Re: [digitalradio] Re: Operating FSK RTTY in a contest ?

2008-02-11 Thread Ralph Mowery

--- Robert Chudek - K0RC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Andy,
> 
> Regarding matching the RTTY tones... matching a tone
> is difficult for some people and easy for others.
> For example, some people sing off key! Were you good
> at matching the note of the pitch pipe in music
> class?  :-)
> 
> You said some RTTY signals did not sound the same as
> yours. I heard this as well, and one was so blatant
> I had to look at my scope! The reason for this
> dissimilar sound is because some fellows overdrive
> their transmitter audio input when using AFSK. This
> generates distortion, harmonics and secondary
> signals. I hear this during every RTTY contest and
> last weekend was no exception. A bad soundcard or
> driver could be a potential problem as well, but not
> as likely as excessive mic gain.
> 
> If a RTTY signal is generated by AFSK and the audio
> is not pure, it will sound different from good 2125
> and 2295 tones. It's the same principle that a
> middle C note on a violin sounds different than the
> same note on a clarinet. Both instruments produce
> the same fundamental frequency, but each has its
> unique signature of harmonics and overtones that
> allow you to easily distinguish between them.
> 
> So now you know why a lot of RTTY operators say this
> mode is "music to their ears"! But why are they
> called "green keys"? A piano is black and white.
> 
> 73 de Bob - KØRC in MN
> 

If the tones are not pure sine waves for RTTY when fed
into the audio of a transmitter, it is probably not
legal.  They will generate all sort of junk on the
bands just as you mentioned.  Even more so if the
audio is overdriven.

As far as the green keys, the computer boys will never
know unless someone takes the time to explain the
mechanical teletype machines have keys that are
acutally collored GREEN.

DE KU4PT




  

Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page. 
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs


Re: [digitalradio] Re: Operating FSK RTTY in a contest ?

2008-02-11 Thread Robert Chudek - K0RC
I started my RTTY career using 2125 and 2975 tones... until those young brats 
started pushing the envelope (or should I say, squeezing the envelope) with 
those 170 Hz tones... things were much simpler in those good ole days... your 
betcha... the smell of a well oiled machine, a whiff of ozone from the 
commutator, polar relays! (hey remember them?), and the quiet roar of all that 
machinery pounding out your CQ's... It was great... well, except for two 
things... having your platen pounded to death at the right margin, and coming 
home to find a half roll of paper behind the machine because some smart-a** 
thought it was cute to auto start your machine and feed it 15 minutes of line 
feeds. Yep, the good ole days...  ! ! ! 

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN



  - Original Message - 
  From: "John Becker, WØJAB" 
  To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 7:59 PM
  Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Re: Operating FSK RTTY in a contest ?


  It once was very easy to copy RTTY when *everyone* used
  2125 and 2295 Hz tones. Then came the 200 Hz shift TNC's
  and now you have sound cards and people that are up side
  down with their tones. And please don't get me started on 
  no CR/LF after 70 or charters.



   

Re: [digitalradio] Re: Operating FSK RTTY in a contest ?

2008-02-11 Thread Jose A. Amador

Andy,

I use only AFSK lately. I find it easier to net, just click on the 
waterfall and there you go.

One asset of soundcard generated keying is that usually the tones are a 
bit "softer", due to the use of phase continuous keying, which may not 
be the case with IF generated FSK inside the transceiver.

Non phase continuous FSK has additional spectral components, which are 
mostly keying clicks when you suddenly jump from mark to space and 
viceversa.

73,

Jose, CO2JA

Andrew O'Brien wrote:

 >  A few times over the weekend I did note that my tones did not sound 
as musical as
> the tones I was decoding. Looks like I need more practice with RTTY FSK.
> 
> Andy.



__

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: Operating FSK RTTY in a contest ?

2008-02-11 Thread John Becker, WØJAB
It once was very easy to copy RTTY when *everyone* used
2125 and 2295 Hz tones. Then came the 200 Hz shift TNC's
and now you have sound cards and people that are up side
down with their tones. And please don't get me started on 
no CR/LF after 70 or charters.



Re: [digitalradio] Re: Operating FSK RTTY in a contest ?

2008-02-11 Thread Robert Chudek - K0RC
Andy,

Regarding matching the RTTY tones... matching a tone is difficult for some 
people and easy for others. For example, some people sing off key! Were you 
good at matching the note of the pitch pipe in music class?  :-)

You said some RTTY signals did not sound the same as yours. I heard this as 
well, and one was so blatant I had to look at my scope! The reason for this 
dissimilar sound is because some fellows overdrive their transmitter audio 
input when using AFSK. This generates distortion, harmonics and secondary 
signals. I hear this during every RTTY contest and last weekend was no 
exception. A bad soundcard or driver could be a potential problem as well, but 
not as likely as excessive mic gain.

If a RTTY signal is generated by AFSK and the audio is not pure, it will sound 
different from good 2125 and 2295 tones. It's the same principle that a middle 
C note on a violin sounds different than the same note on a clarinet. Both 
instruments produce the same fundamental frequency, but each has its unique 
signature of harmonics and overtones that allow you to easily distinguish 
between them.

So now you know why a lot of RTTY operators say this mode is "music to their 
ears"! But why are they called "green keys"? A piano is black and white.

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN



  - Original Message - 
  From: Andrew O'Brien 
  To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 7:26 PM
  Subject: [digitalradio] Re: Operating FSK RTTY in a contest ?


  -Bob, thanks for your helpful advice. I am interested in your
  comments about matching the RTTY tones, his and mine. A few times
  over the weekend I did note that my tones did not sound as musical as
  the tones I was decoding. Looks like I need more practice with RTTY FSK.

  Andy.

  -- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Chudek - K0RC" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  wrote:
  >
  > Andy,
  > 
  > When using FSK and the MMTTY/N1MM software, the NET button has no
  effect. That button is used only when your setup is configured for
  AFSK mode.
  > 
  > Regarding the AFC button, you may or may not want to have that
  turned on. It depends on how you are operating. When you are searching
  for stations to work, you would have the AFC turned OFF. You can think
  of this as locking the MMTTY decoder tones to 2125 and 2295 Hz. You
  have the right idea in your message.
  > 
  > If you are sitting on a frequency, calling CQ, and having stations
  come back to you, then you may want the AFC turned ON. What this does
  is to release the MMTTY decoder so it can Automatically Frequency
  Correct (AFC) its internal filters to capture a station that may be
  calling you that is off frequency.
  > 
  > You can see how this works by starting with AFC turned off. Tune to
  a DX station that is calling CQ. Get your waterfall, bandscope, and XY
  display lined up. Note the "Mark" window will say 2125. Now turn the
  AFC on. Watch this window as stations come on frequency and call the
  DX. Some stations may be exactly on frequency, while others will be
  off. For the stations that are off frequency, you will see MMTTY
  automatically adjust that "Mark" window number, up or down, depending
  whether the caller is low or high from zero beat with the DX. This
  number "jumps around" a bit, but you can get a close approximation how
  far off of zero beat a caller is by subtracting 2125 from the number
  that appears in this window. If it reads 2025 you know they are 100 Hz
  from zero beat.
  > 
  > To ensure you are "on frequency" for a caller, the first thing is to
  make sure you are using the monitor to listen to your own TX signal.
  If you're musically inclined, you can simply match the pitch of the
  station you are calling to the pitch of your monitor. Beyond that, the
  MMTTY audio bandscope is probably the most accurate tool. You can also
  enable the FIR demodulator. Click the "Type" button and look above the
  Mark window. There are 3 demodulators that you cycle through by
  clicking the button. The FIR demodulator gives you a very sharp +
  symbol on the XY scope. And of course double check your TS-2000 menu
  settings to make sure your FSK is set for 170 Hz and the standard tone
  pairs of 2125 and 2295 Hz. I don't have a TS-2000 manual, but Kenwood
  is pretty good about documenting the RTTY stuff so this information
  should be in there somewhere.
  > 
  > In two weeks there will be the NCJ RTTY NA QSO Party, a 10-hour
  event that is a lot of fun. Check it out here: 
  http://www.ncjweb.com/naqprules.php
  > 
  > 73 de Bob - KØRC in MN
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > - Original Message - 
  > From: Andrew O'Brien 
  > To: DIGITALRADIO 
  > Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 6:39 PM
  > Subject: [digitalradio] Operating FSK RTTY in a contest ?
  > 
  > 
  > By the way, my TS2000 is one year old today, one year at my shack.
  > 
  > With the TS-2000 being my first rig that could do FSK RTTY, I have not
  > got around to much RTTY contesting in the

[digitalradio] Re: Operating FSK RTTY in a contest ?

2008-02-11 Thread Andrew O'Brien
-Bob, thanks for your helpful advice.  I am interested in your
comments about matching the RTTY tones, his and mine.   A few times
over the weekend I did note that my tones did not sound as musical as
the tones I was decoding.  Looks like I need more practice with RTTY FSK.


Andy.



 -- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Chudek - K0RC" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
>
> Andy,
> 
> When using FSK and the MMTTY/N1MM software, the NET button has no
effect. That button is used only when your setup is configured for
AFSK mode.
> 
> Regarding the AFC button, you may or may not want to have that
turned on. It depends on how you are operating. When you are searching
for stations to work, you would have the AFC turned OFF. You can think
of this as locking the MMTTY decoder tones to 2125 and 2295 Hz. You
have the right idea in your message.
> 
> If you are sitting on a frequency, calling CQ, and having stations
come back to you, then you may want the AFC turned ON. What this does
is to release the MMTTY decoder so it can Automatically Frequency
Correct (AFC) its internal filters to capture a station that may be
calling you that is off frequency.
> 
> You can see how this works by starting with AFC turned off. Tune to
a DX station that is calling CQ. Get your waterfall, bandscope, and XY
display lined up. Note the "Mark" window will say 2125. Now turn the
AFC on. Watch this window as stations come on frequency and call the
DX. Some stations may be exactly on frequency, while others will be
off. For the stations that are off frequency, you will see MMTTY
automatically adjust that "Mark" window number, up or down, depending
whether the caller is low or high from zero beat with the DX. This
number "jumps around" a bit, but you can get a close approximation how
far off of zero beat a caller is by subtracting 2125 from the number
that appears in this window. If it reads 2025 you know they are 100 Hz
from zero beat.
> 
> To ensure you are "on frequency" for a caller, the first thing is to
make sure you are using the monitor to listen to your own TX signal.
If you're musically inclined, you can simply match the pitch of the
station you are calling to the pitch of your monitor. Beyond that, the
MMTTY audio bandscope is probably the most accurate tool. You can also
enable the FIR demodulator. Click the "Type" button and look above the
Mark window. There are 3 demodulators that you cycle through by
clicking the button. The FIR demodulator gives you a very sharp +
symbol on the XY scope. And of course double check your TS-2000 menu
settings to make sure your FSK is set for 170 Hz and the standard tone
pairs of 2125 and 2295 Hz. I don't have a TS-2000 manual, but Kenwood
is pretty good about documenting the RTTY stuff so this information
should be in there somewhere.
> 
> In two weeks there will be the NCJ RTTY NA QSO Party, a 10-hour
event that is a lot of fun. Check it out here: 
http://www.ncjweb.com/naqprules.php
> 
> 73 de Bob - KØRC in MN
> 
> 
> 
>   - Original Message - 
>   From: Andrew O'Brien 
>   To: DIGITALRADIO 
>   Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 6:39 PM
>   Subject: [digitalradio] Operating FSK RTTY in a contest ?
> 
> 
>   By the way, my TS2000 is one year old today, one year at my shack.
> 
>   With the TS-2000 being my first rig that could do FSK RTTY, I have not
>   got around to much RTTY contesting in the past year. I dabbled a
>   little today in the CQ RTTY contest, my old RTTY contesting used to be
>   exclusively AFSK sound card RTTY. I have mainly used Winwarbler for
>   FSK with the TS-2000, but in the RTTY contest this weekend I used
>   N1MM Logger and the MMTTY Engine. I had a few odd things happen, 4-5
>   times I could have sworn that the station I was working moved up the
>   dial a few Hz. I was in hunt and pounce mode. I tuned the station,
>   decoded him, transmitted, and they answered. A few times in the QSOs
>   I noticed them 100-200 Hz from where they started . One station that
>   this happened to came back to me and said I was "off frequency".
>   When operating FSK RTTY, is it standard to work with NET and AFC OFF?
>   I had both off during the contest, since I assume that with FSK I need
>   to transmit exactly where I tuned the station (I used the MMTTY
>   spectrum display to tune the station precisely). I wonder if the
>   stations that appeared to drift were stations with their AFC "on", and
>   something drew them up the band a little ? Maybe I am doing something
>   wrong with MMTTY in N1MM? I had MMTTY set for the standard "HAM"
>   profile. How does one ensure you are "on frequency" in FSK RTTY ?
> 
>   -- 
>   Andy K3UK
>   www.obriensweb.com
>   (QSL via N2RJ)
>




[digitalradio] Re: New ARRL HF Digital Handbook - Fourth Edition (Available October 2007)

2008-02-11 Thread jhaynesatalumni
--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "tremont245" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "AE9K"  wrote:
> Hi Dan
> 
> Go for the Digital Modes For Occassions by ZL1BPU, I have just 
> received this book and can't put it down. I have the other book as 
> well, which I feel is more of a primer,where as the ZL1BPU book digs 
> deeper without loosing your interest and without getting too 
> technical and loosing you.
> 
> Good reading
> 
> Trevor G8IIN
> >
It must be a great book indeed.  I looked for it on amazon.com and
all they had was a used copy priced at $92.70.!  However you can get
a new one from CQ for a lot less.




Re: [digitalradio] RTTY Standard

2008-02-11 Thread Robert Chudek - K0RC
For amateur radio stations, 45.45 bauds and 170 Hz shift.

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN


  - Original Message - 
  From: Walt DuBose 
  To: digitalradio 
  Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 3:56 PM
  Subject: [digitalradio] RTTY Standard


  What are the current RTTY standards for baud and shift?

  Tnx & 73,

  Walk/K5YFW


   

[digitalradio] RTTY Standard

2008-02-11 Thread Walt DuBose
What are the current RTTY standards for baud and shift?

Tnx & 73,

Walk/K5YFW