North Shore Radio Club Whats New in Digital Modes November 12,
2013 Warren Pugh, KC9IL Mark Klocksin, WA9IVH Dave Hewitt,
N3BXY
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Agenda Digital mode basics HF update VHF/UHF update Q & A
Demonstration FreeDV > HF digital voice JT-9 > weak signal
mode for HF/VHF/UHF 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL2
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Digital Mode Basics 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL3 - Hardware
& software - Plus a little history
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Digital Mode Basics What is a digital mode? At its basic level,
it consists of two discontinuous states, on and off. With a
computer, on and off equate to 1s and 0s. A Digital Mode transmits
1s and 0s by using a carrier. Can create tones by sending carriers
offset from a BFO frequency to represent data bits. 11/12/13Digital
Update - KC9IL4
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Digital Modes In the beginning, there was: Spark gap CW (on-off
with timing) RTTY (offset carriers creating tones) Facsimile
(Hellschreiber) Slow Scan TV 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL5
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Digital Modes Then (starting in the 80s) came: Packet (AX.25)
300 baud on HF 1200 - 9600 on VHF/UHF AMTOR (AMateur Teleprinting
Over Radio) HF - 100 baud, not much use currently PACTOR FSK mode
combining Packet and AMTOR technology (still popular but fading)
G-TOR proprietary to Kantronics. Rarely used. 11/12/13Digital
Update - KC9IL6 Hardware based modes
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Digital Modes Next wave (1990s & 2000s) PACTOR II 8x faster
than PACTOR, proprietary CLOVER full duplex PSK mode PSK31 by Peter
Martinez, G3PLX in 1998. Hugely popular. Also PSK63 & PSK128.
MT63 DSP based, 64 tones, 100 WPM, wide. THROB DSP mode, 9 tones
MFSK16 improvement on THROB, using 16 tones. 11/12/13Digital Update
- KC9IL7 Software based modes Green = More mainstream
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Digital Modes More recent modes: Olivia weak signal capable. 5
different flavors. 125/4, 250/8, 500/16, 1000/32 & 2000/64
(BW/Tones) JT-65 weak & varying signals using 65 tones and FEC.
Meteor scatter and moonbounce. DominoEX another weak signal MFSK
mode, in six flavors. Contestia derived from Olivia. 2x speed. 5
bandwidths and 8 tone options = 40 variations. 11/12/13Digital
Update - KC9IL8 Software based modes
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Why Soundcard modes? Soundcard (software) advantages: Computers
and soundcards are cheap, yet offer high performance Lots of free
software Can be used with almost any radio Easy to change digital
modes Developers can quickly create new modes Lots of great logging
options 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL9
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How to set up a Digital Station 11/12/13Digital Update -
KC9IL10 Works for most non-proprietary modes * Darren Rook, KC9SSL,
West Mountain Radio
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Digital Mode Interfaces 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL11
Interface to any radio Isolated audio Rig control (CAT, CI-V, etc)
Many now contain sound cards KH6TY interface kit
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Digital Mode Software Unique: Digipan PSK31/63 PSK31 original
software from G3PLX MMTTY RTTY WSJT JT65 by Joe Taylor, K1JT
JT65-HF by W6CQZ (improvement on original WSJT) IZ8BLY
Hellschreiber all HELL modes Stream by IZ8BLY for MFSK
11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL12
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Digital Mode Software Multimode: FLDigi for Windows, MAC OSX,
Linux Ham Radio Deluxe most popular modes Hamscope (PSK31, RTTY,
ASCII, MFSK, Packet & CW) MixW multimode software developed in
the Ukraine MultiPSK - the Swiss Army Knife of soundcard mode
software. Very busy user interface. 11/12/13Digital Update -
KC9IL13
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Criteria for Digital Modes RF bandwidth used Speed/data rate
Error correction Reception at lower signal/noise ratio Cant have it
all, you must compromise! 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL14 * Darren
Rook, KC9SSL, West Mountain Radio
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How the Modes compare 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL15
ModeLowest SNR @ 3KHz Avg Speed (WPM) Bandwidth (Hz) Error
Correction 300 Baud Packet +3 dB330800ARQ RTTY-5.5 dB60300None
MT63/500-8 dB50500FEC PSK31-11.5 dB5180None MFSK16-13.5 dB42316FEC
JT-65A-26 dB2.2178FEC * Darren Rook, KC9SSL, West Mountain
Radio
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HF Update 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL16 - New modes - New
Software
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Whats New on HF? New modes: ALE 400 JT 9 LENTUS WinMOR WSPR
FreeDV D-Star 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL17
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Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) Made for hands-free link
establishment Untrained operators (military and govt) Scans
available frequencies, picks the best one Based on 1980s era
MIL-STD-188-141A (ALE141a) 2 kHz bandwidth, 8 tone FSK) Hardware
based, cost prohibitive for hams 11/12/13Digital Update -
KC9IL18
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ALE 400 Need to use MultiPSK software (only software with ALE
support) 400 Hz bandwidth Internet e-mail gateway 100% error-free
(ARQ) full duplex link Can use for real-time chat dB rating and WPM
will degrade due to retries. 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL19
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ALE 400, continued 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL20 ModeLowest
SNR (dB) Avg Speed (WPM) BW (Hz) Error Correc. PSK31-11.55180None
ALE141a ARQ FAE-6.5 to -8.5120 to 2462000ARQ ALE400 ARQ FAE-11.5 to
-13.556 to 107400ARQ
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JT-9 Refinement of JT-65 protocol developed by Joe Taylor, K1JT
About 1-2 dB better than JT-65, but can receive signals at 42 SNR
(30 minute mode) Approximately 16 Hz wide, compared to approx. 178
Hz for JT-65 Implemented in WSJT-X software. Also uses time sync.
(Dimension 4 or similar) Cycles of 1,2,5,10 or 30 minutes
11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL21
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JT-9 Seems to work as well on 5 watts as JT-65 does on 20
watts. Good for QRP or stealth! 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL22
ModeLowest SNR @ 3KHz Avg Speed (WPM) Bandwidth (Hz) Error
Correction 300 Baud Packet +3 dB330800ARQ RTTY-5.5 dB60300None
PSK31-11.5 dB5180None JT-65A-26 dB2.2178FEC JT-9-1-27 dB2.216FEC
JT-9-30-42 dB.070.4FEC
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JT-65 / JT-9 Spotting Web Page 11/12/13Digital Update -
KC9IL23
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LENTUS Extremely weak signal contact, reception down to -35 dB
Experimental, part of MultiPSK software 5 minute TX/RX cycles
(approx 13 characters) 32 tone MFSK, 23 Hz bandwidth. PC clock
synchronization is critical Similar to JT-9 in long cycle modes.
(JT9-5 is - 34 dB). 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL24
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WinMOR Soundcard interface to Winlink 2000 Replaces expensive
packet radios traditionally used to connect to Winlink Developed by
Rick Muething KN6KB in 2008, deployment in 2010 500Hz or 1600Hz
bandwidth 67 to 1300 bits per second Can exceed Pactor-2 rates
11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL25
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WinMOR to Winlink configuration 11/12/13Digital Update -
KC9IL26
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WSPR Weak Signal Propagation Reporter Joe Taylor K1JT It is not
used for DX contact Software automates TX and RX of beacons which
can the be viewed on wsprnet.org Tool for determining band
conditions A beacon is TX or RX every 2 minutes. Narrow band 4-FSK
with RX at -28dB SNR 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL27
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WSPR Recommended Software WSPR Joe Taylor K1JT Windows and
Linux http://wsprnet.org View beacon logs Dimension D4 (or similar)
Time synchronization software 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL28
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wsprnet.org 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL29
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WSPR Screen Shot 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL30
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FreeDV Digital voice soundcard mode Open source software and
codec (based on FDMDV) Written by David Witten & David Rowe
Response to low acceptance of AOR system, proprietary D-Star and IP
concerns of FDMDV. Released 2012, now in its 3rd version. Designed
to be analogous to SSB 1.125KHz bandwidth (half of SSB) 16 QPSK
carriers, 1 BPSK carrier, 75hz spacing High data rate, fast synch,
low latency 1600 bits/s (1375 b/s codec, 25 b/s call sign id, 200
bits/s FEC error correction) 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL31
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FreeDV Setup 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL32 You need a second
sound card! * Darren Rook, KC9SSL, West Mountain Radio
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FreeDV Software features Windows, Linux, Mac, Android Full
record of QSO (both TX and RX) Extensive audio filtering and
processing (both TX and RX) Turn off digital and run in analog
(SSB) http://qso.k7ve.org/ QSO Finder Website 11/12/13Digital
Update - KC9IL33
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FreeDV QSO Finder 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL34
D-Star Open protocol developed by JARL & Japan govt Up
until recently, only for 2 meters, 70 cm and 23 cm bands HF and 6
meters only with 9600 baud capable radios, software and an AMBE
chip (DV Dongle, MOEN Comm board, etc) Now with Icom 9100 and 7100,
full D-Star capability on HF. Nets and QSOs are now appearing on HF
11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL36
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Whats New on HF? New software PSK Reporter (basically a reverse
beacon) Airlink Express for PSK, MFSK and RTTY WSJT-X enhanced for
JT-65 and includes JT-9 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL37
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PSK Reporter Automatic Propagation Reporter Software
automatically sends received QSO information to Internet server
http://pskreporter.info Used for many modes, not just PSK
Compatible software HRD, Airlink Express, JT65-HF, FLDIGI
11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL38
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PSK Reporter 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL39
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Airlink Express Free, easy to use DX contact software Similar
to Digipan Supports PSK, MFSK and RTTY Logging Multichannel display
PSK Reporter compatibility 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL40
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Airlink Express 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL41
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WSJT-X Updated version of WSJT, by Joe Taylor, K1JT Vastly
improved user interface from prior version (more like JT65-HF, by
Joe Large, W6CQZ) Needs time sync (Dimension 4 or similar) Runs
both JT-65 and JT-9 Point and click operation Split screen mode
11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL42
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WSJT-X 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL43
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WSJT-X 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL44 Can have JT-65 on this
sideCan have JT-9 on this side
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Try these they cost NOTHING! New modes: ALE 400 JT 9 LENTUS
WinMOR WSPR FreeDV D-Star 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL45 New
software: PSK Reporter Airlink Express WSJT-X
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VHF/UHF Update 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL46 - Current
overview - New equipment - Enhancements
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Current Overview VHF/UHF Analog FM been around nearly 50 years
Digital Linking (VoIP based) IRLP (1997 by David Cameron, VE7LTD).
Must have a radio at each end. EchoLink (2002 - by Jonathon Taylor,
K1RFD) can have a radio, PC or smartphone at each end. Currently
over 200,000 registered users Both formats support reflectors
11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL47
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Current Overview VHF/UHF Digital modes: APCO Project 25 (P-25)
Created in 1989 Intended for mission-critical applications Phase 1
equipment started showing up in the late 90s Fairly small number of
machines Can run dual mode (Analog & Digital) 11/12/13Digital
Update - KC9IL48
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Current Overview VHF/UHF Digital modes: D-STAR Developed by
JARL & Japanese government Spec released in 2001 Icom began
shipping in 2004 2 worldwide networks (approx 1500 repeaters) Icom
G2 > 1,000 repeaters, > 30,000 registered users ircDDB
(Jonathon Naylor, G4KLX) > 1,000 repeaters, 8,500 users
11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL49
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Current Overview VHF/UHF Digital modes: DMR (Digital Mobile
Radio) Based on a European standard (ETSI) published in 2005
Intended for professional use, low complexity & low cost,
narrow band Many manufacturers (Motorola, Hytera, Harris, Vertex)
Dual slot TDMA (Slot 1 linked, Slot 2 local) MotoTrbo Motorolas
implementation of DMR Multiple linked networks (DMR-MARC, DCI,
Trbo-6) Nearly 400 repeaters as of Nov 2013 Approximately 4,000
registered user IDs 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL50
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New VHF/UHF equipment Icom D-Star radios with DR programming
& GPS To simplify programming 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL51
IC-7100 HF/VHF/UHF all mode including D-Star ID-51 20meter / 70 cm
hand- held
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New VHF/UHF equipment D-Star ancillary products DV Dongle
access D-Star network from PC DVAP low power remote base access
point Raspberry Pi Linux microcomputer AMBE encode/decode boards
(MoenComm & similar) Create repeaters & remote access
without Icom hardware 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL52
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New VHF/UHF equipment New and used DMR equipment offerings
11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL53
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VHF/UHF Digital enhancements D-Star Increasing number of
non-Icom repeaters Experimentation with Raspberry Pi microcomputer
Growth of cottage industry products Tweaks to G2 network (Redundant
headers) DMR More sub-groups forming as user base grows Regional,
national, international Automated Roaming 11/12/13Digital Update -
KC9IL54
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VHF/UHF Digital enhancements ALLSTAR Similar to IRLP/EchoLink,
but network-centric as opposed to end-user centric Supports
multiple types of nodes: Repeater, Simplex Remote Base, Hub Uses
Linux-based computers At least 5 equipment partners
www.allstarlink.org 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL55
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New VHF/UHF equipment Yaesus C4FM/CDMA System Fusion Sept 2013
Not compatible with other digital modes 1 mobile, 1 portable
Repeater in November 2013 No specifics on capability (routing,
linking, etc) 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL56
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Questions? 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL57
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Demonstration FreeDV open source digital voice protocol for HF
(but can be used on VHF as well) JT-9 Error-correcting data mode fo
VERY WEAK signal work Moonbounce Meteor scatter Low power, limited
antennas 11/12/13Digital Update - KC9IL58
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So, What Should I Try? HF RTTY popular, easy to get started
PSK31 keyboard conversational JT65/JT9 not conversational. Test
your limits! Olivia or ALE 400 as you get more confident VHF/UHF
D-Star currently more mainstream (10x users) DMR growing quickly,
good local Elmers > NSRC has BOTH!!!! 11/12/13Digital Update -
KC9IL59
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References: G4UCJs Radio Website -
http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html WB8NUT -
http://wb8nut.com/digital/http://wb8nut.com/digital/ Amateur Radio
Transmitting Society (Louisville)
http://www.w4cn.org/about-ham-radio/digital- modes
http://www.w4cn.org/about-ham-radio/digital- modes West Mountain
Radio - http://www.westmountainradio.com/
http://www.westmountainradio.com/
http://jt65.w6cqz.org/receptions40.html 11/12/13Digital Update -
KC9IL60
