[digitalradio] Sloppy Station Control Re: Microphone putting audio into PSK transmissions
Dave KB3MOW wrote: When I'm going to run digital modes, I'd simply select the no mic position so that room audio doesn't get transmitted. I don't see that as being sloppy at all. Hi Dave, Sorry if I offended you by calling manual mic muting sloppy station control. No personal offense intended :) But the term is rather descriptive, don't you agree? It harkens me back to the old days of AM or split transmitter/receiver manual switching, when ops often used a sequence of manual antenna change-over knife switch, receiver's mute switch, and transmitter keying to start and stop each transmission. Been there, done that (Novice) it was sloppy :) While there are a few hams who are computer-modes-only ops... most of us like to occasionally use whatever mode of operation happens to be interesting or needed at any particular time. What if one forgets to manually mute the microphone when going to PSK31? What if you have a visiting operator using your setup? Everyone listening on 14070 is going to get a good laugh when you are chatting on the phone with your paramour or listening to the local 2 meter repeater on your VHF rig in the background while sending your brag file? These days, with all the ham accessories available, automatic muting easy to do... either with store-bought rig control gizmos like Rigblaster, or homebrew relay/transistor switching interfaces. There is also an advantage in some ham radio operating modes and methods to having real automatic rapid switching between the computer and station microphone. For example: 1. for video operation on HF, the computer's signals are often interspersed with transmissions of voice SSB on the transceiver's micrphone 2. for digital voice operation using a computer as the digital voice source, the computer signals are often interspersed with SSB voice transmissions via the transceiver's microphone. 3. for ALE operation with SSB, it is very important to keep the microphone interactive and at the ready, so that voice SSB responses may be used rapidly when called or when monitoring. ALE calls can also be interspersed with SSB voice. Those are just a few common examples. Even if one never intends to use any of the 3 examples of rapid interactive operating modes I mentioned... The risk of a forgetful hasty response to a digital mode call leading to an unintended hot shack microphone over the air at full power, should be enough to scare most ops away from manual microphone muting. So... that's why I call it Sloppy Station Control. 73 Bonnie VR2/KQ6XA
[digitalradio] Re: Microphone putting audio into PSK transmissions
--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi, If mic gain is down what happens ? On my IC-737A interface to ACC1 and mic gain to zero and bye. 73 Vilnis/YL2KF
Re: [digitalradio] Re: Microphone putting audio into PSK transmissions
Don't you need some mic gain to get a SSB signal generated with PSK? Andy On Tue, Jun 17, 2008 at 3:22 AM, Vilnis Vosekalns [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi, If mic gain is down what happens ? On my IC-737A interface to ACC1 and mic gain to zero and bye. 73 Vilnis/YL2KF -- Andy K3UK www.obriensweb.com (QSL via N2RJ)
Re: [digitalradio] Re: Microphone putting audio into PSK transmissions
Not when feeding the audio into ACC-1 instead of the mic connector. ACC-1 on the 746 has a constant level input. All adjustments to the audio level are made external to the rig in that case. This is the part I overlooked when trying to cut the mic audio off hi hi! 73 Dave KB3MOW Andrew O'Brien wrote: Don't you need some mic gain to get a SSB signal generated with PSK? Andy On Tue, Jun 17, 2008 at 3:22 AM, Vilnis Vosekalns [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:yl2kf%40arrl.net wrote: --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com mailto:digitalradio%40yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi, If mic gain is down what happens ? On my IC-737A interface to ACC1 and mic gain to zero and bye. 73 Vilnis/YL2KF -- Andy K3UK www.obriensweb.com (QSL via N2RJ)
Re: [digitalradio] Re: Microphone putting audio into PSK transmissions
It appears that with many of the ICOM rigs, the microphone gain controls only the microphone input from the front panel connection. The rear connectors, whether ACC-1, or in the case of the 746 series, the additional 6 pin min DIN are a set level and the control is done by the amount of audio applied to that rear connector. Since the 756 series has the D mode you can switch that on to turn off the mike (and a few other changes) or you could turn down the mike gain to zero. Either way it requires some action on the part of the operator. With the 746 series, and others such as the 7000, you can connect to the 6 pin mini DIN jack which isolates digital modes from the microphone circuit. This seems a better way to use digital modes with the rigs that have that feature. I recently ordered a Tigertronics Signalink USB and when I was on the phone with them and they found out I was interfacing to my 7000, they strongly recommended that I use the 6 pin mini DIN jack in lieu of the 13 pin DIN jack since it would avoid any microphone issues when using digital modes. So if you have the 6 pin mini DIN it seems that this would be the best way to operate digital modes. As I mentioned earlier, the main reason that the 13 pin jack is used by some interface manufacturers, may be their need to tap into the 13.8 VDC to run the interface. In such a case you would need auxiliary power and would not have a single connection point to the rig. With the interfaces I mentioned earlier, you avoid this. Does anyone have any information that would suggest otherwise? 73, Rick, KV9U Dave 'Doc' Corio wrote: Not when feeding the audio into ACC-1 instead of the mic connector. ACC-1 on the 746 has a constant level input. All adjustments to the audio level are made external to the rig in that case. This is the part I overlooked when trying to cut the mic audio off hi hi! 73 Dave KB3MOW
[digitalradio] Call for Papers--2008 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference
Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 27th Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference to be held September 26-28, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. These papers will also be published in the Conference Proceedings (you do NOT need to attend the conference to have your paper included in the Proceedings). The submission deadline is July 31, 2008. Please send papers to: Maty Weinberg ARRL 225 Main St Newington, CT 06111 or you can make your submission via e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Papers will be published exactly as submitted and authors will retain all rights. 73 . . . Steve, WB8IMY ARRL
[digitalradio] Announcing D-STAR at Field Day
- Forwarded Message From: Woodrick, Ed [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 9:40:01 PM Subject: [illinoisdigitalham] Announcing D-STAR at Field Day D-STAR Field Day! If you or your club is planning on participating in Field Day this year, then think about also setting up a D-STAR Field Day station and participating in D-STAR Field Day. The rules are similar to Field Day in that is to demonstrate capabilities to others such as Amateur Radio Operators, Public Officials, and even your own Club Officials. Setting up a D-STAR Field Day Station doesn't take much, a handheld and a log book may be all that is required. Or go all out and setup a Voice, Low Speed Data, and High Speed Data Station. The rules and more information may be seen at DSTARINFO http://www.dstarinfo.com/news/DSTAR_Field_Day.html We look forward to hearing you during D-STAR Field Day! Ed WA4YIH
RE: [digitalradio] Re: Microphone putting audio into PSK transmissions
Not sure if Vilnis or Andy are directing this at my early comment, but I will explain and repeat it. The situation to which I referred was for the Icom IC-746 only, and for the early models of the series. Further, it applied to the situation where the soundcard interface is connected via the 8 pin accessory port on the back panel [and NOT the microphone jack on front]. Now this is what Tigertronics states on its website about the early IC-746 models: Some customers have reported that the IC-746 (early model only) does NOT mute the Mic when keyed from the Accy Port. If this is the case with your radio, then you will need to turn the radio's Mic Gain down and/or unplug the microphone. On the IC-746, the Mic Gain adjustment in on the front panel and according to these instructions, one just turns in all the way down. This will not, according to Tigertronics, affect the operation via the accessory port. Now, on the 756 Pro 3 when the mode is selected as USB-D, instead of just USB [or LSB-D instead of LSB], then the soundcard control is directed via the ACC 1 port and the mic is muted. I am not sure if a similar option exists on the later versions of the IC-746 - I have never owned that radio. I am sure the 746 group would have the answer. 73 / Larry / W2ZEY _ From: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Andrew O'Brien Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 7:23 AM To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Re: Microphone putting audio into PSK transmissions Don't you need some mic gain to get a SSB signal generated with PSK? Andy On Tue, Jun 17, 2008 at 3:22 AM, Vilnis Vosekalns [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:yl2kf%40arrl.net wrote: --- In digitalradio@ mailto:digitalradio%40yahoogroups.com yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi, If mic gain is down what happens ? On my IC-737A interface to ACC1 and mic gain to zero and bye. 73 Vilnis/YL2KF
Re: [digitalradio] Re: newbie wanting to make first packet contact
Hello Doug, I would love an example of how to go about making a qso or connecting to a BBS or doing email. If you have the BBS callsign + SSID, the most simple is to use Mixw or Multipsk. In Multipsk 4.9, after selecting Packet+APRS: * put yout callsign in the Sender field , * put the BBS callsign (+SSID) in the Destination field (VA1XYZ-5 for example), * push on Connect and wait for the automatic connection, * when connected, type H (for Help) and then type a carriage Return to have the list of the commands. Then for details go to the Multipsk help (apart to this basic use, you have many options and possibilities). 73 Patrick - Original Message - From: wizhippo [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 9:51 PM Subject: [digitalradio] Re: newbie wanting to make first packet contact Sorry i should have added this. I am VA3DJX Doug, located in Brantford, Ontario --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Moore [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From the info you provided, it's kinda hard to tell exactly what it is you want to do. Do you want to try 2m packet? HF packet? Satellite Packet? Who you are and where you are would be helpful also. Jeff -- KE7ACY CN94ib - Original Message - From: wizhippo I love digital modes. I have worked psk31, rtty, sstv etc but never packet. I have installed awgpe and UISS and have it working from what I can tell. I can monitor the packets. Now I want to make contact. I have read lots of articles on the net but none that have been clear enough or modern enough to get me a contact. I would love an example of how to go about making a qso or connecting to a BBS or doing email. If there is anyone willing to help me out that would be great. Unfortuanlty no one in our local club does any packet work to help. Announce your digital presence via our Interactive Sked Page at http://www.obriensweb.com/sked Check our other Yahoo Groups http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxlist/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/contesting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themixwgroup Yahoo! Groups Links
[digitalradio] Re: Microphone putting audio into PSK transmissions
Dave, you have to switch to Digital SSB. By pressing and holding the USB/LSB button for 1 sec. the Radio will show D-USB or D-LSB. This will effectively de-couple any Microphone, Radio-wise (internally). ... workes for me 73 Steve, W1CDX --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Dave [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm using the ACC jack on the rear of my IC-746 for digital mode audio from my computer. Convenient, but the downside is that the microphone picks up audio from the room and that also gets transmitted. For this reason I'm considering building a mic switch box that will allow me to switch the mic out of the circuit without having to remove it from the front connector on the rig every time I use a digital mode. My question is, can I simply use a rotary wafer switch with eight contacts to switch between no microphone, my headset, and my hand mic? Would there be a need for any electronics at all? An even bigger question is, might there be a simpler way to kill the audio from the microphone without going through all this? All input appreciated! Tnx es 73 Dave KB3MOW
[digitalradio] Updated APRS_easy_with_Multipsk paper
Hello to all, For the ones interested by APRS, I have updated the English paper APRS_easy_with_Multipsk with examples of use of digipeaters. It is based on the new 4.9 Multipsk version. In this document it will be found 4 snapshots of Multipsk screen with indications to the how to operate , and which show the basic functions of APRS in Packet 1200 bauds mode (QRG : 144.800 Mhz in FM): 1) APRS reception 2) Map load from the APRS window (+ management of the maps) 3) APRS transmission 4) APRS repeaters management for APRS transmission + APRS digipeater function To load this paper directly, paste this adress in your Internet Explorer or equivalent: http://f6cte.free.fr/APRS_easy_with_Multipsk.doc Download the file. 73 Patrick
Re: [digitalradio] Re: Microphone putting audio into PSK transmissions
The 746 doesn't have that option. Maybe the Pro does, but I have the non-pro. Tnx anyway 73 Dave KB3MOW Steve Hunt wrote: Dave, you have to switch to Digital SSB. By pressing and holding the USB/LSB button for 1 sec. the Radio will show D-USB or D-LSB. This will effectively de-couple any Microphone, Radio-wise (internally). ... workes for me 73 Steve, W1CDX --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com mailto:digitalradio%40yahoogroups.com, Dave [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm using the ACC jack on the rear of my IC-746 for digital mode audio from my computer. Convenient, but the downside is that the microphone picks up audio from the room and that also gets transmitted. For this reason I'm considering building a mic switch box that will allow me to switch the mic out of the circuit without having to remove it from the front connector on the rig every time I use a digital mode. My question is, can I simply use a rotary wafer switch with eight contacts to switch between no microphone, my headset, and my hand mic? Would there be a need for any electronics at all? An even bigger question is, might there be a simpler way to kill the audio from the microphone without going through all this? All input appreciated! Tnx es 73 Dave KB3MOW
[digitalradio] HF sound card e-mail
I have been trying to use the HFLink system with limited success. I realize that the 8FSK2000 modulation does not have what most of us would consider very weak signal capability but I am able to at times bring up Pilot stations with varying levels of signal strength. Here are some questions/problems that some of you more knowledgeable users may be able to help me with: 1. After bringing up the Pilot station, I know that using the AMD protocol I can sometimes send an e-mail message with the short SMS form. It is not perfect, as sometimes it says that it went through, but I don't always receive the test messages to my home e-mail address. Have other users had this problem, or am I doing something wrong? 2. If you do not want to scan, and I am not sure how to set up Multipsk to do that, is it proper etiquette to use either the group call of HFN or even QRZ? Then if you get a response from multiple Pilot stations you just select the one with the best signal? 3. I have tried using both DBM and DTM in ARQ mode and it seems to work at times but none of those messages ever got through. They were longer messages, of several lines and I understand you are supposed to place an /EX on a separate line, then another line with an additional /EX. My software says it was received OK, but still do not receive the message. The format I used was the same as for the SMS so maybe this is wrong? Can someone walk us through the necessary steps? 4. Are there any commands like you have with packet? It seems to me that we radio amateurs need to have some thing as understandable and relatively easy to use as packet was. Basic commands to connect and then the station will display a connect and respond at least as well as it did with Amtor and the old Winlink (not the newer Winlink 2000) system using Pactor. 5. I still have rarely seen many other callsigns on the standard HF ALE frequencies, even when monitoring for much of the day. I live in the north central U.S. and can copy signals from all over the U.S. on 20 meters for most daylight hours so I would at least see much of the continental traffic. I am seeing the soundings from many of the Pilot stations but not much else. Can some of the group members comment on their use of the system, such as the frequency of operation, number of messages sent, success of routing, etc.? 6. Now for the most troubling issue. How do you know that a given Pilot station is on the air? I have been unsuccessful in ever finding any of the Pilot stations on 80 meters and not much on 40 either. If I have the locations correctly, I should be about 130 miles from KN0CK, 200 miles from W5DG, and 270 miles from WD8ARZ. Do any of you find you can connect to nearby Pilots with NVIS operation? As a further experience, I recently was using the ALE calling frequencies for e-mail testing and was contacted by another station with a live operator. We had a nice chat and then went off frequency and then later switched to FAE 400, for quite a long contact. The other station has been trying to make contacts on ALE for some time but did not know what frequencies to use to find other live operators. Instead of having other frequencies, should we try and use the frequencies that the wide mode uses (the basic standard ALE frequencies) even if we are using FAE 400? 73, Rick, KV9U
RE: [digitalradio] Updated APRS_easy_with_Multipsk paper
On the North American continent, the APRS 2-meter frequency is 144.390 MHz. APRS stations don't operate in the connected mode, so you're not going to connect to other users. However with appropriate software (and there are several APRS-specific programs out there) you can exchange one-line messages with some stations you see. Many mobile stations are using what's known as dumb tracker setups, where there is no computer or display present - these stations can't see (and won't acknowledge) messages sent to them. They simply beacon their positions, as they move about. 73, Bob, KD7NM _ From: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Patrick Lindecker Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 1:05 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; digitalradio@yahoogroups.com; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [digitalradio] Updated APRS_easy_with_Multipsk paper Hello to all, For the ones interested by APRS, I have updated the English paper APRS_easy_with_Multipsk with examples of use of digipeaters. It is based on the new 4.9 Multipsk version. In this document it will be found 4 snapshots of Multipsk screen with indications to the how to operate , and which show the basic functions of APRS in Packet 1200 bauds mode (QRG : 144.800 Mhz in FM): 1) APRS reception 2) Map load from the APRS window (+ management of the maps) 3) APRS transmission 4) APRS repeaters management for APRS transmission + APRS digipeater function To load this paper directly, paste this adress in your Internet Explorer or equivalent: http://f6cte. http://f6cte.free.fr/APRS_easy_with_Multipsk.doc free.fr/APRS_easy_with_Multipsk.doc Download the file. 73 Patrick
Re: [digitalradio] HF sound card e-mail
Rick W. wrote: 1. After bringing up the Pilot station, I know that using the AMD protocol I can sometimes send an e-mail message with the short SMS form. It is not perfect, as sometimes it says that it went through, but I don't always receive the test messages to my home e-mail address. Have other users had this problem, or am I doing something wrong? I'll answer this if you got a message ID back, BBSLink received confirmation from the ISP SMTP session handshake that you had: - A legal email address - A resolvable domain The SMTP host (at the ISP) then generates a message ID, which BBSLink returns. At that point the message is in the hands of the internet. Otherwise you get an error message back. If you get no response back, then bbslink did not receive your command/message. If you are sending to WL2K, you can't send to yourself directly. This is an old ham bbs behavior, it assumes you already have the message. 2. If you do not want to scan, and I am not sure how to set up Multipsk to do that, is it proper etiquette to use either the group call of HFN or even QRZ? Then if you get a response from multiple Pilot stations you just select the one with the best signal? Yes. In PC-ALE you can unlink from the stations you don't need without disrupting the one or more you want to keep. By not scanning you are missing one of the main advantages: Moving activity higher in the bands and giving the very crowded NVIS segments some relieve. Why connect on 40m when you can do the same on 20? or higher? ALE's advantage is it can find links on the higher bands if possible. (completely independent of sounding, which just makes it faster) 3. I have tried using both DBM and DTM in ARQ mode and it seems to work at times but none of those messages ever got through. They were longer messages, of several lines and I understand you are supposed to place an /EX on a separate line, then another line with an additional /EX. My software says it was received OK, but still do not receive the message. The format I used was the same as for the SMS so maybe this is wrong? Can someone walk us through the necessary steps? As mentioned in this forum and private mail, this is an area we are still working to meld/adopt the mil protocol to a messaging usage. Here's what a DBM should look like between the dashed lines: -- WL2K SP AA3AA HELLO VIA ALE Line 1 of text asdf asdf asdf asdf asdf asdf 73 Alan /EX /EX --- It's not working perfectly, for some reasons we are still chasing. Some of it is coding I need to do. This all has to do with dealing with ALE DBM frames and reassembling them. With some constraints in the protocol, and some in the implementations. I'm pretty sure single frame (short) DBM's are not working right even with the above format, and have not had time to chase yet. No idea if this works with Multi-psk, as I've not tested that. 4. Are there any commands like you have with packet? It seems to me that we radio amateurs need to have some thing as understandable and relatively easy to use as packet was. Basic commands to connect and then the station will display a connect and respond at least as well as it did with Amtor and the old Winlink (not the newer Winlink 2000) system using Pactor. Command structure is documented, and leverages the old W0RLI syntax as subcommands. SP is send private: WL2K SP callsign subject SMTP SP callsign subject LM is List mine: WL2K LM RM is read message 5. I still have rarely seen many other callsigns on the standard HF ALE frequencies, even when monitoring for much of the day. I live in the north central U.S. and can copy signals from all over the U.S. on 20 meters for most daylight hours so I would at least see much of the continental traffic. I am seeing the soundings from many of the Pilot stations but not much else. Can some of the group members comment on their use of the system, such as the frequency of operation, number of messages sent, success of routing, etc.? How many callsigns are you seeing on Olivia? How many NBEMS stations are active in the middle of the week? I can tell you this: for every digi callsign you see/hear, there are probably 5-10 active that you don't hear. This is true whether PSK/ALE, whatever. It's radio! 6. Now for the most troubling issue. How do you know that a given Pilot station is on the air? I have been unsuccessful in ever finding any of the Pilot stations on 80 meters and not much on 40 either. If I have the locations correctly, I should be about 130 miles from KN0CK, 200 miles from W5DG, and 270 miles from WD8ARZ. Do any of you find you can connect to nearby Pilots with NVIS operation? You make a call and see who answers. Check HFlink/qso and see if other stations are hearing the station you are interested in. It's easy to tell if a
