Julian,
Using FSK instead of AFSK means you can run a big amp Class-C and get
more power output. Also, you do not have to worry about preserving
linearity on a Class-AB or Class-B amplifier if running FSK,or figure
out how to interface the computer to the rig for AFSK.
Many of the "big guns" on RTTY have a huge investment in amplifiers and
towers in order to win contests (RTTY is almost used exclusively for
contesting these days), and I suspect they want to continue to take the
competitive advantage of the sizable investment. Going to PSK63 will
also level the playing field a lot and let the 100w station perform
almost as well as the kilowatt station, and that would be to the
competitive advantage to the 100w stations (or 50 watt stations, or even
QRP stations).
I wrote a demo PSK63 program module complete with panoramic display, for
WriteLog, and Don, AA5AU (one of the top RTTY contesters and originator
of SO2R), tried it and said he was "just blown away" by the potential
for contesting. However, Wayne, the author of WriteLog ,which many top
RTTY contesters use, said he would wait until PSK63 was adopted by
contesters before he would incorporate it into WriteLog, and, as you
know, PSK63 became popular in Europe, but not over here, so it never
made it into WriteLog. An unfortunate "chicken and egg" situation!
It is probably all of these things that keeps PSK63 from replacing RTTY
for contesting, as well as there being no need for an interface since
most transceivers have FSK built in these days.
That is my best guess anyway.
73 - Skip KH6TY
g4ilo wrote:
It also doesn't suffer from the ridiculous printing up garbage because
a shift character was lost. If there ever was an outdated mode, it's RTTY.
Unfortunately logic or technical arguments play very little part in
the reason why people choose to use particular modes. Many RTTY
operators insist on actually FSK-ing their radios instead of using
AFSK, even though it means they have to accurately tune in every
signal instead of just clicking on a waterfall, which would surely be
quicker.
Julian, G4ILO
