1. Agenda Welcome new members and guests Announcements Around the room
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 Modes Getting Ready for Field Day
Which bands?
Why now?
Amateur Radio Digital Modes Getting Ready for Field Day
N6MDV K6VHY
January 15, 2019
How much power?
When and who can I talk to …?
What mode?

3. Field Day 2019 Digital Modes It 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 or Schedule time on each station for going digital

4. Presume FT8 Will be a Primary Digital Mode PSK31 as alternate mode – RTTY if desired
The current General Availability release is WSJT-X The 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:

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 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 Steps Getting 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 appropriate Possibly 50% may be good
Want to avoid clipping signal on WSJT-X display

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

18. Configure WSJT-X for for your radio

19. Adjust clock on computer Must 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 guide 4 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

25. 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 See that page for sounds also.

26. 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
TNC = Terminal Node Controller
MPC = Multi Protocol Controller
De = “this is”
K = “over, go ahead”
Agn = again abbreviation
fd = field day
tu = thank you

27. Computer Sound Card Connection & USB Control Connection
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

28. Who has digital rig?
Thoughts for practice?