For information, here is some complementary information from Sholto (KE7HPV).
73 Patrick ----- Original Message ----- From: Sholto Fisher To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:40 PM Subject: Re: [multipsk] Re: Word document "ALE and ALE400 easy with Multipsk" - net address problem Hi all, I think one thing that can be said from the start for people new to the 141A/400 ALE modes is there are a number of ways to communicate: 1. Sounding 2. Unproto mode which is more like how PSK31 operates. No ARQ though. 3. Calling and sending AMD messages (short 90 chars or less) 4. Sending mail 5. Connecting via the FAE ARQ option. It's kind of difficult at first to figure out which is which! Probably the most interesting part of this is the FAE ARQ submode. This provides a nearly error free QSO very similar to Pactor and Amtor in days gone by. I am going to assume you are on a fixed band and are not scanning multiple bands.... To operate in FAE mode basically you can forget most of the main screen options (with a couple of exceptions) and utilize the two popup windows "Options" and "Aux Functions". The options window is really for setting initial parameters and you won't need to go into this very often. For ALE400 the important things to make sure that are checked are: 1) If variable QRG, standard initial QRG 1625Hz This just means that when ALE400 mode is selected the initial audio frequency center will be 1625. You don't have to have the center here but it is a recommendation. If you are only given a radio dial frequency then you can assume that 1625 will be the proper audio center to use. 2) Display of messages, only. This will suppress a lot of the "frame" protocol that you see echoed to your screen. This is like the "monitor" function in AX25 Packet used to be. Interesting but gets in the way of a QSO for the most part. 3) One correction by Golay frame authorized 4) A line between each frame, otherwise a space. Two other optional parameters worth setting are: 5) Ring on detection of a general call (CQ) 6) Ring on detection of a message for which you are the addressee - You can only select these if you have a registered version of MultiPSK. What do you mean you haven't got a registered version? get one it's worth it! 7) Reed-solomon identifier (RS ID) transmitted previously to all the FAE calls in ALE400. This option is means that when you try to call someone, or a cq call, in FAE mode you will automatically transmit a RS-ID first. If the person listening has RS-ID Detection enabled then their program will automatically tune in exactly to your transmission and select the right mode (in this case ALE400). After a successful connection there will be no more RS-ID sent by your machine. So that's the main options dealt with. Back to the main screen now.... If you are expecting a call or plan to answer a CQ then make sure your "RS ID Detection" button is selected. Don't select the "RS ID" button. Make sure "ARQ FAE" is selected (pushed-in). If you want to answer CQ calls automatically then make sure "Answer" (underneath CQ button) is selected too. You're ready now! To call a CQ, hit the CQ button (next to the ARQ FAE). This will automatically cycle the CQ routine. If someone is listening to you and has their "Answer" button already selected then the link should be automatically established. If you have the "ring" options selected (step 5,6 above) then your computer speaker (internal beeper) will sound to indicate the link connection is made. At this point, just type into the normal place you would type in PSK31. The ALE modes are semi-duplex and you don't have to wait for someone to finish typing before you respond. It is not so apparent in ALE400, but in ALE 141A it is almost feels full duplex. To end the QSO hit the "End" button (right of CQ button). This deals with a simple FAE ARQ QSO from a CQ call but what happens when you want to call someone specifically? you use the "Aux. Functions" window: This window has a number of things on it which are relevent to FAE ARQ connections. Basically though; fill in the box to the right of "Call-->" with the callsign you want to call and then click the "Call-->" button. If they are listening the connection will be made as before. You can then close this window and carry on the QSO as normal. The top part of this window deals with storing frequently used callsigns. Once you figure out how this works you can just select calls of a list but for now don't worry about it. You can also send a mail in the Aux Functions window but you can't be connected first. Type out the mail, attach a file if you need to (keep it real small though!) enter the callsign in the same box as above and then click "Send Mail (+file)". The message should go through using ARQ and then disconnect afterwards. Note that the "Authorized" button must be selected for mailing sending AND receiving. If you try to send a mail and it doesn't look like the other person is responding it is probably because they don't have this option selected. There are a lot of other very interesting parts of this mode but that's a basic walkthrough for FAE ARQ qso's. Disclaimer: I am just writing this quickly so if I got something wrong I apologise. Fix it and post it back! 73 Sholto KE7HPV.
