[NLRS] VHF Field Day modes

[Doug Reed]

Thanks Matt. I'll be trying to setup FLDIGI for the W0MR Mining-SPRC
FD VHF station.

Is there anyone on the list who would like to comment about the choice
of digital modes? I suggested PSK31 mostly because it is well known
and widely used, with good capability for working into the noise.

Jerry suggested plain old RTTY as a good option and I certainly like
it as being instantly recognizable when I hear it. And it is known for
good operation on HF weak paths and works well on FM too. So RTTY
is another option. Stay with the classic 50 baud 170Hz or 850Hz Baudot
format....

I also mentioned MFSK-16 as another mode option. It isn't as well
known as PSK31 and I don't think it can dig as far into the noise, but
it does have the advantage of Forward Error Correction (FEC) so you see
small blocks of text appear as each FEC block is decoded and
corrected. So if you used MFSK-16 you would know the displayed text was
accurate.

The local ARES groups like MT63-2000 for sending digital data over FM
radios or repeaters. It has FEC and is very fast, but isn't the best
choice for use over SSB and a weak path.

I also mentioned using meteor scatter modes, but that would probably
be for stations who are already familiar with it and maybe have a
second VHF station. The WSJT software is the main way to go for those
modes.
<http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjt.html>

There are probably 30 other digital modes that could be used, but that
just makes the job improbable rather than a good way to increase Q's.
So it would be handy if just one or two digital modes were used (in
addition to CW) for Field Day. I don't think transmission speed is a
primary factor in the selection. I have more interest in pulling out
weak signals and with FEC for accurate exchanges.

<http://ww2.amsat.org/?p=678>
If you really want to add to your challenges, try to grab the
satellite bonus for making a FD Q via one of the ham satellites. The
Oscar-50 FM satellite has become very popular for this but its so
popular it is difficult to make any Q. The linear transponder
satellites are also very active during FD. If someone in your FD group
is familiar with working via satellite, it is probably on your
things-to-do list already. :-)

And if your FD group doesn't already have an Educational Activity
lined up to get the bonus points, you could always consider doing
something about VHF weak signal, roving, 10GHz, SDR, or whatever you
want. I was going to suggest loading APRSIS-32 on a laptop and
connecting a radio would let you demo APRS. Or if you have a DVB-T TV
dongle you can demo SDRSharp and ultra-cheap SDR to the crowd.... Or
maybe you'd like to do a short demo of SMT soldering? Or just a demo
of how to install a UHF connector on coax? Everybody knows about
stuffing the coax into the shell and heating it until it melts. Maybe
you can demo a better way? Or show them how to make a quarter-wave
ground plane from a coax connector and a piece of Romax.....

That's all for now. I tend to get to hyped sometimes. Just get out to
Field Day and get involved. If you don't know where to go, check the
ARRL web page FD locator. Just enter your city and state and the map
will show you what is around the area... I'm surprised to see there is
nothing showing in central Wisconsin around Eau Claire! If you know
any local Field Day groups, light a fire under them to put their FD
site on the map!....
<http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator>

73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.