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Agenda

Learn about digital modes for Field Day 2019, including FT8, WSJT-X 2.0.0, and how to prepare your station. Enhance your skills and communication abilities in this exciting aspect of ham radio.

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Agenda

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  1. Agenda • Welcome new members and guests • Announcements • Tech class proceeding well/weekly net going well • Around the room • Interesting Ham activities you did since last month • Digital modes for field day – start preparing – N6MDV • Digital Mobile Radio – N6IET • Business meeting – all Welcome! • Upcoming activities • Ultra Marathon race support February • Skills day March 2 • Next months meeting topic Mesh Networks • Weekly club network • Next tech class – April? September?

  2. Amateur Radio Digital ModesGetting Ready for Field Day N6MDV K6VHY January 15, 2019 Which bands? Why now? How much power? When and who can I talk to …? What mode?

  3. Field Day 2019 Digital ModesIt has been suggested we do digital modes in 2019 Why? Enables contacts on higher bands despite poor sunspot propagation Lower SNR required than phone contacts Develop additional skills for weak signal emergency communication Easier to learn than CW for weak signal use May be fun to learn and try new things Possibly attract additional operators who don’t do CW or Phone Why not? Takes effort to prepare for new radio connections, software, … Good use of operator time? Contact rate is slower than with a good CW or Phone operator Additional equipment needs: decoding computer, TNC Operators need to learn new skills Become a 4A with a dedicated digital station orSchedule time on each station for going digital

  4. Presume FT8 Will be a Primary Digital ModePSK31 as alternate mode – RTTY if desired • The current General Availability release is WSJT-X 2.0.0The FT8 and MSK144 protocols have been enhanced in a way that is not backward compatible with older program versions.  The new protocols become the world-wide standards starting on December 10, 2018, and all users should upgrade to WSJT-X 2.0 by January 1, 2019.  After that date, only the new FT8 and MSK144 should be used on the air. • User guide: • http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.0.0.html

  5. FT8 – Very Weak Signal Mode – narrow bandwidth FT8 similar to JT65 but 4 times faster 15 second transmit and receive intervals Limited payload: call signs, signal report, minimal exchange Lower SNR needed than CW The numeral designates the mode’s 8-frequency shift keying format. Tones are spaced at 6.25 Hz, FT8 signal occupies just 50 Hz. FT8 requires accurate time synchronization. Stations transmit for 12 seconds of 15 second interval Full exchange 1 minute CQ FD W6HA DM03 W6HA KK4XXX 3A MD KK4XXX W6HA R 4A LAX W6HA KK4XXX RR73

  6. FT8 Requirements • SSB transceiver and antenna • Computer running Windows (XP or later), Linux, or OS X • 1.5 GHz or faster CPU and 200 MB of available memory; faster machines are better • Monitor with at least 1024 x 780 resolution • Computer-to-radio interface using a serial port or equivalent USB device for T/R switching, or CAT control, or VOX, as required for your radio-to-computer connections • Audio input and output devices supported by the operating system and configured for sample rate 48000 Hz, 16 bits • Audio or equivalent USB connections between transceiver and computer • A means for synchronizing the computer clock to UTC within ±1 second

  7. Prep for Field Day • Configure our 4A station or multiple stations for digital modes • Choose rig and bands to use • Choose SW and interface to rig • Determine the parameters for that rig/computer/mode sw • Microphone settings on computer and radio • Sound card output setting and sound out from rig • Rig filters/compressors, … • Set up rigs and test for signal clarity at different power levels • Ensure strong, clean signal • Hold weekly test sessions to refine rig parameters • Get proficient digital operators • Weekly digital net • Enter contests with digital modes • Set appropriate macros for field day • Determine if possible and set up logging connection to computer digital mode SW

  8. First StepsGetting your Rig & SW FT8 as example

  9. What you need • SSB HF transceiver • Computer with software • Interface – radio dependent • Elecraft • Just 3.5mm cable from computer sound to radio • USB to accessory jack for PTT and frequency CAT control • Icom 7000/703 • Rigblaster or equivalent for sound and CAT cable buffering • Icom 7300 • USB cable • Other rigs??

  10. Get the Software • Just google this free software • WSJT-X 2.0 • FLDIGI • DIGIPAN • Download and install

  11. Set up PC via Control Panel

  12. Click on Manage Audio Devices

  13. Click on recording then set properties

  14. Click on advanced set audio quality to 16bit 48000Hz DVD

  15. Likely turn off AGC

  16. Set microphone gain as appropriatePossibly 50% may be good Want to avoid clipping signal on WSJT-X display

  17. Open WSJT If you get this error messageFollow user guide and down load ssl SW

  18. Configure WSJT-X for for your radio

  19. Adjust clock on computerMust be within 1 second for correct operation Use time.is to see time and see how close your clock is

  20. Configure Radio • Set USB – upper side band or Data mode if you have it • Set receive filter bandwidth 2600 Hz • Turn off AGC – automatic gain control • Set volume or audio out to a level loud enough, but does not overload – clip signal to SW

  21. Configure Wide Graph per guide4 bins/px, 200 Hz, N 2

  22. Should start to see decodes every 15 seconds Adjust computer mic gain or radio volume. 30dB with no signal. And no clipping – which will show in red Set the TX and RX to 1200Hz

  23. Common Digital Modes – Potential for FD Use RTTY Radio TeleTYpe Two tones: 2295/2125 Hz Transmission speed: 45 baud, 5 bit characters => 60 WPM Bandwidth: 250Hz Typically at xx.080 – xx.099 part of the band PSK31 Phase shift Transmission speed 31 baud, varicode, => 50WPM Lower case characters are fewer bits Bandwidth: 60Hz Typically at xx.070 portion of band Known for contesting and faster Known for long rag chew – brag tapes Photos courtesy of http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html See that page for sounds also.

  24. How is Digital Done Computer connected to radio via TNC or sound card Computer connection to sound card Software on computer decodes sounds displays waterfall Operator clicks on open frequency space to call CQ or on a call Software auto loads other person’s call sign into macros Press appropriate Function key to transmit macro Four macros when running cq fd de w6ha k <call> 3A LAX 3A LAX de w6ha k <call> tu <call> agn? Agn? de w6ha k Three macros when search and pounce <call> de w6ha w6ha k <call> tu 3A LAX 3A LAX de w6ha <call> agn? Agn? de w6ha k TNC = Terminal Node Controller MPC = Multi Protocol Controller De = “this is” K = “over, go ahead” Agn = again abbreviation fd = field day tu = thank you

  25. Example Hook Up for PSK31 ICOM 7000 Radio RIGblaster TNC Computer sound card & USB connection CI-V and accessory connection on radio Strong PSK31 signal Decoding via Digipan software Macro buttons across the top Multiple signal decode on right Waterfall below ICOM 7000 multimode radio CI-V ACC Computer Sound Card Connection & USB Control Connection RIGblaster TNC Sound, control, CI-V link CW and digital modes

  26. Who has digital rig? Thoughts for practice?

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