Hi Rick and thanks for helping me to understand some of the finer points of
data vs digital voice. When PSK31 first got started a few years ago, I got a
rig interface for my Kenwood 570DG I owned at the time and worked it very well
for a couple years. I am blind and had to arm wrestle my screen reading
software to make it work properly for me. To lock in on a signal, the program
I finally register was MIXW and have kept it updated. To achieve a lock on a
signal since I couldn't see the waterfall, I used the auto seek function of f11
and f12 as well as the arrow keys and it sufficed and made many satisfying
contacts. Now this Digital voice thing has gotten under my wig and I really
have enjoyed it . I wasn't aware that keyboarding in the phone band would be
prohibited and thanks for making me aware of that. Yes, the SN factor with the
AOR modem is an issue right now, but I truly feel that we hams need to put the
hurt on our manufacturers to come out with some better receivers with a lot
lower noise floors and the ability to kill noise when desired, not just DSP. I
owned an Atlas 210X (don't laugh too hard) and believe it or not, it had the
lowest noise floor of any radio I have ever owned, bar none. Their scheme was
to use a double ring diode mixer rather than an amplifier stage right after the
input from the antenna and boy I could get on a QRN night and hear even the
mobiles through it and everyone wondered what I was using. Anyway, I
personally feel there will be a digital hf voice mode on some transceiver
within the next 4 to 5 years if not sooner. I know Icom has Dstar but it is
mostly VHF and above. I also think they could narrow the bandwidth a little
more and still maintain a fairly decent quality signal with some FI to it. So
again, forgive my ramblings but I am a true believer in digital modes of
communications, I just need to get busy and learn more of it technicalities.
Your ham friend and fellow digital radio buff,
Jack wa5rop
