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Consider this:. There are only 10 kinds of people in this world. Those who understand binary and those who don’t. RTTY Contesting Basics. Doug Haft KY4F. Introduction. My background – KY4F RTTY contesting: differences and similarities with other modes

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  1. Consider this: There are only 10 kinds of people in this world. Those who understand binary and those who don’t.

  2. RTTY Contesting Basics Doug Haft KY4F

  3. Introduction • My background – KY4F • RTTY contesting: differences and similarities with other modes • Employing the information covered here today should: • Entice you to try RTTY Contesting, or • If already in the RTTY Contests…. Improve your score

  4. Topics: • A Brief History of RTTY • Its been around a long time • Garbled Print • Its inevitable. We must live with it. • Parsing & Phantoms • Why these are critical to understand • Macro’s • What is the most efficient way to format your message buffers?

  5. Topics: • Running vs. Search and Pounce • Summary Thank you to Dan Murphy, K7IA who’s eBook, Contesting and RTTY--The Basics, was the inspiration and primary source for this presentation.

  6. Topic 1: A Brief History of RTTY • Most of us think of RTTY based on WWII movies etc. • Uses a five bit code for each character. The Baudot code was patented in 1874! • No computers in those days. Teletype (TTY) machines were electro mechanical devices. Guam: Late 1960’s bottom row - AN/UGC-25 printermiddle row - TT-176/UG keyboard/printertop row - TT-187A/UG tape reader plus TT-192A/UG tape punchwall - KWX-7 sync switch for crypto gear

  7. Topic 1: A Brief History of RTTY • Being only five bits, a maximum of 32 discrete combinations. This presents a problem: • 26 letters • 10 digits • Various Control Characters • The 32 limit is exceeded! • What to do?? • Shift the carriage. LTRS & FIGS. The Baudot Code • Letters mode • Figures mode • Control characters

  8. Topic 1: A Brief History of RTTY • Originally, TTY was carried out over landlines using a DC circuit. • A mark (1) was interpreted when the circuit was closed and space (0) when the circuit was open. • In RTTY we create the mark and space by sending on two frequencies. • Mark on one frequency space on the other • These frequencies are 170Hz apart. • Hence 170Hz shift • Marks and Spaces

  9. Topic 2: Garbled Print • Your decoding software is constantly trying to interpret what it “hears” into marks and spaces. • Results in garbled characters. • Ltrs when not desired • Figs when not desired • Incorrect characters printed • USOS For Example Sent Text: KY4F KY4F First “4” hit by garbled and interpreted as <Figs> RX Text: “KY! (64!” With USOS: “KY! KY4F”

  10. Topic 3: Parsing & Phantoms • Parsing is not a new concept • If you’re reading this easily, you’re parsing. • Ifyoufindthisalittlemoredifficulttoreaditsbecausetheparsingelementshavebeenremoved • Let’s make copy at the distant end as easy as possible by using parsing elements. • Phantom characters appear because the transition from sending to receiving is not a smooth one. Almost ALWAYS 1 or 2 characters will appear on the screen when the distant end transitions. • When you transition from Tx to Rx, locally generated phantoms will appear on your screen as well.

  11. Topic 4: Macro’s/Message Buffers • Run Macro’s • F1 CQ Message • F2 Exchange • F3 TU & QRZ {tx}{enter} CQ CQ SARTG {MyCall} {MyCall} {enter}{rx}{tx}{enter} {HisCall} TU 599-#-# {MyCall} {enter}{rx}{tx}{enter} {HisCall} TU QRZ SARTG {MyCall} {enter}{tx} **These examples are from K7IA’s ebook Understanding RTTY Contesting SARTG Examples

  12. Topic 4: Macro’s/Message Buffers • An example: • Always put a Space before and after your call sign. • Always remember there WILL BE phantoms and garbles • Build your message buffers to minimize the impact • CQ CQ SARTG K4TD K4TD • V --a phatom V appears on TD’s screen • Answered by K6ABC • VK6ABC K6ABCYQ -K6ABC is not using parsing elements. If he/she were, the print would be: • V K6ABC K6ABC YQ

  13. Topic 4: Macro’s/Message Buffers • Run Macro’s • F1 CQ Message • F2 Exchange • F3 TU & QRZ {tx}{enter} CQ CQNA {MyCall} {MyCall} {enter}{rx}{tx}{enter} {HisCall} TU DOUG AL AL{MyCall} {enter}{rx}{tx}{enter} {HisCall} TU QRZ NA {MyCall} {enter}{tx} **These examples credit to K7IA’s ebook Understanding RTTY Contesting NAQP Examples

  14. Topic 4: Macro’s/Message Buffers • S & P Macro’s • F2 Exchange • F3 TU • F4 My Call x 2 • And NOTHING else {tx}{enter} {HisCall} TU 599-#-# {MyCall} {enter}{rx}{tx}{enter} {HisCall} TU {MyCall} {enter}{tx}{tx}{enter} {MyCall} {MyCall} {enter}{rx} **These examples credit to K7IA’s ebook Understanding RTTY Contesting SARTG Examples

  15. Topic 5: Running vs. S&P • Running • Turn on AFC • Turn on USOS • Construct Message Buffers with parsing elements • S & P • Turn off AFC • Turn on USOS • Never send the running station’s call sign when answering his CQ!! • Do not use “de” … ever • Construct Message buffers with parsing elements.

  16. Summary • RTTY uses the 5 bit Baudot code • Requires LTRS and FIGS • Phantoms and Garbles WILL occur • Construct your message buffers to minimize the ill effect of Phantoms and Garbles • Never send 5NN • Never send the running station’s call sign when responding to the CQ

  17. Summary • Most of this information is from Contesting and RTTY – The Basics by Dan Murphy K7IA • Dan asks that you email him to request a copy* • Available for ACG members in the file download area of our web site. • Visit www.alabamacontestgroup.org • Questions or comments? Feel free to email me at KY4F@arrl.net *Dan’s email address is available on qrz.com

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