Hi Andy, There is a local ham radio club (USECA <http://www.usecaarc.com> in my area that has a "Digi Nite" every week. They operate on 145.520 (1 MHz lower than 2M FM calling) @ 7PM. It is not a net but just a group of hams operating in any digital mode they want. Some of the reasoning behind this is to encourage new hams that don't have privileges or equipment to try some digi modes. It also makes it very easy to guide someone along with any problems in operation or configuring by simply picking up the mic and speaking into it with a remedy. There are even hams that don't have an interface that do it via the "acoustic coupling" method....you know....using the computer speaker & mic with the radio speaker & mic. Not the best, but it will work in a pinch. I think we've tried just about all the digi modes with the exception of DigiSSTV. We all have our favorite modes and can very easily coordinate everyone to switch modes from Hellschreiber to SSTV to PSK31.
--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Andy obrien <k3uka...@...> wrote: > > A mention elsewhere of Skip's article in QST made me go back and look at it. > > Try "Weak Signal" Digital FM > Here's an application for your newly built interface that you and your friends > can try right away. All you need are ordinary 2-meter FM voice transceivers. > Tell everyone to go to www.w1hkj.com/Fldigi.html and download and > install Fldigi. This free multimode software package is available for both > Windows, MacOs and Linux operating systems. Once everyone has their > software running successfully, set up some times to meet on the air. One > suggested frequency is 145.00 MHz, simplex. (When selecting a frequency, > always follow the band plans that are in effect in your area and > listen carefully > before transmitting.) > When you're ready, fire up Fldigi, choose either the DominoEX8 or > DominoEX4 modes and start enjoying keyboard-to-keyboard text conversations. > What you're likely to discover is that you can span a remarkable range > with this setup, much farther than FM voice alone. > If you really want to push the envelope, use 50 W FM transceivers (or add > "brick" amplifiers to the radios you are using now) and horizontally polarized > Yagi antennas (short 3 or 4 element Yagis will do). Depending on the terrain > in > your area, you may find that you can have DominoEX chats over astonishing > distances! Skip Teller, KH6TY > > I wonder if anyone has followed Skip's suggestion and tried operating > digital modes on 145.00 ? It might be an intersting think to try, > perhaps even a simplex night periodcally where we all try a CQ and see > if anyone hears us. > > Andy K3UK >
