Overview of Digital Modes, FLDigi and N1MM Logger+

1. Overview of Digital Modes,FLDigi and N1MM Logger+ Collin Howe AA0CN Rochester Amateur Radio Club - rarchams.org Relevant Links on Last Slide

2. Digital Modes • Mechanism of communication using discrete signals (Non-Infinite, repeatable) • Often uses specialized hardware/software (Teletype Machine, Modem, Computer) • Can be much faster than voice (at the expense of reliability) • Can be much slower (can work in low-signal conditions at expense of speed) • CW: Simplest “Digital” mode, high reliability

3. Rig Control / Communication • Digital Modes often use Computer through a purpose-built interface using the computer’s Sound Card as a modem • Many Radios have USB control built-in • Signalink USB control interface • Homebrew COM / Sound Card interface: • PTT On/Off, RX Audio, TX Audio • KF5INZ Easy Digi Interface: • Or just use speaker and mic, and manually switch TX/RX!

4. RX/TX Control Signal Rig Control: Example Interface PTT Pin/Gnd PC “Mic” or “Line In” Radio RXOut Speaker Radio TX MIC In PC “Speaker”

5. Digital Mode Considerations • High Duty Cycle, turn down the power! • Some AutoTuners have Digi power limits • Volume-sensitive (driving radio direct, ALC) • Some radios have a “Digital” mode, won’t take USB audio if not in Digi Mode • Sometimes tricky setup for PC Interface (You kept the manual, right?) • Use ferrites to reduce hardware issues • Limitless potential!

6. FLDigi: Rig Control Software

7. FLDigi Intro Decoded Text Out Waterfall and Current Freq (Audio)

8. FLDigi Intro Text To Encode

9. FLDigi Intro Current Mode & VFO Freq Current Freq and Log Info Note: Current Frequency = (VFO Freq±Offset) + for USB, - for LSB

10. Waterfall Signal Identification:Carrier Wave (CW) / Morse • On/Off encoding • Single Carrier • Narrowest Bandwidth Waterfall/Audio source: http://www.sigidwiki.com

11. Waterfall Signal Identification:Amplitude Modulation • Voice/Music/Broadcast • Single Carrier with Products Waterfall/Audio source: http://www.sigidwiki.com

12. Waterfall Signal Identification:Single Sideband (SSB) • Most Common HF Voice • No constant carrier • ~1500-2000 Hz bandwidth Waterfall/Audio source: http://www.sigidwiki.com

13. Waterfall Signal Identification:Radio Teletype (RTTY) • Text-Only Baudot Encoding • Two distinct carriers (Mark and Space) • RTTY-45 : 200 Hz bandwidth, 45 Baud • Transceiver often set to LSB for RTTY-45, may be used in USB Waterfall/Audio source: http://www.sigidwiki.com

14. Waterfall Signal Identification:Phase Shift Keying (PSK) • Uses 2 (Binary), 4 (Quad) or 8 “Phase Constellations” • BPSK-31 most common, “typing speed” 31.25 Baud • Narrow ~60Hz bandwidth • Usually used in USB mode • Common Freqs: 3.580, 7.040, 10.142, 14.070, 18.100, 21.080, 24.920, 28.120 MHz Waterfall/Audio source: http://www.sigidwiki.com

15. Waterfall Signal Identification:Multi-Freq. Shift Keying (MFSK) • Keying is done by one tone at different frequencies • MFSK8: 8 tones, 7.8 baud • MFSK16: 16 @ 15.625 Bd • 154Hz / 218Hz bandwidth Waterfall/Audio source: http://www.sigidwiki.com

16. Waterfall Signal Identification:THROB / THROBX • 9 or 11 tones • 1 to 4 Baud (10-40 WPM) • Throb 1: 72Hz Bandwidth • Throb 4: 144Hz Bandwidth • ThrobX 4: 94Hz BW • ThrobX 4: 188Hz BW Waterfall/Audio source: http://www.sigidwiki.com

17. Waterfall Signal Identification:Olivia / Contestia • Many tones 2N, 4 thru 256 • 8Hz – 2000Hz Bandwidth • Good for poor propagation and High QRM • Use USB Mode • Contestia: An Olivia variant, twice as fast Waterfall/Audio source: http://www.sigidwiki.com

18. Waterfall Signal Identification:Other HF Modes • JT-65 Weak Signal / QRP • UTC time synched, ~50 seconds, 13 chars • WSJT Software by K1JT • SSTV • Many different modes • MMSSTV Software Waterfall/Audio source: http://www.sigidwiki.com

19. Waterfall Signal Identification:Other Modes, VHF/UHF • Packet / AX.25 / APRS • USB, FM for VHF/UHF • APRS on 144.390 FM • MT63 • High bandwidth, Fast • Audio coupling for ARES: MT-63 2000L @ 200WPM Waterfall/Audio source: http://www.sigidwiki.com

20. FLDigiUseage

21. FLDigi Mode Selection

22. FLDigiConfig (Rig, Audio, Etc.)

23. FLDigiConfig, Operator

24. FLDigiConfig, Rig Control (USB)

25. FLDigiConfig, Rig Control (HW)

26. FLDigiConfig, Audio In/Out

27. FLDigiConfig, Audio In/Out

28. FLDigiConfig, Audio In/Out

29. Rig will display, Freq. will sync FLDigi Rig Control T/R button

30. FLDigi Macros Macros

31. FLDigi Macros (Edit)

32. FLDigi Intro Type or use Macro to populate text, Before or during TX Click to select signal on waterfall RX/TX Toggle

33. FLDigi Transmit

34. Contest QSO Format (Not fixed) • CQ CQCQ DE K0AAA K0AAA K • K0AAA DE AA0CN AA0CN K • AA0CN 5A WTX 5A WTX DE K0AAA K • K0AAA DE AA0CN 1A MN 1A MN SK • … • CQ CQCQ DE K0AAA K0AAA K • …

35. FLDigi Macro QSO

36. FLDigi Macro QSO

37. FLDigi Macro QSO

38. FLDigi Macro QSO

39. N1MM Logger+

40. N1MM Logger+ • Logger • Record callsign, report, time, note Dupes • Radio Interface • Record Frequency, Mode • Digital Interface • Use FLDigi component for Rig Control, Digital Interface Modem, Macros • Record Exchanges • Network-attached Log

41. N1MM Logger+ : Initial Setup

42. N1MM Logger+ : Control Setup

43. N1MM Logger+ : Audio Setup

44. N1MM Logger+ : Digital Interface

45. N1MM Logger+ : Digital Modes

46. N1MM Logger+ : Digital Modes

47. N1MM Logger+ : Digital Modes Waterfall & Freq Selection Macros

48. N1MM Logger+ : Digital Modes Callsign set to be logged Select Callsign

49. N1MM Logger+ : Add Log Entry Comment/Exchange Report (If Any) Hit “Enter” to add to log

50. N1MM Logger+ : Basic Hotkeys Space or Tab for next box Shift+Tab for previous box Hit “Enter” to add to log