[Lowfer] WE2XGR/2 test tonight

[jrusgrove at comcast.net]

WE2XGR/2 will rerun the MT63-500 and MT63-1000 tests again tonight...hopefully with a little less 
confusion! Both tests will be run with a 'dial' frequency of 509.7 kHz USB. FLDIGI is the preferred 
decoding software. MT63-500 from 0000 to 0030Z and MT63-1000 from 0030 - 0100Z. Reports on static 
resistance and fade recovery are requested.

Then for something different...at 0100Z WE2XGR/2 will test FLDIGI MFSK16 Picture Mode. I will be 
sending a full color image (420 X 259 pixels) of a winter scene. The way this works (or is supposed 
to work) is as follows. Start the MFSK16 decoder and begin decoding the text that I'll be sending. 
At some point you'll notice the MFSK 'idle tones' as the program prepares to send the image. 
Following the 'idle tones' there will be a text preamble that reads "Sending Pic:420x259c;" . This 
is what triggers the decoder to switch to Picture Mode and an MFSK Image Viewer will open. It will 
take several minutes to 'paint' the picture and at the end you'll be able to save the image.

There are a couple issues, however. Stations close in will have an advantage as s/n affects image 
quality. Also, if a fade occurs during the preamble and it is corrupted the decoder will not switch 
to Picture Mode and only gibberish text will print. There's no way to control when a fade will roll 
through so I'll resend the image a few times over the course of a half hour. If your sound card 
sampling rate is way off and you haven't run through the WWV cal procedure in FLDIGI it's possible 
there may be some slant to the image.  Small errors can be corrected after the full picture is 
received by moving the mouse to bottom left or right corner of the slanted images (the corner that 
clearly visible).  Then left click on that corner and the program will correct for the slant.  The 
correction will not be perfect but it may help to make the image more viewable.

As always reports and comments are appreciated.

At 0200Z the XGR stations will be having their regular Sunday night SSB roundtable on 510 kHz USB. 
Either during or at the end of the roundtable I plan to listen around the band for XSH stations on 
cw and work cross mode. If any stations are interested please give a long call when we stand by.

Jay W1VD  WD2XNS  WE2XGR/2

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