Ok, I am game. I've had two QSO via ALE400 w/ the same station that's it.
I have an old FT-1000 this is supposed to have a CAT interface but never checked it out. If I am unable to scan, I still want to participate to at least make some progress in realizing the potential for this mode. I have played around with 141A. The only thing I could accomplish was seeing my self heard by other stations via soundings. Never did connect to a live person. I am sure there is more to the mode than I realize but, I personally found the experience to be a complete bore. We do we begin? philw de ka1gmn On Sat, Nov 21, 2009 at 7:04 PM, Andy obrien <k3uka...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > As I read and view all kinds of web sites (including my own) that > assist digital mode enthusiasts in "spotting" other stations that my > be active on a particular band and looking for a QSO, I can't help but > return to the subject of ALE, Automatic Link Establishment. While > standard ALE's default digital calling mode is not super robust , ALE > software generally does a good job of detecting a call and pausing a > scan. While standard ALE's default digital mode is not always > effective for keyboard QSOs (compared to other modes) it can be very > effective for achieving a goal of ALE that many seem to have > forgotten... namely establishing a link and then switching to a mode > better suited for the current conditions. > > Picture this.. > > 1. instead of going to a website or cluster-type web page to see if > anyone is looking for a QSO , you call on a designated frequency > (after listening first!) using ALE and carefully timed/synchronized > features of ALE software ensure that hundreds of other scanning > stations ,within range, can hear your call (CQ) . The other > station's ALE software pauses a multi-band scan the moment it hears > your call and (if you are in the shack) your station automatically > answer the call . The responding stations tell you that they have > good copy and the two of you then switch to PSK31 for an armchair copy > QSO. > > 2. Instead of wondering if your friend P5DX is active tonight and > going to a spotting network to find out, you place a call to that > station and the ALE software tries several bands automatically for > you, using the best band for current conditions based on past > reception of that friend's callsign. After a few tries, your friend > is found on 30Ms. You use standard ALE to keyboard for a while and > then QSY down the band and use CW. > > 3. Or perhaps you have a GROUP of friends at varying locations , you > just wonder if any of the group are active tonight. Using ALE > software your station calls each of your friends from a pre-programmed > list. The call is based on pre-establish priorities and call-order. > Two of your group of six friends turn out to be "QRV" and your ALE > software find them and links you together. Once linked you switch to > Olivia 500 and have round table keyboard "QSO" > > All of the above is easily achieved using standard ALE (or ALE400) and > PC-ALE or Multipsk software. It is NOT easily achieved today because > ALE is still used only by a small group of hams. My estimate is less > than 50 hams world wide and many of them are not "live in the shack". > For steps 1-3 above to be achieved and fully realized, we really need > more hams to use ALE as a live , attended, mode and many more to use > the ALE scanning methods to find QSOs. Simple beginning steps like > using ALE software and scanning the bands for 30 minutes while > checking your email ,or updating your logbook , can could increase > ALE and enable digital hams to get more use out of it. Calling up a > "net" of hams friends or calling CQ via ALE every now and then would > also create more interest. > > One positive step would be the creation of groups of hams from this > mail list that could form regional nets, just to find each other and > have QSOs when the mood strikes. > > So, is this just stupid rambling thoughts ? Cnn ALE be resurrected > and re-packaged in a manner that it can flourish beyond an emcomm > option ? > > Andy K3UK > >