Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Wes]

Congratulations on your achievement! Very impressive.

I need two, SV/A and FR/G, for top of the Honor Roll (mixed).  My QRZ,com bio 
describes my station so I won't repeat it here, except to say that I have never 
owned a transceiver with two receivers.  I'm not discounting the idea that two 
receives might be more effective in some cases, but I (obviously) don't think 
they are a requirement for working DX pileups.


Case in point:  As I said before I worked both VP8STI and VP8SGI on RTTY.  
AFAIK, Ned, AA7A was operating both times.  I spent two hours calling him on 
20m, while trying to figure out his pattern before I figured out that he didn't 
have one!  I confirmed with him in person later that this was the case.  He 
randomly tuned after every contact. I finally went up (from my log) 8 kHz and he 
found me.  Trying to find the last guy worked is pointless sometimes.


Regrettably, I think you are correct about FT8.  Even the aforementioned AA7A in 
a presentation to our DX club discussed this.  He has become a big promoter, and 
I believe worked on DXpedition mode development.  He asked, "By a show of hands, 
how many of you RTTY guys listen to the audio?"  I raised my hand.  He shook his 
head and said that one reason that he really liked FT8 as a expedition operator 
was that he didn't have to listen to it. I won't editorialize further.


Wes  N7WS

On 3/22/2019 10:41 PM, Peter Dougherty wrote:

I concur. There have been some great RTTY ops at times, but more Dxpeditions 
had it as an afterthought and it showed in their rates. I've always hated RTTY 
pileups as a DXer. You need to have two active windows and a lot of luck 
finding the 599 on the second one, especially in a lidfest where nobody stops 
sending when the DX calls someone.

I'm currently sitting at 329 worked in digital, every one of them was on RTTY (including 
deleteds; 327 without). Included in there were some truly hellacious pileups 15-30 kHz 
wide. While I still enjoy the mode for simplex DXing or a simple "up 3", for 
high-demand DXpeditions I am grudgingly accepting that FT8 F/H is the way of the future, 
and will make a lot of DXers happy down the line.

With Bouvet slated for FT8 as the sole digital mode, I'm hoping somehow to get 
another 4 more that I still need the old way, then I can hang the diddle up for 
good.

  - pjd



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Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Peter Dougherty]

I concur. There have been some great RTTY ops at times, but more Dxpeditions 
had it as an afterthought and it showed in their rates. I've always hated RTTY 
pileups as a DXer. You need to have two active windows and a lot of luck 
finding the 599 on the second one, especially in a lidfest where nobody stops 
sending when the DX calls someone.

I'm currently sitting at 329 worked in digital, every one of them was on RTTY 
(including deleteds; 327 without). Included in there were some truly hellacious 
pileups 15-30 kHz wide. While I still enjoy the mode for simplex DXing or a 
simple "up 3", for high-demand DXpeditions I am grudgingly accepting that FT8 
F/H is the way of the future, and will make a lot of DXers happy down the line. 

With Bouvet slated for FT8 as the sole digital mode, I'm hoping somehow to get 
another 4 more that I still need the old way, then I can hang the diddle up for 
good.

 - pjd

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
Behalf Of Joe Subich, W4TV
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2019 9:01 PM
To: Elecraft 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode


The issue is simply that DXPeditions mostly don't recruit quality RTTY 
operators.  A quality/experienced operator with proper software (GRITTY and/or 
a "broadband"/multi-channel decoder) can run rates comparable with CW or SSB.

73,

... Joe, W4TV


On 2019-03-22 8:45 PM, Wes wrote:
> I know about FT8 DXPedition mode.  I have used it a couple of times 
> just for the hell of it but I never claim DXCC credit for FT8 
> contacts.  I also know that 14080 isn't one of the "recommended" frequencies 
> for FT8.
> 
> I would argue about the efficacy compared to CW.  I know it reports 
> all of those negative SNRs but they are bogus.  As to rates, when my 
> friend Ned, AA7A, was operating RTTY from S. Georgia and S. Sandwich 
> he was knocking them dead.  On 15 meters VP8SGI made almost the same 
> number of RTTY contacts as SSB contacts. They only operated RTTY on 
> three bands yet about 10% of their total Qs were RTTY.
> 
> Wes  N7WS
> 
> 
> On 3/22/2019 4:08 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
>> On 3/22/2019 3:29 PM, Wes wrote:
>>> DXCC certificate that actually says "RTTY" on it. Today it's harder 
>>> to find new ones, but I have 254 confirmed now with my modest station.
>>
>> Congrats on that.  I too am quite happy with AFSK.
>>
>>>
>>> It's great fun and even though it's a "digital" mode, operator skill 
>>> still makes a difference.
>>
>> Yep. RTTY contesting can be a lot of fun, especially with SO2R. A 
>> couple of guys in our contest club, WK6I and W0YK, win RTTY contests 
>> running three radios.  And operator skill also matters with FT8, even 
>> though it's also possible to make QSOs with minimal operator involvement.
>>>
>>> Unfortunately, I heard one of the current DXpeditions plopped on
>>> 14.080 using the abysmal FT8
>>
>> That's because 1) RTTY is very difficult for the DXpedition operator 
>> in a pileup, making for slow QSO rates; 2)  the latest version of 
>> WSJT-X includes a "DXpedition mode" that allows far greater rates 
>> than RTTY; and the signal to noise advantage of FT8 over CW 
>> (moderate) and SSB (a lot) allows QSOs over more difficult paths and 
>> with more modest stations.
>>
>> 73, Jim K9YC
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

The issue is simply that DXPeditions mostly don't recruit quality RTTY
operators.  A quality/experienced operator with proper software (GRITTY
and/or a "broadband"/multi-channel decoder) can run rates comparable
with CW or SSB.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 2019-03-22 8:45 PM, Wes wrote:
I know about FT8 DXPedition mode.  I have used it a couple of times just 
for the hell of it but I never claim DXCC credit for FT8 contacts.  I 
also know that 14080 isn't one of the "recommended" frequencies for FT8.


I would argue about the efficacy compared to CW.  I know it reports all 
of those negative SNRs but they are bogus.  As to rates, when my friend 
Ned, AA7A, was operating RTTY from S. Georgia and S. Sandwich he was 
knocking them dead.  On 15 meters VP8SGI made almost the same number of 
RTTY contacts as SSB contacts. They only operated RTTY on three bands 
yet about 10% of their total Qs were RTTY.


Wes  N7WS


On 3/22/2019 4:08 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

On 3/22/2019 3:29 PM, Wes wrote:
DXCC certificate that actually says "RTTY" on it. Today it's harder 
to find new ones, but I have 254 confirmed now with my modest station.


Congrats on that.  I too am quite happy with AFSK.



It's great fun and even though it's a "digital" mode, operator skill 
still makes a difference.


Yep. RTTY contesting can be a lot of fun, especially with SO2R. A 
couple of guys in our contest club, WK6I and W0YK, win RTTY contests 
running three radios.  And operator skill also matters with FT8, even 
though it's also possible to make QSOs with minimal operator involvement.


Unfortunately, I heard one of the current DXpeditions plopped on 
14.080 using the abysmal FT8


That's because 1) RTTY is very difficult for the DXpedition operator 
in a pileup, making for slow QSO rates; 2)  the latest version of 
WSJT-X includes a "DXpedition mode" that allows far greater rates than 
RTTY; and the signal to noise advantage of FT8 over CW (moderate) and 
SSB (a lot) allows QSOs over more difficult paths and with more modest 
stations.


73, Jim K9YC


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Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Wes]

I know about FT8 DXPedition mode.  I have used it a couple of times just for the 
hell of it but I never claim DXCC credit for FT8 contacts.  I also know that 
14080 isn't one of the "recommended" frequencies for FT8.


I would argue about the efficacy compared to CW.  I know it reports all of those 
negative SNRs but they are bogus.  As to rates, when my friend Ned, AA7A, was 
operating RTTY from S. Georgia and S. Sandwich he was knocking them dead.  On 15 
meters VP8SGI made almost the same number of RTTY contacts as SSB contacts.  
They only operated RTTY on three bands yet about 10% of their total Qs were RTTY.


Wes  N7WS


On 3/22/2019 4:08 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

On 3/22/2019 3:29 PM, Wes wrote:
DXCC certificate that actually says "RTTY" on it. Today it's harder to find 
new ones, but I have 254 confirmed now with my modest station.


Congrats on that.  I too am quite happy with AFSK.



It's great fun and even though it's a "digital" mode, operator skill still 
makes a difference.


Yep. RTTY contesting can be a lot of fun, especially with SO2R. A couple of 
guys in our contest club, WK6I and W0YK, win RTTY contests running three 
radios.  And operator skill also matters with FT8, even though it's also 
possible to make QSOs with minimal operator involvement.


Unfortunately, I heard one of the current DXpeditions plopped on 14.080 using 
the abysmal FT8


That's because 1) RTTY is very difficult for the DXpedition operator in a 
pileup, making for slow QSO rates; 2)  the latest version of WSJT-X includes a 
"DXpedition mode" that allows far greater rates than RTTY; and the signal to 
noise advantage of FT8 over CW (moderate) and SSB (a lot) allows QSOs over 
more difficult paths and with more modest stations.


73, Jim K9YC


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Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Bill Frantz]

On 3/22/19 at 9:14 AM, n...@elecraft.com (Wayne Burdick) wrote:

There are also a number of RTTY contests, in addition to 
stations operating in RTTY mode during Field Day, etc. For a 
calendar of events, see:


https://www.rttycontesting.com/records/

If the contest exchange is simple (non-serialized), you can 
probably operate entirely using the message memories. On the 
KX2, CW and data-mode contacts can also be logged using the 
rig's built-in logging function, then uploaded to a computer 
when you get home.


The Northern California Contest Club runs weekly RTTY practice 
sprints on Fridays,   0145Z - 0215Z (Thursday evening in NA)

-- 1845 - 1915 PDT
-- 2145 - 2215 EDT
-- (others in-between those two)
-- 160: 1805 and up (Last two minutes seem to be popular…)
-- 80/40/20/15 +80kHz up from the band edge
-- Same band dupes ok after 1 intervening Q.
-- 1 kHz QSY rule, otherwise standard Sprint rules
-- Mults per band.
-- 100W power limit

Please visit  for 
complete rules and links to other info. If you find any problems 
with the web pages, please let me know so we can get them fixed.


This can provide a good source of RTTY signals for listening, 
and you're more than welcome to join the fun.


BTW, when I play in this sprint, I'm using the CAT interface 
from my computer to send and receive via the K3's RTTY support.


73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| gets() remains as a monument | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506  | to C's continuing support of | 16345 
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | buffer overruns. | Los Gatos, 
CA 95032


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Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[David Lee]

Sadly, ARRL doesn't offer the  "RTTY DXCC Award" anymore. Since 2011 they have combined it 
with other digital modes, it's now called "Digital DXCC". On July 25, 2011 the word “Digital” 
began replacing “RTTY" on these DXCC certificates.

CQ magazine's WAZ (worked all 40 CQ zones) still has separate awards for RTTY 
and Digital.

Dave W6ZL / KF6RY

RTTY since 1967 (Model 28 KSR)

On 3/22/2019 3:19 PM, Wes wrote:

I waited until all of the frenzy subsided and bought myself a K3 back in '08 IIRC.  I was 
using a TS-870SAT primarily on SSB at the time and frankly, I was disappointed in the K3, 
particularly from an ergonomic point of view.  So in looking for a use for the K3 I 
investigated RTTY. Although I had been licensed for about 50 years at that time I had 
never operated RTTY.  I've never to this day used the internal RTTY capability, nor FSK 
for that matter, but I did start using AFSK.  I got hooked.  So I thought to try for DXCC 
and now have a DXCC certificate that actually says "RTTY" on it. Today it's 
harder to find new ones, but I have 254 confirmed now with my modest station.


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Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Jim Brown]

On 3/22/2019 3:29 PM, Wes wrote:
DXCC certificate that actually says "RTTY" on it. Today it's harder to 
find new ones, but I have 254 confirmed now with my modest station.


Congrats on that.  I too am quite happy with AFSK.



It's great fun and even though it's a "digital" mode, operator skill 
still makes a difference.


Yep. RTTY contesting can be a lot of fun, especially with SO2R. A couple 
of guys in our contest club, WK6I and W0YK, win RTTY contests running 
three radios.  And operator skill also matters with FT8, even though 
it's also possible to make QSOs with minimal operator involvement.


Unfortunately, I heard one of the current DXpeditions plopped on 
14.080 using the abysmal FT8


That's because 1) RTTY is very difficult for the DXpedition operator in 
a pileup, making for slow QSO rates; 2)  the latest version of WSJT-X 
includes a "DXpedition mode" that allows far greater rates than RTTY; 
and the signal to noise advantage of FT8 over CW (moderate) and SSB (a 
lot) allows QSOs over more difficult paths and with more modest stations.


73, Jim K9YC


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Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Don Wilhelm]

Howard,

That is already implemented.  End the message when paddling with IM sent 
as a prosign (no space between the I and M.
If you are creating messages to be used, end the message with a "|" 
character.  It will be ignored on CW, but will stop the 'diddle' on 
digital operation.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/22/2019 5:47 PM, qr...@roadrunner.com wrote:

Wayne,

Please consider adding a feature in the next KX3 (and others) update-the 
ability to turn diddle on or off during during idle input from the paddle or 
terminal.  Please, please!


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Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Wes]

Sorry about the cut and paste.  Clearly Wayne didn't write the top part, I did.

On 3/22/2019 3:19 PM, Wes wrote:
I waited until all of the frenzy subsided and bought myself a K3 back in '08 
IIRC.  I was using a TS-870SAT primarily on SSB at the time and frankly, I was 
disappointed in the K3, particularly from an ergonomic point of view.  So in 
looking for a use for the K3 I investigated RTTY. Although I had been licensed 
for about 50 years at that time I had never operated RTTY.  I've never to this 
day used the internal RTTY capability, nor FSK for that matter, but I did 
start using AFSK.  I got hooked.  So I thought to try for DXCC and now have a 
DXCC certificate that actually says "RTTY" on it. Today it's harder to find 
new ones, but I have 254 confirmed now with my modest station.


It's great fun and even though it's a "digital" mode, operator skill still 
makes a difference.


Unfortunately, I heard one of the current DXpeditions plopped on 14.080 using 
the abysmal FT8 the other day, so nothing is sacred anymore.


Wes  N7WS

On 3/22/2019 9:14 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

Next time you're listening on 20 meters, the most popular band for RTTY, take 
a quick spin above 14.080. If you hear some of those magical tones, turn on 
FSK-D mode and give this mode a try.





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Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Wes]

On 3/22/2019 9:14 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

I waited until all of the frenzy subsided and bought myself a K3 back in '08 
IIRC.  I was using a TS-870SAT primarily on SSB at the time and frankly, I was 
disappointed in the K3, particularly from an ergonomic point of view.  So in 
looking for a use for the K3 I investigated RTTY. Although I had been licensed 
for about 50 years at that time I had never operated RTTY.  I've never to this 
day used the internal RTTY capability, nor FSK for that matter, but I did start 
using AFSK.  I got hooked.  So I thought to try for DXCC and now have a DXCC 
certificate that actually says "RTTY" on it. Today it's harder to find new ones, 
but I have 254 confirmed now with my modest station.


It's great fun and even though it's a "digital" mode, operator skill still makes 
a difference.


Unfortunately, I heard one of the current DXpeditions plopped on 14.080 using 
the abysmal FT8 the other day, so nothing is sacred anymore.


Wes  N7WS

Next time you're listening on 20 meters, the most popular band for RTTY, take a 
quick spin above 14.080. If you hear some of those magical tones, turn on FSK-D 
mode and give this mode a try.




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Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[qrp5w]

Wayne,

Please consider adding a feature in the next KX3 (and others) update-the 
ability to turn diddle on or off during during idle input from the paddle or 
terminal.  Please, please!

72

Howard Kraus, K2UD

 Wayne Burdick  wrote: 
> If you're a new owner of a K3, K3S, KX3 or KX2 -- or if, like most of us, you 
> never quite made it all the way through the owner's manual -- you might not 
> have tried our FSK-D mode. This is one of our favorite features. It gives you 
> an amazingly simple way to dabble in amateur radio's original yet still 
> actively used data mode: RTTY. As embodied in our FSK-D mode, RTTY has two 
> major advantages over FT8, JT9, and similar computer-mediated modes...but 
> first some background.
> 
> * * *
> 
> RTTY (radio teletype) has a long, colorful history. The basic encoding and 
> transmission methods were invented in the 1800s, and were later used by 
> wireline news services as well as for wartime comms. It has been in use by 
> hams since around the end of WWII, who took advantage of surplus military 
> teleprinters. For more on this, see:
> 
>en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioteletype#Early_amateur_radioteletype_history
> 
> As a teenager in the 1970s I had a Teletype Corp Model 15. This page shows 
> some examples of what this beast looked like:
> 
>http://www.baudot.net/teletype/M15.htm
> 
> In my shack, the Model 15 and all of its associated paraphernalia took up 
> most of a workbench. It made a huge racket and consumed reams of paper, not 
> to mention oil. Sadly, I never did get everything working properly and never 
> made an QSO with it. Yet my fascination with RTTY continued.
> 
> When we designed the K3, my interest was rekindled, and we endowed it with 
> the ability to decode and encode 45-baud RTTY signals. The DSP handled 
> demodulation, while the MCU assembled character bit streams. (We later added 
> 75-baud RTTY as well as PSK31 and PSK63 modes.)
> 
> Lyle Johnson (KK7P) and I had quite a bit of fun when we first got decode 
> working. Speaking strictly for both of us, tuning around between 14.080 and 
> 14.100 during an RTTY contest was like being a teenager all over again. We 
> quickly added the ability to transmit in this mode using the CW keyer paddle 
> and message memories. The upshot is that I finally had my first RTTY QSO, 
> doing it the hard way -- writing a good chunk of the firmware that made it 
> possible.
> 
> Here's the importing thing: our K-Line/KX-Line implementation of RTTY makes 
> it incredibly simple to use. It's nearly foolproof. The setup details vary a 
> bit among the rigs, but basically you select DATA mode, then FSK-D sub-mode, 
> and turn text decode on. Then just tune around in the RTTY band segments 
> until you see signals start to decode. 
> 
> If you're a CW op, you can immediately transmit in RTTY mode by simply 
> sending CW. If not, you can connect a netbook or laptop to your rig (via a 
> USB port), then use the Terminal window in K3/KX3/KX2 Utility along with the 
> keyboard. The Utility for each rig includes instructions for using the 
> Terminal window.
> 
> * * *
> 
> Earlier I claimed that RTTY operation using our FSK-D mode has some 
> advantages over FT8, etc. Here they are:
> 
> 1. You don't necessarily need a computer. Decoded and encoded text scrolls 
> across the radio's display. At your home station, this is great for simply 
> tuning around casually; no need to turn on the computer or set up software 
> applications. It's an even bigger advantage for field operation. With the KX3 
> or KX2, you can use RTTY (or PSK31/63) from essentially anywhere, even 
> operating hand-held. During Field Day and RTTY contests, I make a point of 
> taking a hike and making a few RTTY Q's pedestrian mobile (/PM). When a band 
> is open, you can work the world in these modes. (For some of us, it doesn't 
> get much better than this :)
> 
> 2. Our FSK-D and PSK-D modes are *conversational*, with no restrictions on 
> what you can send, no software delays or time synchronization, no 
> predetermined frequencies, and a natural style of interaction as with CW or 
> SSB. The receiver is automatically configured for a narrow passband, so you 
> simply tune in a signal until you start seeing decoded text -- often a CQ -- 
> then respond with the keyer paddle, or with the keyboard on your 
> netbook/laptop, if applicable. 
> 
> As you can see, we've come a long way from the Model 15, paper, oil, noise, 
> and complex terminal hardware. In addition to using the display on the rig 
> itself, our panadapters can be used. Text can be displayed on our P3-SVGA 
> display, as well as on the PX3. A keyboard can be connected to either the P3 
> or PX3.
> 
> Next time you're listening on 20 meters, the most popular band for RTTY, take 
> a quick spin above 14.080. If you hear some of those magical tones, turn on 
> FSK-D mode and give this mode a try. 
> 
> Many DXpeditions have an RTTY station operating during some periods, so 
>

Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Phil Kane]

My early RTTY experience was with Model 28 machines when I was working
for ITT ( not ATT) in the early 1960s.  I had a secretary who could type
much faster than the tape could be punched and that frustrated her no
end!  Several years later I worked overseas and used European
teleprinters where I did my own typing.  In both cases we had service
contracts so I didn't do any "hands on" tweaking of the mechanical beasts.

If I ever get it set up, I want to do some 40m RTTY with my K2.  I have
a choice of a low-power mag-loop antenna at 15W or a dummy load at 100W  !!

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
Elecraft K2/100   s/n 5402

>From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon
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Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Brian Hunt]

Wayne, your write up takes me back to growing up in the late 40s when my dad 
worked for Ma Bell and would take me into the 'office' occasionally. The most 
fascinating I ever saw was the print head on the TTY machine bobbing around 
printing out lines of text. 

Thanks for the FSK D capability. I've quickly worked several DXpeditions with 
it. 

73,
Brian, K0DTJ

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Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Kidder, George]

And the purple ink!  Golly, some memories
George W3HBM

On 3/22/2019 1:25 PM, Mike Flowers wrote:
> [This message came from an external source. If suspicious, report to 
> ab...@ilstu.edu]
> 
> My Model 15 took a lot of 3-in-1 oil to keep it running back in the late 
> 1970s.   I can still smell the warm oil.
> 
> I worked Antigua on 20M and that QSO started RTTY DXing for me.
> 
> -- Mike Flowers, K6MKF, NCDXC - "It's about DX!"
> 
>> On Mar 22, 2019, at 10:01 AM, Michael Blake via Elecraft 
>>  wrote:
>>
>> My first was a model 14 strip printer. It was also in the early 70s.
>>
>>   Very 73 - Mike -  K9JRI
>>
>>
>>> On Mar 22, 2019, at 12:14 PM, Wayne Burdick  wrote:
>>>
>>> If you're a new owner of a K3, K3S, KX3 or KX2 -- or if, like most of us, 
>>> you never quite made it all the way through the owner's manual -- you might 
>>> not have tried our FSK-D mode. This is one of our favorite features. It 
>>> gives you an amazingly simple way to dabble in amateur radio's original yet 
>>> still actively used data mode: RTTY. As embodied in our FSK-D mode, RTTY 
>>> has two major advantages over FT8, JT9, and similar computer-mediated 
>>> modes...but first some background.
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> RTTY (radio teletype) has a long, colorful history. The basic encoding and 
>>> transmission methods were invented in the 1800s, and were later used by 
>>> wireline news services as well as for wartime comms. It has been in use by 
>>> hams since around the end of WWII, who took advantage of surplus military 
>>> teleprinters. For more on this, see:
>>>
>>>   en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioteletype#Early_amateur_radioteletype_history
>>>
>>> As a teenager in the 1970s I had a Teletype Corp Model 15. This page shows 
>>> some examples of what this beast looked like:
>>>
>>>   http://www.baudot.net/teletype/M15.htm
>>>
>>> In my shack, the Model 15 and all of its associated paraphernalia took up 
>>> most of a workbench. It made a huge racket and consumed reams of paper, not 
>>> to mention oil. Sadly, I never did get everything working properly and 
>>> never made an QSO with it. Yet my fascination with RTTY continued.
>>>
>>> When we designed the K3, my interest was rekindled, and we endowed it with 
>>> the ability to decode and encode 45-baud RTTY signals. The DSP handled 
>>> demodulation, while the MCU assembled character bit streams. (We later 
>>> added 75-baud RTTY as well as PSK31 and PSK63 modes.)
>>>
>>> Lyle Johnson (KK7P) and I had quite a bit of fun when we first got decode 
>>> working. Speaking strictly for both of us, tuning around between 14.080 and 
>>> 14.100 during an RTTY contest was like being a teenager all over again. We 
>>> quickly added the ability to transmit in this mode using the CW keyer 
>>> paddle and message memories. The upshot is that I finally had my first RTTY 
>>> QSO, doing it the hard way -- writing a good chunk of the firmware that 
>>> made it possible.
>>>
>>> Here's the importing thing: our K-Line/KX-Line implementation of RTTY makes 
>>> it incredibly simple to use. It's nearly foolproof. The setup details vary 
>>> a bit among the rigs, but basically you select DATA mode, then FSK-D 
>>> sub-mode, and turn text decode on. Then just tune around in the RTTY band 
>>> segments until you see signals start to decode.
>>>
>>> If you're a CW op, you can immediately transmit in RTTY mode by simply 
>>> sending CW. If not, you can connect a netbook or laptop to your rig (via a 
>>> USB port), then use the Terminal window in K3/KX3/KX2 Utility along with 
>>> the keyboard. The Utility for each rig includes instructions for using the 
>>> Terminal window.
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> Earlier I claimed that RTTY operation using our FSK-D mode has some 
>>> advantages over FT8, etc. Here they are:
>>>
>>> 1. You don't necessarily need a computer. Decoded and encoded text scrolls 
>>> across the radio's display. At your home station, this is great for simply 
>>> tuning around casually; no need to turn on the computer or set up software 
>>> applications. It's an even bigger advantage for field operation. With the 
>>> KX3 or KX2, you can use RTTY (or PSK31/63) from essentially anywhere, even 
>>> operating hand-held. During Field Day and RTTY contests, I make a point of 
>>> taking a hike and making a few RTTY Q's pedestrian mobile (/PM). When a 
>>> band is open, you can work the world in these modes. (For some of us, it 
>>> doesn't get much better than this :)
>>>
>>> 2. Our FSK-D and PSK-D modes are *conversational*, with no restrictions on 
>>> what you can send, no software delays or time synchronization, no 
>>> predetermined frequencies, and a natural style of interaction as with CW or 
>>> SSB. The receiver is automatically configured for a narrow passband, so you 
>>> simply tune in a signal until you start seeing decoded text -- often a CQ 
>>> -- then respond with the keyer paddle, or with the keyboard on your 
>>> netbook/laptop, if applicable.
>>>
>>> As 

Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Mike Flowers]

My Model 15 took a lot of 3-in-1 oil to keep it running back in the late 1970s. 
  I can still smell the warm oil.  

I worked Antigua on 20M and that QSO started RTTY DXing for me. 

-- Mike Flowers, K6MKF, NCDXC - "It's about DX!"

> On Mar 22, 2019, at 10:01 AM, Michael Blake via Elecraft 
>  wrote:
> 
> My first was a model 14 strip printer. It was also in the early 70s. 
> 
>  Very 73 - Mike -  K9JRI
> 
> 
>> On Mar 22, 2019, at 12:14 PM, Wayne Burdick  wrote:
>> 
>> If you're a new owner of a K3, K3S, KX3 or KX2 -- or if, like most of us, 
>> you never quite made it all the way through the owner's manual -- you might 
>> not have tried our FSK-D mode. This is one of our favorite features. It 
>> gives you an amazingly simple way to dabble in amateur radio's original yet 
>> still actively used data mode: RTTY. As embodied in our FSK-D mode, RTTY has 
>> two major advantages over FT8, JT9, and similar computer-mediated 
>> modes...but first some background.
>> 
>> * * *
>> 
>> RTTY (radio teletype) has a long, colorful history. The basic encoding and 
>> transmission methods were invented in the 1800s, and were later used by 
>> wireline news services as well as for wartime comms. It has been in use by 
>> hams since around the end of WWII, who took advantage of surplus military 
>> teleprinters. For more on this, see:
>> 
>>  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioteletype#Early_amateur_radioteletype_history
>> 
>> As a teenager in the 1970s I had a Teletype Corp Model 15. This page shows 
>> some examples of what this beast looked like:
>> 
>>  http://www.baudot.net/teletype/M15.htm
>> 
>> In my shack, the Model 15 and all of its associated paraphernalia took up 
>> most of a workbench. It made a huge racket and consumed reams of paper, not 
>> to mention oil. Sadly, I never did get everything working properly and never 
>> made an QSO with it. Yet my fascination with RTTY continued.
>> 
>> When we designed the K3, my interest was rekindled, and we endowed it with 
>> the ability to decode and encode 45-baud RTTY signals. The DSP handled 
>> demodulation, while the MCU assembled character bit streams. (We later added 
>> 75-baud RTTY as well as PSK31 and PSK63 modes.)
>> 
>> Lyle Johnson (KK7P) and I had quite a bit of fun when we first got decode 
>> working. Speaking strictly for both of us, tuning around between 14.080 and 
>> 14.100 during an RTTY contest was like being a teenager all over again. We 
>> quickly added the ability to transmit in this mode using the CW keyer paddle 
>> and message memories. The upshot is that I finally had my first RTTY QSO, 
>> doing it the hard way -- writing a good chunk of the firmware that made it 
>> possible.
>> 
>> Here's the importing thing: our K-Line/KX-Line implementation of RTTY makes 
>> it incredibly simple to use. It's nearly foolproof. The setup details vary a 
>> bit among the rigs, but basically you select DATA mode, then FSK-D sub-mode, 
>> and turn text decode on. Then just tune around in the RTTY band segments 
>> until you see signals start to decode. 
>> 
>> If you're a CW op, you can immediately transmit in RTTY mode by simply 
>> sending CW. If not, you can connect a netbook or laptop to your rig (via a 
>> USB port), then use the Terminal window in K3/KX3/KX2 Utility along with the 
>> keyboard. The Utility for each rig includes instructions for using the 
>> Terminal window.
>> 
>> * * *
>> 
>> Earlier I claimed that RTTY operation using our FSK-D mode has some 
>> advantages over FT8, etc. Here they are:
>> 
>> 1. You don't necessarily need a computer. Decoded and encoded text scrolls 
>> across the radio's display. At your home station, this is great for simply 
>> tuning around casually; no need to turn on the computer or set up software 
>> applications. It's an even bigger advantage for field operation. With the 
>> KX3 or KX2, you can use RTTY (or PSK31/63) from essentially anywhere, even 
>> operating hand-held. During Field Day and RTTY contests, I make a point of 
>> taking a hike and making a few RTTY Q's pedestrian mobile (/PM). When a band 
>> is open, you can work the world in these modes. (For some of us, it doesn't 
>> get much better than this :)
>> 
>> 2. Our FSK-D and PSK-D modes are *conversational*, with no restrictions on 
>> what you can send, no software delays or time synchronization, no 
>> predetermined frequencies, and a natural style of interaction as with CW or 
>> SSB. The receiver is automatically configured for a narrow passband, so you 
>> simply tune in a signal until you start seeing decoded text -- often a CQ -- 
>> then respond with the keyer paddle, or with the keyboard on your 
>> netbook/laptop, if applicable. 
>> 
>> As you can see, we've come a long way from the Model 15, paper, oil, noise, 
>> and complex terminal hardware. In addition to using the display on the rig 
>> itself, our panadapters can be used. Text can be displayed on our P3-SVGA 
>> display, as well as on the PX3. A keyboard can be connected 

Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Michael Blake via Elecraft]

My first was a model 14 strip printer. It was also in the early 70s. 

  Very 73 - Mike -  K9JRI


> On Mar 22, 2019, at 12:14 PM, Wayne Burdick  wrote:
> 
> If you're a new owner of a K3, K3S, KX3 or KX2 -- or if, like most of us, you 
> never quite made it all the way through the owner's manual -- you might not 
> have tried our FSK-D mode. This is one of our favorite features. It gives you 
> an amazingly simple way to dabble in amateur radio's original yet still 
> actively used data mode: RTTY. As embodied in our FSK-D mode, RTTY has two 
> major advantages over FT8, JT9, and similar computer-mediated modes...but 
> first some background.
> 
> * * *
> 
> RTTY (radio teletype) has a long, colorful history. The basic encoding and 
> transmission methods were invented in the 1800s, and were later used by 
> wireline news services as well as for wartime comms. It has been in use by 
> hams since around the end of WWII, who took advantage of surplus military 
> teleprinters. For more on this, see:
> 
>   en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioteletype#Early_amateur_radioteletype_history
> 
> As a teenager in the 1970s I had a Teletype Corp Model 15. This page shows 
> some examples of what this beast looked like:
> 
>   http://www.baudot.net/teletype/M15.htm
> 
> In my shack, the Model 15 and all of its associated paraphernalia took up 
> most of a workbench. It made a huge racket and consumed reams of paper, not 
> to mention oil. Sadly, I never did get everything working properly and never 
> made an QSO with it. Yet my fascination with RTTY continued.
> 
> When we designed the K3, my interest was rekindled, and we endowed it with 
> the ability to decode and encode 45-baud RTTY signals. The DSP handled 
> demodulation, while the MCU assembled character bit streams. (We later added 
> 75-baud RTTY as well as PSK31 and PSK63 modes.)
> 
> Lyle Johnson (KK7P) and I had quite a bit of fun when we first got decode 
> working. Speaking strictly for both of us, tuning around between 14.080 and 
> 14.100 during an RTTY contest was like being a teenager all over again. We 
> quickly added the ability to transmit in this mode using the CW keyer paddle 
> and message memories. The upshot is that I finally had my first RTTY QSO, 
> doing it the hard way -- writing a good chunk of the firmware that made it 
> possible.
> 
> Here's the importing thing: our K-Line/KX-Line implementation of RTTY makes 
> it incredibly simple to use. It's nearly foolproof. The setup details vary a 
> bit among the rigs, but basically you select DATA mode, then FSK-D sub-mode, 
> and turn text decode on. Then just tune around in the RTTY band segments 
> until you see signals start to decode. 
> 
> If you're a CW op, you can immediately transmit in RTTY mode by simply 
> sending CW. If not, you can connect a netbook or laptop to your rig (via a 
> USB port), then use the Terminal window in K3/KX3/KX2 Utility along with the 
> keyboard. The Utility for each rig includes instructions for using the 
> Terminal window.
> 
> * * *
> 
> Earlier I claimed that RTTY operation using our FSK-D mode has some 
> advantages over FT8, etc. Here they are:
> 
> 1. You don't necessarily need a computer. Decoded and encoded text scrolls 
> across the radio's display. At your home station, this is great for simply 
> tuning around casually; no need to turn on the computer or set up software 
> applications. It's an even bigger advantage for field operation. With the KX3 
> or KX2, you can use RTTY (or PSK31/63) from essentially anywhere, even 
> operating hand-held. During Field Day and RTTY contests, I make a point of 
> taking a hike and making a few RTTY Q's pedestrian mobile (/PM). When a band 
> is open, you can work the world in these modes. (For some of us, it doesn't 
> get much better than this :)
> 
> 2. Our FSK-D and PSK-D modes are *conversational*, with no restrictions on 
> what you can send, no software delays or time synchronization, no 
> predetermined frequencies, and a natural style of interaction as with CW or 
> SSB. The receiver is automatically configured for a narrow passband, so you 
> simply tune in a signal until you start seeing decoded text -- often a CQ -- 
> then respond with the keyer paddle, or with the keyboard on your 
> netbook/laptop, if applicable. 
> 
> As you can see, we've come a long way from the Model 15, paper, oil, noise, 
> and complex terminal hardware. In addition to using the display on the rig 
> itself, our panadapters can be used. Text can be displayed on our P3-SVGA 
> display, as well as on the PX3. A keyboard can be connected to either the P3 
> or PX3.
> 
> Next time you're listening on 20 meters, the most popular band for RTTY, take 
> a quick spin above 14.080. If you hear some of those magical tones, turn on 
> FSK-D mode and give this mode a try. 
> 
> Many DXpeditions have an RTTY station operating during some periods, so 
> you'll often hear RTTY ops making DX contacts. In general, RTTY DX stations 
> are qu

Re: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Hank]

I used my k3s in the bartg RTTY contest using "internal" decoding/encoding and 
also my trusty PK-232sc+ connected to the the K3s's FSK port using 
DXLAbs-WinWarbler.


Was asked during the contest if I had a real baudot clicker!


Hank
K4HYJ
 



-Original Message- 
> From: "Wayne Burdick"  
> To: "Elecraft Reflector"  
> Cc: k...@yahoogroups.com 
> Date: 03/22/19 12:15 
> Subject: [Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency:  FSK-D mode 
> 
> If you're a new owner of a K3, K3S, KX3 or KX2 -- or if, like most of us, you 
> never quite made it all the way through the owner's manual -- you might not 
> have tried our FSK-D mode. This is one of our favorite features. It gives you 
> an amazingly simple way to dabble in amateur radio's original yet still 
> actively used data mode: RTTY. As embodied in our FSK-D mode, RTTY has two 
> major advantages over FT8, JT9, and similar computer-mediated modes...but 
> first some background.
> 
> * * *
> 
> RTTY (radio teletype) has a long, colorful history. The basic encoding and 
> transmission methods were invented in the 1800s, and were later used by 
> wireline news services as well as for wartime comms. It has been in use by 
> hams since around the end of WWII, who took advantage of surplus military 
> teleprinters. For more on this, see:
> 
>    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioteletype#Early_amateur_radioteletype_history
> 
> As a teenager in the 1970s I had a Teletype Corp Model 15. This page shows 
> some examples of what this beast looked like:
> 
>    http://www.baudot.net/teletype/M15.htm
> 
> In my shack, the Model 15 and all of its associated paraphernalia took up 
> most of a workbench. It made a huge racket and consumed reams of paper, not 
> to mention oil. Sadly, I never did get everything working properly and never 
> made an QSO with it. Yet my fascination with RTTY continued.
> 
> When we designed the K3, my interest was rekindled, and we endowed it with 
> the ability to decode and encode 45-baud RTTY signals. The DSP handled 
> demodulation, while the MCU assembled character bit streams. (We later added 
> 75-baud RTTY as well as PSK31 and PSK63 modes.)
> 
> Lyle Johnson (KK7P) and I had quite a bit of fun when we first got decode 
> working. Speaking strictly for both of us, tuning around between 14.080 and 
> 14.100 during an RTTY contest was like being a teenager all over again. We 
> quickly added the ability to transmit in this mode using the CW keyer paddle 
> and message memories. The upshot is that I finally had my first RTTY QSO, 
> doing it the hard way -- writing a good chunk of the firmware that made it 
> possible.
> 
> Here's the importing thing: our K-Line/KX-Line implementation of RTTY makes 
> it incredibly simple to use. It's nearly foolproof. The setup details vary a 
> bit among the rigs, but basically you select DATA mode, then FSK-D sub-mode, 
> and turn text decode on. Then just tune around in the RTTY band segments 
> until you see signals start to decode. 
> 
> If you're a CW op, you can immediately transmit in RTTY mode by simply 
> sending CW. If not, you can connect a netbook or laptop to your rig (via a 
> USB port), then use the Terminal window in K3/KX3/KX2 Utility along with the 
> keyboard. The Utility for each rig includes instructions for using the 
> Terminal window.
> 
> * * *
> 
> Earlier I claimed that RTTY operation using our FSK-D mode has some 
> advantages over FT8, etc. Here they are:
> 
> 1. You don't necessarily need a computer. Decoded and encoded text scrolls 
> across the radio's display. At your home station, this is great for simply 
> tuning around casually; no need to turn on the computer or set up software 
> applications. It's an even bigger advantage for field operation. With the KX3 
> or KX2, you can use RTTY (or PSK31/63) from essentially anywhere, even 
> operating hand-held. During Field Day and RTTY contests, I make a point of 
> taking a hike and making a few RTTY Q's pedestrian mobile (/PM). When a band 
> is open, you can work the world in these modes. (For some of us, it doesn't 
> get much better than this :)
> 
> 2. Our FSK-D and PSK-D modes are *conversational*, with no restrictions on 
> what you can send, no software delays or time synchronization, no 
> predetermined frequencies, and a natural style of interaction as with CW or 
> SSB. The receiver is automatically configured for a narrow passband, so you 
> simply tune in a signal until you start seeing decoded text -- often a CQ -- 
> then respond with the keyer paddle, or with the keyboard on your 
> netbook/laptop, if applicable. 
> 
> As you can see, we've come a long way from the Model 1

[Elecraft] Legacy = Low Latency: FSK-D mode

[Wayne Burdick]

If you're a new owner of a K3, K3S, KX3 or KX2 -- or if, like most of us, you 
never quite made it all the way through the owner's manual -- you might not 
have tried our FSK-D mode. This is one of our favorite features. It gives you 
an amazingly simple way to dabble in amateur radio's original yet still 
actively used data mode: RTTY. As embodied in our FSK-D mode, RTTY has two 
major advantages over FT8, JT9, and similar computer-mediated modes...but first 
some background.

* * *

RTTY (radio teletype) has a long, colorful history. The basic encoding and 
transmission methods were invented in the 1800s, and were later used by 
wireline news services as well as for wartime comms. It has been in use by hams 
since around the end of WWII, who took advantage of surplus military 
teleprinters. For more on this, see:

   en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioteletype#Early_amateur_radioteletype_history

As a teenager in the 1970s I had a Teletype Corp Model 15. This page shows some 
examples of what this beast looked like:

   http://www.baudot.net/teletype/M15.htm

In my shack, the Model 15 and all of its associated paraphernalia took up most 
of a workbench. It made a huge racket and consumed reams of paper, not to 
mention oil. Sadly, I never did get everything working properly and never made 
an QSO with it. Yet my fascination with RTTY continued.

When we designed the K3, my interest was rekindled, and we endowed it with the 
ability to decode and encode 45-baud RTTY signals. The DSP handled 
demodulation, while the MCU assembled character bit streams. (We later added 
75-baud RTTY as well as PSK31 and PSK63 modes.)

Lyle Johnson (KK7P) and I had quite a bit of fun when we first got decode 
working. Speaking strictly for both of us, tuning around between 14.080 and 
14.100 during an RTTY contest was like being a teenager all over again. We 
quickly added the ability to transmit in this mode using the CW keyer paddle 
and message memories. The upshot is that I finally had my first RTTY QSO, doing 
it the hard way -- writing a good chunk of the firmware that made it possible.

Here's the importing thing: our K-Line/KX-Line implementation of RTTY makes it 
incredibly simple to use. It's nearly foolproof. The setup details vary a bit 
among the rigs, but basically you select DATA mode, then FSK-D sub-mode, and 
turn text decode on. Then just tune around in the RTTY band segments until you 
see signals start to decode. 

If you're a CW op, you can immediately transmit in RTTY mode by simply sending 
CW. If not, you can connect a netbook or laptop to your rig (via a USB port), 
then use the Terminal window in K3/KX3/KX2 Utility along with the keyboard. The 
Utility for each rig includes instructions for using the Terminal window.

* * *

Earlier I claimed that RTTY operation using our FSK-D mode has some advantages 
over FT8, etc. Here they are:

1. You don't necessarily need a computer. Decoded and encoded text scrolls 
across the radio's display. At your home station, this is great for simply 
tuning around casually; no need to turn on the computer or set up software 
applications. It's an even bigger advantage for field operation. With the KX3 
or KX2, you can use RTTY (or PSK31/63) from essentially anywhere, even 
operating hand-held. During Field Day and RTTY contests, I make a point of 
taking a hike and making a few RTTY Q's pedestrian mobile (/PM). When a band is 
open, you can work the world in these modes. (For some of us, it doesn't get 
much better than this :)

2. Our FSK-D and PSK-D modes are *conversational*, with no restrictions on what 
you can send, no software delays or time synchronization, no predetermined 
frequencies, and a natural style of interaction as with CW or SSB. The receiver 
is automatically configured for a narrow passband, so you simply tune in a 
signal until you start seeing decoded text -- often a CQ -- then respond with 
the keyer paddle, or with the keyboard on your netbook/laptop, if applicable. 

As you can see, we've come a long way from the Model 15, paper, oil, noise, and 
complex terminal hardware. In addition to using the display on the rig itself, 
our panadapters can be used. Text can be displayed on our P3-SVGA display, as 
well as on the PX3. A keyboard can be connected to either the P3 or PX3.

Next time you're listening on 20 meters, the most popular band for RTTY, take a 
quick spin above 14.080. If you hear some of those magical tones, turn on FSK-D 
mode and give this mode a try. 

Many DXpeditions have an RTTY station operating during some periods, so you'll 
often hear RTTY ops making DX contacts. In general, RTTY DX stations are 
quickly "spotted" when they pop up, so mini-pileups can form at any time.

There are also a number of RTTY contests, in addition to stations operating in 
RTTY mode during Field Day, etc. For a calendar of events, see:

https://www.rttycontesting.com/records/

If the contest exchange is simple (non-serialized), you can probably oper