[Lowfer] DFCW

[John Andrews]

Stan,

>Anyone with experience using this one for transmitting or receiving?
>Any suggestions ?

I've been using it for several years. DFCW does shorten ID times, and it can
be pretty distinctive. Reception is done with Argo, Spectran, Spectrum Lab,
etc. Some examples:

http://webpages.charter.net/w1tag/files/031103.jpg
The top signal is G3AQC, with CT1DRP in the middle and G3LDO in regular QRSS
at the bottom.

http://webpages.charter.net/w1tag/XES_by_NA.jpg
The XES at the top is mine, with VO1NA underneath.

http://webpages.charter.net/w1tag/files/185.3_12-11.jpg
At the bottom, TAG is in DFCW.

Typical frequency shifts are 5 Hz for 3-second characters, 0.5 Hz for
30-second, and 0.2 Hz for 60 second. 0.1 Hz is workable at 90 and 120
seconds. Normal use is to have the "dash" characters higher than the "dots."
Some operators provide no spaces between successive characters of the same
type. For example, see the "1" in CT1DRP's ID above. Others provide shorter
than normal CW spaces, but enough so that you see the individual characters.
This does cost some extra time, though.

Most of the people doing DFCW are using synthesized exciters, but there is
no reason why you couldn't pull a crystal oscillator. That used to be the
normal way of doing RTTY.

John Andrews, W1TAG/WD2XES
WD2XES Status: http://webpages.charter.net/w1tag/