Re: [digitalradio] PSKmail (was Re: VHF digital setup)

2007-11-08 Thread Walt DuBose
See if this isn't what you want.

http://sharon.esrac.ele.tue.nl/pub/linux/ham/pskmail/

73,

Walt/K5YFW

'
jhaynesatalumni wrote:
> --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Rein Couperus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> 
>>You need pskmail version 0.5.4 to enjoy PSK250 arq.
>>http://pa0r.blogspirit.com
>>
> 
> Where do you get this version if you just want the sources for
> Linux, rather than Puppy or Windows?  I googled for it and got
> one page with broken links and another page with only version 0.4
> on it.
> 
> 
> 
> Announce your digital presence via our Interactive Sked Page at
> http://www.obriensweb.com/drsked/drsked.php
>  
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 



[digitalradio] PSKmail (was Re: VHF digital setup)

2007-11-08 Thread vk2eta
Here is the wiki page below. Follow the download link on the left.

You will get access to two download mirrors. They include the source 
and installation instructions as well if you already have linux 
running. 

73s, John (VK2ETA)

http://pskmail.wikispaces.com/

--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "jhaynesatalumni" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:
>
> --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Rein Couperus  wrote:
> > You need pskmail version 0.5.4 to enjoy PSK250 arq.
> > http://pa0r.blogspirit.com
> >
> Where do you get this version if you just want the sources for
> Linux, rather than Puppy or Windows?  I googled for it and got
> one page with broken links and another page with only version 0.4
> on it.
>




[digitalradio] ALE400

2007-11-08 Thread John Bradley
Worked WB8NUT and N2JR on 20M today, under pretty poor conditions.

 

N2JR was just at my noise level and ALE400 copied as well as MFSK under
these conditions. Was able to do a connect and chat , as well as upload mail
to the mailbox.

 

Very impressive and would be interested in trying it on 40/80/160 one of
these nights if anyone is up for it

 

John

VE5MU



Re: [digitalradio] Re: RF feedback with interface

2007-11-08 Thread AA0OI
Hi All:
I hve had same problems,, and everything here is by the book..
single point ground
antennas 1.1:1
etc etc etc
RF only occured on 20 and 40 ( but entire band..)
to solve problem I bought 2   T-4 un-un balums,
problem is gone running al811h about 800 pep and mostly around 220 wtts digital 
pictures
with the un un's out side all RF is gone ( and doing digital pictures you 
notice every little bit-- trust me)
Radio Works has a excellent paper on line about RF and solutions..
 http://radioworks.com/nindex.html
un-un's aren't cheap ( about 40 bucks each) but then quality never is..
read his page before you deceide.

Garrett / AA0OI



- Original Message 
From: Brian A <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, November 8, 2007 10:22:38 AM
Subject: [digitalradio] Re: RF feedback with interface

Rick,

Welcome to the world of QRO.

You didn't mention your antenna system or band. Common problems guys
have:
1) open wire line with goofy unbalanced antenna attached.
2) poor grounding of the rig. (A fat short ground connecting amp and
rig needed.) Corroded connections at the ground stake. Old ground
stake which has had the copper clad corroded away. 
3) no balun or at least a coil of coax at the feedpoint of balanced
antennas. The number of turns varies with freq. More turns isn't
necessarily better. Unbalanced antennas often need a string of
ferrites at the feed point around the coax.
4) tuners trying to tune a too short antenna.
5) indoor antennas or antennas too close to the house.

Too bad one can't take a can of aerosol spray, spray the air and see
the concentrations of RF.

A severe RFI problem appeared over night here once. It turned out
that the ground to the xcvr had worked loose with time. Tightening it
up solved the problem.

If you only operate one band, a 1/4 wave counterpoise connected to the
amp may help. Just run it under the rug.

Is the computer case grounded?

73 de Brian/K3KO

--- In digitalradio@ yahoogroups. com, Rick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Until recently, I only ran 100 watts maximum power, but I did purchase 
> an Ameritron ALS-600 amplifier to help me mostly on lower band SSB. I 
> was using the rig today and testing out my new Heil 781 mike that I am 
> using to replace my ICOM hand mike. And we were testing various
settings 
> on the rigs bass and treble transmit controls.
> 
> During the test the other stations suddenly noticed rather severe RFI 
> feedback. I switched back to the old mike but the problem was still 
> there. Having had a lot of problems in the past, I knew that this was 
> likely due to RF getting into my digital control or audio lines from
the 
> computer sound card to the rig.
> 
> Turning off the amplifier did stop the RFI, so it is apparently due to 
> the increased RF. Also, after unplugging the audio line in and out to 
> the ICOM 756 Pro 2, which is via a DIN plug on the back of the rig, the 
> problem went away. Even with the amplifier running at full power. The 
> CI-V was still connected.
> 
> I still can not explain why no one noticed the problem earlier as they 
> were critiquing my audio and would have noticed it.
> 
> On both my CI-V and my audio lines I have about 20 turns of the cables 
> around their own 1/2" x 7" ferrite rod which has a mu of 125. This was 
> the way that I found would externally remove RF flowing on the outside 
> of cables.
> 
> For those of you who run power, even if not for digital modes but for 
> other modes and have the connections left in place on the rig, how are 
> you able to reduce or eliminate RF feedback in your audio lines? I
have 
> 1:1 transformers in line, no other chokes or bypass capacitors.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Rick, KV9U
>




__
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[digitalradio] Re: RF feedback with interface

2007-11-08 Thread Brian A
Rick,
Your no ground situation + high power is a recipe for RF problems.

Try some 1/4 wave counterpoises connected to the rig ground.  You can
have multiple ones for different bands connected simultaneously.  
People who live on second and third floors have the same problem with
long ground paths.  Counterpoises help them sometimes.

Cheap and easy.  Sounds like you need <10 db of improvement and these
may be enough.

73 de Brian/K3KO

--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Jose Amador <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> 
> Rick,
> 
> Every wire "under the influence" of your radiating antenna can be a 
> feedback pickup path.
> 
> Try to minimize currents, ferrites are your best friends. Use only 
> capacitors in shunt to ground
> only after a choke to minimize currents.
> 
> All the  homebrew equipment I have built has  an RF filter in the power 
> leads,  L first and  C after.
> 
> I had to wind some ten turns of my speakers power cable on a mid size 
> toroidal ferrite core
> (salvaged fom a defunct 100 W commercial radio) to quiet down the
noises 
> of PSK31 and Olivia.
> 
> In a course of a certain solid state high power broadcast transmitter I 
> learned that EVERYTHING
> that enters the transmitter cabinet passes thru some ferrite core
FIRST, 
> because every wire may
> be a feedback path in the near field of the broadcast antenna. It even 
> provides some lightning
> protection, inductors first, varistors after, in the incoming signal
path.
> 
> Hope this helps,
> 
> Jose, CO2JA
> 
> Rick escribió:
> 
> >  Antenna that gives me the main problem is an inverted vee dipole with
> >  apex at about 35 feet and ends at about 15 feet high. I have a
> >  Butternut vertical located about 150 out from the house that does not
> >  seem to cause any problems, but for close in (< 200 miles) the dipole
> >  is indispensable. It is of course throwing RF back to the shack as
> >  the apex is only 40 feet in horizontal distance to the base of the
> >  tower on the end of the garage.
> >
> >  Everything is coax fed. I have tried "balanced" lines with tuners off
> >  and on over the years, but it is less convenient for routing and can
> >  be more of a problem with RF feedback too. I don't use any separate
> >  grounding and may have to try it as the main RF ingress seems to be
> >  the audio lines from the computer.
> >
> >  If I disconnect from the computer (even leaving the DIN plug
> >  connected with the ferrite rod on that line which is a few feet long)
> >  it seems to clear up. It is only a foot of cable between the sound
> >  card and my 1:1 isolation transformers. I suspect that if I put a
> >  scope on the shield from the sound card I won't like what I see.
> >
> >  It would be about 20 feet to run a ground to the outside SPG and I
> >  have also been skeptical that would help a lot. For some lightning
> >  protection, I disconnect my rigs from the antenna switch which
> >  grounds all unused feedlines, but of course, only through their
> >  shields, but at least it makes them common to each other. I admit
> >  that for 160/80 and maybe 40 meters, a 20 foot run is not too bad for
> >  "grounding."
> >
> >  73,
> >
> >  Rick, KV9U
> 
> 
> __
> 
> Participe en Universidad 2008.
> 11 al 15 de febrero del 2008.
> Palacio de las Convenciones, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba
> http://www.universidad2008.cu
>




Re: [digitalradio] Re: RF feedback with interface

2007-11-08 Thread Jose Amador

Rick,

Every wire "under the influence" of your radiating antenna can be a 
feedback pickup path.

Try to minimize currents, ferrites are your best friends. Use only 
capacitors in shunt to ground
only after a choke to minimize currents.

All the  homebrew equipment I have built has  an RF filter in the power 
leads,  L first and  C after.

I had to wind some ten turns of my speakers power cable on a mid size 
toroidal ferrite core
(salvaged fom a defunct 100 W commercial radio) to quiet down the noises 
of PSK31 and Olivia.

In a course of a certain solid state high power broadcast transmitter I 
learned that EVERYTHING
that enters the transmitter cabinet passes thru some ferrite core FIRST, 
because every wire may
be a feedback path in the near field of the broadcast antenna. It even 
provides some lightning
protection, inductors first, varistors after, in the incoming signal path.

Hope this helps,

Jose, CO2JA

Rick escribió:

>  Antenna that gives me the main problem is an inverted vee dipole with
>  apex at about 35 feet and ends at about 15 feet high. I have a
>  Butternut vertical located about 150 out from the house that does not
>  seem to cause any problems, but for close in (< 200 miles) the dipole
>  is indispensable. It is of course throwing RF back to the shack as
>  the apex is only 40 feet in horizontal distance to the base of the
>  tower on the end of the garage.
>
>  Everything is coax fed. I have tried "balanced" lines with tuners off
>  and on over the years, but it is less convenient for routing and can
>  be more of a problem with RF feedback too. I don't use any separate
>  grounding and may have to try it as the main RF ingress seems to be
>  the audio lines from the computer.
>
>  If I disconnect from the computer (even leaving the DIN plug
>  connected with the ferrite rod on that line which is a few feet long)
>  it seems to clear up. It is only a foot of cable between the sound
>  card and my 1:1 isolation transformers. I suspect that if I put a
>  scope on the shield from the sound card I won't like what I see.
>
>  It would be about 20 feet to run a ground to the outside SPG and I
>  have also been skeptical that would help a lot. For some lightning
>  protection, I disconnect my rigs from the antenna switch which
>  grounds all unused feedlines, but of course, only through their
>  shields, but at least it makes them common to each other. I admit
>  that for 160/80 and maybe 40 meters, a 20 foot run is not too bad for
>  "grounding."
>
>  73,
>
>  Rick, KV9U


__

Participe en Universidad 2008.
11 al 15 de febrero del 2008.
Palacio de las Convenciones, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba
http://www.universidad2008.cu


Re: [digitalradio] Re: RF feedback with interface

2007-11-08 Thread Rick
Antenna that gives me the main problem is an inverted vee dipole with 
apex at about 35 feet and ends at about 15 feet high. I have a Butternut 
vertical located about 150 out from the house that does not seem to 
cause any problems, but for close in (< 200 miles) the dipole is 
indispensable. It is of course throwing RF back to the shack as the apex 
is only 40 feet in horizontal distance to the base of the tower on the 
end of the garage.

Everything is coax fed. I have tried "balanced" lines with tuners off 
and on over the years, but it is less convenient for routing and can be 
more of a problem with RF feedback too. I don't use any separate 
grounding and may have to try it as the main RF ingress seems to be the 
audio lines from the computer.

If I disconnect from the computer (even leaving the DIN plug connected 
with the ferrite rod on that line which is a few feet long) it seems to 
clear up. It is only a foot of cable between the sound card and my 1:1 
isolation transformers. I suspect that if I put a scope on the shield 
from the sound card I won't like what I see.

It would be about 20 feet to run a ground to the outside SPG and I have 
also been skeptical that would help a lot. For some lightning 
protection, I disconnect my rigs from the antenna switch which grounds 
all unused feedlines, but of course, only through their shields, but at 
least it makes them common to each other. I admit that for 160/80 and 
maybe 40 meters, a 20 foot run is not too bad for "grounding."

73,

Rick, KV9U









Brian A wrote:
> Rick,
>
> Welcome to the world of QRO.
>
> You didn't mention your antenna system or band.  Common problems guys
> have:
> 1) open wire line with goofy unbalanced antenna attached.
> 2) poor grounding of the rig. (A fat short ground connecting amp and
> rig needed.)  Corroded connections at the ground stake.  Old ground
> stake which has had the copper clad corroded away. 
> 3) no balun or at least a coil of coax at the feedpoint of balanced
> antennas.  The number of turns varies with freq.  More turns isn't
> necessarily better.  Unbalanced antennas often need a string of
> ferrites at the feed point around the coax.
> 4) tuners trying to tune a too short antenna.
> 5) indoor antennas or antennas too close to the house.
>
> Too bad one can't take a can of aerosol spray, spray the air and see
> the concentrations of RF.
>
> A severe RFI problem appeared over night here once.  It turned out
> that the ground to the xcvr had worked loose with time.  Tightening it
> up solved the problem.
>
> If you only operate one band, a 1/4 wave counterpoise connected to the
> amp may help.  Just run it under the rug.
>
> Is the computer case grounded?
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>
>
> --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Rick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>   
>> Until recently, I only ran 100 watts maximum power, but I did purchase 
>> an Ameritron ALS-600 amplifier to help me mostly on lower band SSB. I 
>> was using the rig today and testing out my new Heil 781 mike that I am 
>> using to replace my ICOM hand mike. And we were testing various
>> 
> settings 
>   
>> on the rigs bass and treble transmit controls.
>>
>> During the test the other stations suddenly noticed rather severe RFI 
>> feedback. I switched back to the old mike but the problem was still 
>> there. Having had a lot of problems in the past, I knew that this was 
>> likely due to RF getting into my digital control or audio lines from
>> 
> the 
>   
>> computer sound card to the rig.
>>
>> Turning off the amplifier did stop the RFI, so it is apparently due to 
>> the increased RF. Also, after unplugging the audio line in and out to 
>> the ICOM 756 Pro 2, which is via a DIN plug on the back of the rig, the 
>> problem went away. Even with the amplifier running at full power. The 
>> CI-V was still connected.
>>
>> I still can not explain why no one noticed the problem earlier as they 
>> were critiquing my audio and would have noticed it.
>>
>> On both my CI-V and my audio lines I have about 20 turns of the cables 
>> around their own 1/2" x 7" ferrite rod which has a mu of 125. This was 
>> the way that I found would externally remove RF flowing on the outside 
>> of cables.
>>
>> For those of you who run power, even if not for digital modes but for 
>> other modes and have the connections left in place on the rig, how are 
>> you able to reduce or eliminate RF feedback in your audio lines? I
>> 
> have  
>   
>> 1:1 transformers in line, no other chokes or bypass capacitors.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Rick, KV9U
>>
>> 
>
>
>
>
> Announce your digital presence via our Interactive Sked Page at
> http://www.obriensweb.com/drsked/drsked.php
>  
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>   



Re: [digitalradio] Re: VHF digital setup

2007-11-08 Thread Jose Amador

I have tried MultiPSK on packet and it is interesting, works well  but 
is only a terminal.

I once comented that converting MultiPSK into a full fledged packet 
mailbox was too much,
considering all the other things it does well.

I have not tried, but maybe with TCP/IP it could be done...using MultiPSK as
a Layer 1 (modem) with a true mailbox,  maybe, JNOS, even when I would 
prefer something
like Thunder or Linpac under Linux.

For HF, having a visible waterfall is a plus that PK-232's did not enjoy.

Having MultiPSK available for such acrobatics would be something like a
"swiss knife" with an extra "feature connector".

73,

Jose,  CO2JA

PS: Maybe packet is dead, but I still love it. I never got addicted with 
APRS.
And I mean packet as BBS's used it, because I have also used Pactor for 
that,
and is much more robust than the old phone modems that someone in an almost
forgotten day patched to the AX.25 protocol. There is nothing more 
permanent
than provisional solutions


Andrew O'Brien escribió:

>  -I find Multipsk for packet with a soundcard much easier  than AGW.
>  For PSK Winwarbler, DM780, MUltipsk and others will work well, for
>  PSK250 though you may need FL-DIGI or MixW.
>
>
>  I'm not sure about the hook-up for your radio but I agree, the data
>  jack is better than the MIC jack, usually.
>
>  Andy K3UK


__

Participe en Universidad 2008.
11 al 15 de febrero del 2008.
Palacio de las Convenciones, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba
http://www.universidad2008.cu


[digitalradio] Re: RF feedback with interface

2007-11-08 Thread Brian A
Rick,

Welcome to the world of QRO.

You didn't mention your antenna system or band.  Common problems guys
have:
1) open wire line with goofy unbalanced antenna attached.
2) poor grounding of the rig. (A fat short ground connecting amp and
rig needed.)  Corroded connections at the ground stake.  Old ground
stake which has had the copper clad corroded away. 
3) no balun or at least a coil of coax at the feedpoint of balanced
antennas.  The number of turns varies with freq.  More turns isn't
necessarily better.  Unbalanced antennas often need a string of
ferrites at the feed point around the coax.
4) tuners trying to tune a too short antenna.
5) indoor antennas or antennas too close to the house.

Too bad one can't take a can of aerosol spray, spray the air and see
the concentrations of RF.

A severe RFI problem appeared over night here once.  It turned out
that the ground to the xcvr had worked loose with time.  Tightening it
up solved the problem.

If you only operate one band, a 1/4 wave counterpoise connected to the
amp may help.  Just run it under the rug.

Is the computer case grounded?

73 de Brian/K3KO


--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Rick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Until recently, I only ran 100 watts maximum power, but I did purchase 
> an Ameritron ALS-600 amplifier to help me mostly on lower band SSB. I 
> was using the rig today and testing out my new Heil 781 mike that I am 
> using to replace my ICOM hand mike. And we were testing various
settings 
> on the rigs bass and treble transmit controls.
> 
> During the test the other stations suddenly noticed rather severe RFI 
> feedback. I switched back to the old mike but the problem was still 
> there. Having had a lot of problems in the past, I knew that this was 
> likely due to RF getting into my digital control or audio lines from
the 
> computer sound card to the rig.
> 
> Turning off the amplifier did stop the RFI, so it is apparently due to 
> the increased RF. Also, after unplugging the audio line in and out to 
> the ICOM 756 Pro 2, which is via a DIN plug on the back of the rig, the 
> problem went away. Even with the amplifier running at full power. The 
> CI-V was still connected.
> 
> I still can not explain why no one noticed the problem earlier as they 
> were critiquing my audio and would have noticed it.
> 
> On both my CI-V and my audio lines I have about 20 turns of the cables 
> around their own 1/2" x 7" ferrite rod which has a mu of 125. This was 
> the way that I found would externally remove RF flowing on the outside 
> of cables.
> 
> For those of you who run power, even if not for digital modes but for 
> other modes and have the connections left in place on the rig, how are 
> you able to reduce or eliminate RF feedback in your audio lines? I
have  
> 1:1 transformers in line, no other chokes or bypass capacitors.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Rick, KV9U
>




[digitalradio] PSKmail (was Re: VHF digital setup)

2007-11-08 Thread jhaynesatalumni
--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Rein Couperus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> You need pskmail version 0.5.4 to enjoy PSK250 arq.
> http://pa0r.blogspirit.com
>
Where do you get this version if you just want the sources for
Linux, rather than Puppy or Windows?  I googled for it and got
one page with broken links and another page with only version 0.4
on it.



Re: [digitalradio] Re: VHF digital setup

2007-11-08 Thread Rein Couperus
Take a look at the new pskmail_puppy live CD, now featuring full PSK250 support.

It is a progam suite including fldigi, flarq, pskmail server and client, with 
embedded linux.
http://sharon.esrac.ele.tue.nl/pub/linux/ham/pskmail/puppy

Now also as application running under windows:
http://sharon.esrac.ele.tue.nl/pub/linux/ham/pskmail/windows

You need pskmail version 0.5.4 to enjoy PSK250 arq.

Rein PA0R

> -Ursprüngliche Nachricht-
> Von: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com
> Gesendet: 08.11.07 04:49:18
> An: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com
> Betreff: [digitalradio] Re: VHF digital setup


>  
>  
>  
> 
> Thanks for the tip Andy,seems like the hardest part is just getting
> the physical connection to the Icom established.The FL-Digi sounds
> good,did some reading on W1HKJ's website,but will have to get a Linux
> PC up and running to take full advantage of that software I believe.
> Time for bed in the Northeast,will check back tommorow
> 73
> Neil
> AE1P
> 
> --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew O'Brien"
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> > -I find Multipsk for packet with a soundcard much easier than AGW. 
> > For PSK Winwarbler, DM780, MUltipsk and others will work well, for 
> > PSK250 though you may need FL-DIGI or MixW.
> > 
> > 
> > I'm not sure about the hook-up for your radio but I agree, the data
> > jack is better than the MIC jack, usually.
> > 
> > Andy K3UK
> > 
> > 
> > -- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "kb1kox"  wrote:
> > >
> > > GE all,
> > > I hope this is the best place to post this,trying to get some info on
> > > setting up sound card digital & packet with my Icom 910.I have done a
> > > google on this,but haven't run across any info that is of much help.
> > > I have an old aea pk-96 I could easily hook up,but want to be able to
> > > do more than just packet,something along the lines of psk-250 for
> > > local digital with others in the area that are getting a bit more
> > > serious with digi-modes.
> > > I have a buxcomm Rascal that is left over from a hf rig,but it has the
> > > 13 pin
> > > end for a kenwood.What I am uncertain of is the hookup to the 910,the
> > > manual doesn't say much other than for packet setup.Should I hook up
> > > to the {Data} socket or the ACC(1) socket or just hook up to the Mic
> > > connector?,the latter being the least preferable,as I don't really
> > > want to keep swapping cables to work a net.And If I use the DATA
> > > socket,is there a way to hook up BOTH the Main & Sub band?Do I need to
> > > make a special "Y" cable? 
> > > I am hoping that a member
> > > of the group has done this,or has read some info on this sort of
> setup.
> > > Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
> > > 73 from NH
> > > Neil
> > > AE1P
> > > P.S. Should I use AGW Packet Engine,or Flex32,or is there a better
> > > software app for doing VHF Digi ?
> > >
> >
> 
>   
>  
> 

-- 
http://pa0r.blogspirit.com


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