>
> PACKET
>
> You need a computer with a serial port or a
> USB/Serial converter cable and driver, a Packet TNC, and a VHF radio that 
> is
> equipped to do Packet.   You don't have to use a digital
> soundcard application but you can.  You could use Windows
> HyperTerminal on Windows XP and older operating systems.   Some
> Hams use MixW, Airmail, and other multi-mode digital soundcard 
> applications
> to do Packet.  Right now I use Airmail.  Essentially what you're using
> your computer for in Packet is a computer terminal.  Remember those in
> the old computer mainframe days?  Windows HyperTerminal makes your PC a
> computer terminal.  The multi-mode soundcard applications usually have a
> "DUMB TERMINAL" mode which does the same thing.
>
> I can't profess to know exactly how Packet
> works, other than to say simply that you physically connect by radio to 
> another
> Packet station's TNC via your TNC.  Once connected you type messages
> to and receive messages from the connected station.  If the connected
> station's TNC is equipped with a PBBS (a personal mailbox) you can send an
> "E-mail" message or bulletin to that station.
>
> Packet is a cool mode I think.  It's old
> and a little quirky making it especially appealing to me, and it's
> a command line type of interface;  you enter a command and wait
> for a response, no GUI's here!   It's
> not particularly fast, 1200 baud, but it is accurate and VHF makes it
> very reliable.  We have a local Packet node here in Frederick, FDK, on
> 145.75 and hold a Packet "net" and ragchew on Saturday nights at 9:00
> p.m..   If you've got access to an old
> TNC, give Packet a try you may like it.
>
> If you have a "minimalist" HF station and antenna
> system, are frustrated with the poor band conditions, then HF digital
> soundcard applications are the way to go.  You'll be doing DX every day
> guaranteed and for the purist it is still radio!
>
> 73
> KB3ONM
> Kirk
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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