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Introduction to the digital modes. OR HOW TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR PC ON HF DIGITAL MODES. OVERVIEW. Presentation focuses on PSK31 RTTY approach is very much the same: just different frequencies There are dozens of other digital modes - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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!