Hello Phil, Tony (K2MO) is preparing a paper about the way to use ALE400. Here is a first draft that Tony sent to Digital radio some time ago. I added some modifications.
73 Patrick >From Tony: All, Received several emails asking how to setup Multipsk and work ALE-400 ARQ chat mode so here's my feeble attempt at a quick start guide. Multipsk download site : http://f6cte.free.fr/index_anglais.htm The last Multipsk test version is: http://f6cte.free.fr/MULTIPSK_TEST_27_10_2009.ZIP Paste this adress in your Internet Explorer or equivalent. Download the file. Create a tempory folder (C:\TEST, for example), unzip the file in it and start C:\TEST\Multipsk.exe (the auxiliary files will be created automatically). For ALE and ALE400, see: http://f6cte.free.fr/ALE_and_ALE400_easy_with_Multipsk.doc http://f6cte.free.fr/The_ARQ_FAE_beacon_easy_with_Multipsk.doc Do not install the program from the desktop. Copy the Multipsk folder to your program file folder and click the INSTALL.EXE file. Configuration: The program should open the configuration screen on the first installation. If not, click CONFIGURATION menu located in the upper left corner of the main window and click CONFIGURATION SCREEN. In the CONFIGURATION SCREEN... Click SERIAL PORT to select your PTT COMPORT Click OPTIONS FOR SERIAL PORTS if additional settings are needed Click SOUND CARD INPUT / OUTPUT to configure your sound card Click RX/TX SCREEN button to return to main window Personal Data: In the upper left corner of the main window, click CONFIGURATION menu / PERSONAL DATA. Enter your call sign, name, locator etc - click save. ID Management: Click CONFIGURATION menu / MANAGEMENT OF THE IDENTIFIERS. Click TRANSMISSION OF YOUR CALL SIGN + LOCATOR in the popup window* Click QUIT on the bottom of this window to return to the main window. * Your locator / call sign will be taken from the information you entered in the PERSONAL DATA window. Reed Solomon Identifiers: The RS ID's are located in the upper left of the main program window above the waterfall. Click the following ID's: RSID - sends Reed Solomon mode identifier on transmit RX RSID - allows Multipsk to automatically switch modes upon RSID mode reception RX CALL ID - allows CALL and PROP ID of the other station to appear in your waterfall. Clicking the CALL ID button located on the far left of side of the main window will SEND your call sign and locator (CALL ID / PROP ID) which will appear in the waterfall of the receiving station. It will also activate the map screen showing the other station where you're located on the Multipsk map. See ID management for details on CALL ID / PROP ID. Waterfall: Waterfall controls are located on the right side of the main window. Make sure WATERFALL / HIGH is clicked for best results. Adjust the waterfall color / contrast using the up/down COLOR buttons. Appearance: Font type, color and window size buttons are located on the bottom left of the main window. Click FONTS and HEIGHT to adjust to your preference. Macros: Patrick has already configured the macros. The information for each macro is taken from the PERSONAL DATA where your call sign, name and locator are stored. If you'd like to customize the macros, right click on the macro button. Remember to click SAVE AND CLOSE when finished. ALE-400 ARQ FAE "CHAT MODE" Operation: Calling CQ / Connecting In the main window: 1. Click on ALE-400 mode (not 141ALE) 2. Click ARQ FAE button located in the middle of the window (button stays pushed in). 3. Click the CQ button next to ARQ FAE button to send a CQ. The CQ will go out as soon as the button is pressed; transmitting 5 seconds and listening for 5 seconds. To end the call, click the END button next to the CQ button (the CQ must finish before you can end the call). Multipsk will connect automatically once the ALE-400 signal is detected by another station. The stations call sign will appear in the RX window along with a connect confirmation. Your PC speaker will BEEP to confirm connection as well. The ALE-400 ARQ Chat Mode QSO: The top window is where you type; hitting enter will send the text in that window, but not while the other station is sending. There is a short wait period for TX/RX change-over. The middle window shows the text that has been received by the other station. It is normal to see the same text repeated on occasion if signals are weak; this is where the ARQ comes into play requesting repeats for missing data. You can chose not to have the double TX window by clicking DOUBLE at the bottom of the main program window. It's best to leave it on to monitor throughput. Receive text appears in the bottom window. The ALE-400 / ARQ / FAE mode works like a semi-duplex chat mode so there is no waiting for the station to stop transmitting to send. Print will go out both ways as the mode switches from TX/RX every few seconds. To end the QSO, hit END next to the CQ button. We have found that it is possible to 'force' collisions with ALE-400 ARQ if you hit enter-to-send at the right moment, especially when signals are weak. This is where Patrick's RSID re-sync comes in handy. This feature is on the latest test version. Calling a station with Selective calling: Selective calling allows you to call a specific station. Click the AUX FUNCTIONS button located in the middle of the main program window. In the AUX FUNCTIONS window, enter the stations call sign you wish to call in the SELECTIVE CALL ARQ FAE box and click the CALL button. You'll know the connection is made by the confirming beep of the PC speaker as well as the call sign confirmation in the RX window. ALE-400 ARQ CHAT MODE PERFORMANCE: Patrick as done a lot of work with this mode and it is quite robust. The fact that it's ARQ means that missing print caused by QSB can be recovered quickly instead waiting for the other station to stop transmitting and then asking what you missed. Conclusion: There is a lot more to this mode, but we'll leave it at that for now. Thanks for reading and we hope to see you on the air. 14074.0 +/- QRM. Certainly hope the guide can help... Best Regards, Tony -K2MO PS: I'm sure there are a few details I may have over looked so please feel free to comment. ----- Original Message ----- From: Phil Williams To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 9:48 AM Subject: Re: [digitalradio] New to digital modes? Try this weekend's challenge What about ALE-400? This is a mode that I have never used. I have finally installed mutlipsk which offers this mode. I would sure like to get some hands on with ALE-400. Oh yeah, I second the motion on Feld Hell. Thanks KT. philw de ka1gmn On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 6:19 PM, Kurt Tuttle <k8...@yahoo.com> wrote: I would recommend FeldHell also. KT K8YZK --- On Thu, 10/29/09, Phil Williams <ka1...@gmail.com> wrote: From: Phil Williams <ka1...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [digitalradio] New to digital modes? Try this weekend's challenge To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 7:13 PM What? No THOR?! ;-) philw de ka1gmn On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 9:31 AM, obrienaj <k3uka...@gmail. com> wrote: We have had few new people join this group after the QST article on RS ID. Since many of them are NEW to digital modes other than RTTY or PSK31... I thought I would challenge the people who have not ventured away from PSK31 or RTTY to try a task this weekend. Three QSOs in three different modes. To keep is focused, I suggest you choose from these 5 modes Olivia Feld Hell Domninoex MFSK16 MT63 If you have NO clue about these modes, great... just ask and we will get you started. Choose Multipsk, Fldigi, or DM780 as your software and we can help set up.
