Greetings, all. I'm a rather new ham and very recent General class licensee who is very interested in digitial modes. I've acquired a RiggBlaster, fabricated a second computer-to-tranceiver control interface (home brew version of CT17 from N9ZLE) and have got Simon Brown's HRD and DM780 (awesome software so far) apparently working with my little IC-718. I've begun "surfing the bands" (mostly 10M and 20M) looking for signals. But I am having trouble audibly recognizing the sound of the various modes, however. I get some reasonably good signals from my modest little stealth dipoles (combo 10M/20M), but can't seem to get clean copy ... I try switching through the various digital modes, whether RTTY, PSK31*, or whatever. It could be a noise level thing. I am scratching my head at this point.
I have a smattering of sample audio files of some of the modes on the disk that came with my RiggBlaster, and found a few more on KB9UKD's site here: http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/ <http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/> . Anyone have suggestions for other sources? (yeah, I can spell google ... [;)] ... but my finding so far have not been that good ). To my admittedly inexperienced ears, most of the signals I stumble across sound like like packet modes that use proprietary hardware solutions. Any other suggestions for the Newb Digital Moder looking at sound card modes? I've tried a few of the other digital mode Windoze programs, with mixed results, none as good as HRD/DM780. Should I be trying any other specific software? I've done a little homework, including reading Ford's "HF Digital Handbook". I am probably doing something patently wrong. It could be as simple as my stealth antenna is too dang low to the ground and I need to get it up in the air higher to catch a decent signal. It's probably time for me to drop into the local area HAM club and pick a few brains, but I thought I'd start with ya'll here first. It's easier to appear clueless behind an email. [:D] All clues appreciated. - Doug - KE7SEI
