Richard, welcome to the group. OK, lets get you started. You need
A transceiver that supports SSB operations A computer (unless you have a rig that decodes digital modes without a computer). A soundcard that works with the computer . Audio cables that carry the signals to and from the rig and soundcard A USB or serial cable that allows your computer to control you radio (not absolutely essential but most people do this). Software to decode the digital signals. Getting Ready to receive. You connect the audio out from your radio to the LINE IN of your soundcard (make sure your LINE IN volume on your soundcard mixer is selected as active but keep the volume slider down to a minimum so that you don't blow you sound card with too much audio). Usually, the audio from your rig is taken from either a specific pin on the microphone jack, or from a pin on the accessory port on the back of newer radios. You can just take the audio from the speaker jack on the back of the radio although some folks recommend caution doing this. I've done it many times as a temporary measure, without problems. This method is useful if you want to quickly start receiving digital signals while learning more about what you need to get a digital station on the air. Most people wire up a connector, specfic to their rig, that not only takes the audio from the pin or the mic and/or accessory port, but also connects other pins that control push to talk functions, computer control of the radio (changing frequency ) and audio in from the PC that is to be transmitted over the air. Many wire this themselves according to widely available schematics specific to their rig. Software : Download Digipan , Winwarbler,or DM780, they are usually the easiest programs to get going and they are free. There are others like Multipsk or MMVARI but I would save those for another time. If you run Linux, look for software called FLDIGI. Receiving: Load the software, tune your radio to 14070, 7070 or 7034 USB. Look in the software for the button usually labeled "mode" and choose PSK31. This is the most commonly heard digital mode on the aforementioned frequencies. You will hear a warbling type of tone. If you have the audio from your rig to the soundcard correct, and the line-in selected in your soundcard mixer, you will see visual evidence of a signal. You will most likely see several signals that are represented by a steady vertical line scrolling down "the waterfall". Take your mouse cursor and point it to one of the vertical lines and left-click on it. Your software should then start to display the text of the "QSO" on your screen. Locating the "AFC" button in your software is usually a good idea. With AFC turned on, the software will lock on to the signal even if your mouse clicks were a few Hz off the actual signal. Transmitting: The bare essentials are the audio cable from the LINE OUT of you PC to a specific pin on your rig's mic connector or accessory port. This is not recommended , I have done it with but with very low power. The connecting of your PC and rig via the audio cable (and potentially the serial/usb cable) introduces the world of hum, ground loops, and just plain stray RF. They get in to the transmitted signal and make it sound nasty and raspy. Usually no one can decode such a signal. Most hams solve this issue by building the rig control circuits that I mentioned previously AND incorporating hardware that shields the components and isolates the rig/PC so that hum/ground loops, RF feedback, and the like are eliminated . You can buy such circuitry commercially, they work well and range from $30.00 to $900 !!! Thy usually include cables made specifically for you radio. Common names are Microham, Rigblaster, SignaLink. The software (like Digipan, Winwarbler, DM780) have "configuration" or "Set-up" areas where you tell the software what type of radio you have, what baud rate the radio requires to communicate with the software, and what COMM PORT your computer is using to control the radio . When you get around to transmitting, MAKE SURE you start with the lowest output power you can set your rig to and make sure that the soundcard mixer that controls the transmit audio levels is also at a minimum. Overdoing things can damage the radio! When you are ready, I can give more specifics but the quick description is to set the radio output to JUST where the ALC meter begins to activate and then back off slightly. Usually the software you use has details about this in the help sections. When you transmit, via pressing a TX button in the software, you type ... and your words get transmitted! Eventually you get tired of typing your name and QTH a zillion time. The software have "macros" or "buffers (an old term from last century) where you can store certain text and have it transmitted at the click of a mouse. So, feel free to ask more questions. Tell us more about what equipment you have for this. If you have all you need, we should be able to get you on the air this weekend! Andy K3UK On 6/15/07, richardjniemeyer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
My name is Richard Niemeyer, KC9JMW from Carbondale, Illinois, I need help getting started with digital modes, I have the interest and equipment I believe; but do not understand how to get it work. Need help setting up equipment and getting it working. Any help would be deeply appreciated. Kind Regards & 73; Richard Niemeyer, KC9JMW 506 East Sycamore Street Carbondale, IL 62901 Telephone: (618)-924-3099 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <richardniemeyer%40mchsi.com> , [EMAIL PROTECTED] <kc9jmw%40arrl.net> Web URL: http://www.sicertinc.org/ Weather Station: http://www.sicertinc.org/KC9JMW-WX/ http://www.mysticservices.org/ http://www.saraskywarn.org/ http://www.saraskywarn.org/ARES/ Field Day Event Web Site: http://www.saraskywarn.org/ARES/FD2007.html
