Actually, I was getting the signals very well, but they were not decoding. I had an S1 noise level and some packets were S9. Now on 20 meters noise is S1 and packets are just above the noise and not decoding unless they get up to S5 or so from what it looks like. Even though I know that packet is usually not very effective on HF in terms of the protocol, I should have been able to decode the stronger ones. I was using Multipsk and maybe I have something set wrong. So I downloaded MixW, which is the only other sound card program that I am aware of and it is decoding at least some headers.
I see a lot of repeats of things like: N6MAT-9>K7MCH>SABM>P also K7MCH>N9LYA>RR3>P But like most packet that I have copied, it seems that a lot of it is just headers retrying over and over until they time out:( The concept of packet is great, (time sharing, multiple connects, routing, etc.) but it requires signals that are not really possible for HF on a consistent basis. Even on VHF, packet requires pretty good signals, well above zero dB S/N and if only we had something that could provide the BBS and forwarding part with an improved HF practical mode. The only thing that is in the right direction is FAE400, but there does not seem to be much interest:( We have an 80 meter packet group in the state, I think mostly in the southern half. Not sure what they do but seems like it must be friends who keep in contact or have an interest in DX maybe, and share info. When I first started setting up with my rig, I was thinking 2125/2295, HI, but then when I saw the waterfall, immediately realized that it had to be around 1700 center frequency with 200 Hz shift. I have noticed a great deal of variation when attempting to monitor packet and it surprises me that everyone is not within a few Hz since it would make the situation even worse! I have rigs that are mostly TCXO controlled so can be quite close. Even our ICOM IC-7000's have it. Is the purpose of your network to do RF forwarding and then go into some local VHF network? We used to have a very extensive system here about a decade ago but all of that is completely gone. Some nodes are still used, but were converted to APRS as I understand it. What software do you recommend to decode? Is this something you use on the fly or after you collect some data? Maybe there is no sound card based technology available? 73, Rick, KV9U Mark Milburn wrote: > Hi Rick... > > The bands were pretty awrful this morning so I wasn't hearing a whole lot > myself. It will get better this afternoon and I'm thinking it will be much > better tomorrow. Wisconsin is always a tough haul from Iowa, it seems, but > you will be hearing everything better this afternoon. > > The frequency I gave you is very approximate, since radios seem to vary > widely in their accuracy, and is based on the most usual TNC setting of > 1600-1800 HZ. Some TNCs have different tones, but most are set at 1600-1800. > > One other caveat...since we are doing forwarding of bulletins, the bulk of > the transmission are in FBB compatible compression, so unless you are using a > BBS program such as FBB or MSYS, you will be seeing compressed characters > with only some titles sent in clear English. That may serve to get you what > you want, or if you want to dig in a little deeper, you may need to download > and install a program that decodes compressed packets. > > If I can be helpful, let me know how. > > 73 Mark KQ0I > Des Moines, IA > >
