Digital Modes There are lots of Digital Modes. The oldest is RTTY (teletype - in this case it is Radio Teletype). The current modes are classified in sound card modes and specialty modes. Sound Card Modes –PSK-31 –Specialty CW modes (for satellite, EME, etc.)

Digital Modes cont’d Non-Sound card modes –Packet –Pactor I & II –Pactor III –Winlink 2K Non-Sound card modes usually uses a special hardware type Terminal Mode Controller (TNC).

Digital Modes cont’d Computers and the Internet has made several Modes etc. EchoLink is one of the major modes. Modes for linking repeaters etc. D-STAR - digital modes for repeaters and radios

RTTY This has been around for a long time. The modulations is FSK or AFSK - this is a two tone system - called Mark & Space FSK - Frequency Shift Keying –Shifting the Transmitter frequency AFSK - Audio Frequency Shift Keying –Shift audio tones

RTTY cont’d There are special RTTY converters (these were used in the old days), now most operators use sound cards and sound card TNCs. There are lots of freeware programs that you can use for RTTY, most of the sound card software has a RTTY mode. –Digipan –MTTY

RTTY cont’d Some of the newer transceiver has built-in RTTY receive converters (ICOM 746 for example).

PSK-31 This is one of the newer Digital Modes. This is a two-tone systems, with a bandwidth of 31 Hz. This is a sound card type mode and uses a sound card TNC. Sound Card TNCs interfaces the transceiver with you sound card and also has a keying circuit.

Apple Program for Digital Modes

PSK31 Frequencies Where to Listen - official PSK 31 frequencies: for ITU region 1 and region 3, and for region 2 * (although most activity can be found 10 kHz lower) * The USA is in region 2 but there is a lot of activity on

Packet Packet and similar modes uses a smart Terminal Node Controller These can run from $ 75 to $ 500 and more. They have a small computer with memory etc. and circuits to decode the modulation. Most of these modes are error-free.

TNC-X - KISS Mode TNC KPC-3+ PK-232

WinLink 2K This is a special form of Packet (uses a packet TNC) You can send and receive over your amateur radio. It has two parts (VHF & Low Band) –VHF uses Packet –HF uses Pactor I, II, III Pactor III – is a proprietary mode (requires special TNC $$$$

This is Tom’s Station - You can connect to it Using NK5Z-10

HF - Winlink 2K

EchoLink This is a VOIP (Voice over Internet) You use your computer to connect to a server and from the server you can connect to amateur repeaters all over the world, or just to another amateur (direct keyboard to keyboard). Some of the old timers don’t consider this amateur radio (you will have to decide).

I’m Online I‘m connected to Repeater K4OBX –R (-R designates for a Repeater) List of Stations Online at this time

I’m connected to EchoLink Server XXXX

Receiver Digital Buffer - This is sent from the Repeater Station

Rx & Tx Level Digital Tx Buffer

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