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

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

8. FLDigi Intro
Text To Encode

9. Current Freq and Log Info
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:

11. Waterfall Signal Identification: Amplitude Modulation
Voice/Music/Broadcast
Single Carrier with Products
Waterfall/Audio source:

12. Waterfall Signal Identification: Single Sideband (SSB)
Most Common HF Voice
No constant carrier
~ Hz bandwidth
Waterfall/Audio source:

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:

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

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: Bd
154Hz / 218Hz bandwidth
Waterfall/Audio source:

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:

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:

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:

19. Waterfall Signal Identification: Other Modes, VHF/UHF
Packet / AX.25 / APRS
USB, FM for VHF/UHF
APRS on FM
MT63
High bandwidth, Fast
Audio coupling for ARES: MT WPM
Waterfall/Audio source:

20. FLDigi Useage

21. FLDigi Mode Selection

22. FLDigi Config (Rig, Audio, Etc.)

23. FLDigi Config, Operator

24. FLDigi Config, Rig Control (USB)

25. FLDigi Config, Rig Control (HW)

26. FLDigi Config, Audio In/Out

27. FLDigi Config, Audio In/Out

28. FLDigi Config, Audio In/Out

29. FLDigi Rig Control
Rig will display,
Freq. will sync
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 CQ CQ 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 …

35. FLDigi Macro QSO

36. FLDigi Macro QSO

37. FLDigi Macro QSO

38. FLDigi Macro QSO

39. N1MM Logger+

40. N1MM Logger+ Logger Radio Interface Digital Interface
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

51. N1MM Logger+ : Log Added
Log Added

52. N1MM Logger+ : Log Duplicate
Duplicate Indicator

53. N1MM Logger+ : Log Duplicate
Possible Duplicates
Duplicate Indicator

54. Reed-Solomon Identifier
Data Sent/Received before main transmission body to identify mode
FLDIGI can be set to automatically switch to mode identified by RSID
Immediately followed by transmission

55. Reed-Solomon Identifier
RX & TX RSID Toggles
RSID Receive Mode
QPSK-250
RSID

56. FLMSG / MT L
Used to Send/Receive Forms

57. FLMSG / MT-63 2000L Interfaces with FLDigi and Sound Card Modem
Can Acoustically Couple (Using mic/speaker)

58. FLMSG / MT L
Can Display/Print messages on Receipt

59. FLMSG Android: AndFlmsg
FLMsg for Android Phone or Tablet!

60. SDR Sharp with RTL-SDR USB General Receiver, 25MHz – 2.2GHz, $15
Samples wide section of band, good for finding nearby interference and VHF/UHF Listening

61. WebSDR Receivers Online, Free, no hardware/software needed
Wideband, multi-user.

62. Questions?

63. Links: FLDigi / FlMsg: http://www.w1hkj.com/download.html
Ham Radio Deluxe:
N1MM Logger+
WSJT by K1JT:
Android AndFlMsg:
SDR# (RTL-SDR):
WebSDR Receiver List:
Signal Identification Wiki