Introduction to the digital modes

OR HOW TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR PC ON HF DIGITAL MODES

INTRODUCTION TO THE DIGITAL MODES

Presentation focuses on PSK31RTTY approach is very much the same: just different

frequenciesThere are dozens of other digital modes

In your hand outs are links to web sites that will show you what these modes look like on the waterfall

Lets get some terms straight first!

OVERVIEW

• Waterfall Display• Macros• Overdrive• IMD (Intermodulation Distortion)• Passband (Usually a 3000 hz range)• RSQ (Readability, Strength, Quality)• Varicode

TERMS OF THE ART

HF RADIOSoundcard (internal or external)

Macintosh or Windows PCConnecting Cables

Software

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Yaesu 897DYaesu 857D (Current mobile)Kenwood TS-590S (selling)

ICOM IC-7100

RADIOS I’VE USED FOR PSK

DX Labs Suite (free)FLDigi (free)

$$ Ham Radio Deluxe $$

AVAILABLE SOFTWARE

CONFIGURATION ONE

RadioTo Antenna

PC

Signalink

Connect the Signalink to the CAT receptacle on the radio.Connect the USB to the ComputerSignalink identifies itself to your PC as USB Audio Codec

SIGNALINK SETUP

CONFIGURING SIGNALINK

Radio CAT

USB PORT ON PC

KENWOOD & ICOM RADIOS WITH BUILT IN

DEMODULATORS

ICOM 7100PC OR MAC WITH USB PORTUSB PORT

• FLDIGI• FREE SOFTWARE• WORKS ON BOTH PC AND MAC BASED COMPUTERS• FREQUENTLY UPDATED, OPEN SOURCE CODE• ONE OF THE FEW PROGRAMS THAT WILL WORK IN THE MAC

ENVIRONMENT• WORKS WELL WITH SIGNALINK USB

SOFTWARE

• DX LAB SUITE• ALSO FREEWARE• ALSO FREQUENTLY UPDATED• ONLY WORKS ON A PC• GOOD SUPPORT FOR SOFTWARE ON YAHOO FORUM• FAVORABLY REVIEWED IN QST IN DECEMBER• LIKE HAM RADIO DELUXE IT IS A MODULAR DESIGN

DX LABS SOFTWARE

• HRD SOFTWARE COSTS $99 FOR FULL LICENSE• ONE YEAR OF FREE UPDATES WITH LICENSE

PURCHASE• ONLY WORKS ON PCs• GOOD SUPPORT FOR LOTW, eQSL.cc, QRZ, etc.• DIGITAL MODES USES DIGITAL MASTER 780

HAM RADIO DELUXE

Choose the right rig CAT controlsPersonalize your copy with your name and callsignPersonalize your Macros

FLDIGI SET UP

CHECK SOUND CONNECTION

CONFIGURE OP MODE

PICK A FREQUENCY

MACROS

CUSTOMIZED MACRO

CQ Macro (cq cq cq de ad0dq ad0dq ad0dq pse k)Answer macro (<Call> de ad0dq ad0dq ad0dq pse kn)

G2KU Macro: Name, age, location, locator, QSO macro: (station, software, antenna, S/N, IMD, QSL

request)SK macro (thanks, have a nice life, you’re the 945th person

…)BTW macro (<call> de AD0DQ….)

USEFUL MACROS

Most turn on the transmitter when selectedMost transmit consistently to the endMost shut off at the end of the macro

The closing or SK macro usually makes a log entry.

COMMON MACRO FEATURES

$99 productEasy to configureOffers remote configuration if you get stuckUseful for more than just PSK/RTTY

HAM RADIO DELUXE

CONFIGURE RADIO

RSID System (Reid-Solomon)Helps you see and react to new calls

HELPFUL FEATURES

HOVER OVER TRACK

IDENTIFIES PREVIOUSLY WORKED STATIONS

PULL INFORMATION FOR MACROS FROM RECEIVED

TEXT

FULL RANGE OF MACROS

AUTOMATED LOG ENTRIES

FULL WATERFALL DISPLAY

Courtesy of W4RKMost of the photos here showed bandwidth set very wide

IMPORTANT TIP

Purpose of wide passband is to permit you to identify many signals.

Sometimes, particularly with weak signals, that is counterproductive.

To improve the S/N ratio on a weak signal, restrict your passband.

While 2000 might show you a lot of band, it also brings in a lot of noise

If you narrow your bandwidth to 250 or 200, you get a much cleaner signal

IMPROVE SIGNAL TO NOISE

MAKING CONTACTS

FIND THE RIGHT FREQUENCY AND SIDEBAND

USB is standard

May or may not want Preamp on

SET YOUR POWER RIGHT

CHECK YOUR ALC SETTING

Adjust this back by turning down the volume on the Signalink device, or otherwise directly adjusting ALC on your radio

TURN OFF SPEECH PROCESSING

ADJUST YOUR PREAMP Preamp OnPreamp Off

FIND A SIGNAL ON THE WATERFALL

PSK 31 signals

Find someone calling CQ

As noted, tuning the receiver to put the signal in the middle of your passband, and then reducing the passband down to

250 – 150 will improve signal to noise ratio.

TUNE TO CENTER

WATCH A FEW FIRST

NOTE WHAT INFO IS EXCHANGED

• If you use Ham Radio Deluxe, macros can give you fits.• The macros supplied with the software are dated around

2007.• There are dozens of helpful macros that you can modify.• But if you modify the standard macros, any modifications

are not saved.• You have to create your own set of macros, which can be

handy• When I did PSK at Frankenstein, I had my own Special

Event macros• When I make contacts from Missouri, my macros are

different than when I am in Alabama or Florida• There are up to 10 different sets of Macros in HRD

AVOID THE NOID

Get experience by answering CQ calls first.Then try some CQ calls.

Some people want only reports-and-offOthers want to rag chew

Whatever you like, you can find it.Good DX’ing folks!

FIRE UP YOUR MACROS!