[GreenKeys] ITTY meets RTTY

[Jack]

ZCZC

 

Idle hands.

 

I built the Irv Hoff XT-4 crystal oscillator several years ago

because I had the parts. It uses a single 6U8A vacuum tube

as an oscillator and includes the "Mainline" FSK circuit. Normally, it would

be used to drive an HF transmitter to provide a stable

signal for autostart, etc.

 

I recently interfaced the XT-4 to the loop that I use for ITTY, using

a small Frederick Electronics loop keyer "interface" PC board
(opto-isolator)

and a 9V battery. I can now "tune in" off-the-air ITTY using my main HF

rig and Dovetron. The XT-4's 40 meter crystal is on 7006.0 KHz

and it is set for 850 shift so I can also use some of my

more-ancient RTTY converters, like my recently-acquired

Northern Radio Type 107 (all 60 pounds of it).

 

Of course, I get a nice strong signal in the shack.and it's

pretty strong outside when I listened with my IC-706 in

the car.

 

The XT-4 has a dummy load, so it probably can only

be heard within a few feet of the house. Sort of like

an ancient version of Wi-Fi (!).

 

If you happen to be on my street with your mobile

Model 12 RTTY setup, you can now copy ITTY.

 

No software was needed!

 

73,

Jack K0TTY

 

"Down in the basement, we hear the sound of machines."

- Talking Heads

 

NNNN

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