[Announcement] FreeDV Activity Day - November 6-7, 2021

[Mooneer Salem]

Hi all,

On Saturday, November 6th, 2021, we'll be having our first FreeDV Activity Day! This event will bring together people interested in HF digital voice on the air for conversation and fun. Contacts using the official application as well as the SM1000 handheld microphone are welcome.

Event time: 9AM Pacific time (1600Z) on November 6th to 8:59AM (1559Z) on November 7th (24 hours)

Suggested frequencies:

80 meters: 3.625, 3.643 or 3.693 MHz

40 meters: 7.177 MHz

20 meters: 14.236 MHz

17 meters: 18.118 MHz

15 meters: 21.313 MHz

12 meters: 24.933 MHz

10 meters: 28.330 or 28.720 MHz

(Note that LSB/DIGL is used below 10MHz as per current convention for voice modes, USB/DIGU otherwise.)

As this isn't a contest, there's no pressure to make contacts or send logs, but you can always confirm QSOs via the usual means if you'd like (LoTW, eQSL, QRZ, etc.) Enabling PSK Reporter in the FreeDV application and joining the QSO Finder are recommended, however, so others can see that you're on the air and hearing them (for instance, here's the current map of listeners). :D

Feel free to spread this far and wide among your local ham friends and groups! :) Let me know if you have any questions about the event and definitely post here if you have issues getting the application working prior to the event.

Thanks,

-Mooneer K6AQ

[Mooneer Salem]

Hi all,

Just a reminder that FreeDV Activity Day will be happening next weekend :)

Thanks,

-Mooneer K6AQ

[lu5...@gmail.com]

great ...!!!!there we will be in 20 meters, 14 236 kc 

73 ...

[M JB]

Hi, what mode is being used for this, it needs specifying.  

Thanks

From Phone excuse speelling...

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From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of lu5...@gmail.com <lu5...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, November 1, 2021 12:09:59 AM
To: digitalvoice <digita...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [digitalvoice] Re: [Announcement] FreeDV Activity Day - November 6-7, 2021

 

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[Matt Jones]

FreeDV is the mode.

Matt

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[M JB]

Thanks Matt, yes obviously but from recollection there are about 5 operating mode options that can be selected. I'm not able to go and see exactly what they are as I'm currently in hospital. They are something like "700, 1000, 600 " etc.  if you are not on the correct operating mode it won't work. 

Thanks, sent from my hospital bed, Malc.

From Phone excuse speelling...

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From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Matt Jones <ma...@flyfast.net>
Sent: Monday, November 1, 2021 11:25:20 AM
To: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [digitalvoice] Re: [Announcement] FreeDV Activity Day - November 6-7, 2021

 

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[Matt Jones]

700D is the standard, though it is a moot point - If you are running the current version, then multi-decode is enabled, so you can hear whomever is transmittting. If your link quality is good enough, then give 1600 or 2020 a go.

I see where you are coming from if you are a new user, no where is it called out explicitly that 700D is the defacto mode.

Matt

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[M JB]

Hi Matt, I was just about to send this when I saw your latest email, FreeDV is complicated enough and not knowing or specifying what mode will be used just makes it worse.  

We need the organiser to clearly spell out what should be used as default. I've played with it for over a year, I know very little about this new automatic selecting mode, a newbie would be completely lost, you would need to read every email sent about it to keep up to date, there are hundreds.... 

Thanks

Malcolm G6CTX

From Phone excuse speelling...

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From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Matt Jones <ma...@flyfast.net>

Sent: Monday, November 1, 2021 2:54:14 PM

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[wal...@k5wh.net]

For the mode of operation, there are several to pick from, since the software has evolved greatly over several years.

 

As of today, the majority of us use 700D. But we encourage everyone to give the 2020 mode a try, if your computer can handle it, as some machines can’t with that mode.

 

700D works the best for operating down to a -2snr, where the other modes only go down to 0snr or so.

 

So depending on your band conditions, you may find the better audio quality of 2020 to sound a bit more natural.

 

It’s worth mentioning, that if your on the latest 1.6.1 version, and go into the Tools, Options, Modem, area, you can select the choice for “Simultaneous Decode All HF Modes “ and whatever mode you receive, it will come through decoded. And on the left had side, it will show you what mode is detected. Regardless of what mode your set for, to transmit back on.

 

We have been using the 1600 mode when working through the leo satellites, since it has the sync carrier, and a little more forgiving on frequency, as it helps with a little doppler drift.

 

But most important, if your on the QSO finder, you can let people know what band, and mode your using, as well as where you are so the beams can swing around, find a frequency, and make contacts.

 

I look forward to seeing a LOT of activity next weekend.

 

All the best,

 

Walter/K5WH

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[wal...@k5wh.net]

I just replied to a previous message, that I hope adds some clarity to the very question you’re asking about.

 

Cheers,

 

 

Walter/K5WH

 

From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of M JB

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[M JB]

Hello Walter,

Thanks for the Info, exactly what was needed. I tried FreeDV for many months off and on, never got anything, that was about a year ago so basically gave up, it sounds like some big strides have happened more recently and armed with your info it is certainly worth me loading the latest software and giving it another try... now where did I put those headphones.   ha-ha... 

Many thanks 

Malc  G6CTX

From Phone excuse speelling...

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From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of wal...@k5wh.net <wal...@k5wh.net>
Sent: Monday, November 1, 2021 3:13:34 PM
To: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: [digitalvoice] Re: [Announcement] FreeDV Activity Day - November 6-7, 2021

 

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[wal...@k5wh.net]

Good show..

 

And of course, if you should need any help with the configuration, just give a yell on the QSO finder, and we can get on a Zoom session to hammer out the details if needed.

 

Do you participate in the daily net there in the UK on 75 meters?  I know there are several there at 4pm local time each day, as I understand.

 

Walter/K5WH

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[M JB]

Hi, when you say net, do you mean using FreeDV or just our standard net. I have joined in our standard net occasionally. 

I believe there is an early morning weekend one using FreecDv but I never could receive it.

When I can I will get the latest software and try out b4 the Nov activity day, I Will ask for help on here if it all goes pear  shaped...   Cheers Malcolm. G6CTX

Tnks 

Malc. G6CTX

From Phone excuse speelling...

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From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of wal...@k5wh.net <wal...@k5wh.net>

Sent: Monday, November 1, 2021 4:49:32 PM

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[Mooneer Salem]

Yep, the early morning (Sunday?) one conducted with FreeDV.

Anyway, the latest release is 1.6.1, which is over at https://github.com/drowe67/freedv-gui/releases/tag/v1.6.1. There are Windows and Mac binaries as well as a tarball if you prefer to compile the source code yourself. Hope that helps!

-Mooneer K6AQ

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[wal...@k5wh.net]

As I understand it, there is a daily FreeDV net. Only on FreeDV.

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[Mooneer Salem]

Good to know, thanks! So the Sunday net I was thinking of is a different thing?

-Mooneer K6AQ

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[wal...@k5wh.net]

I guess I’m not familiar with the Sunday net.

 

Mark-GW0POA is the one that told me about the daily net, as he participates in it from time to time.

 

I need to fire up the WebSDR receiver over there. 😊

 

 

Walter/K5WH

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[Brian Morrison]

On Mon, 1 Nov 2021 17:23:48 +0000
M JB <malc...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi, when you say net, do you mean using FreeDV or just our standard net. I have joined in our standard net occasionally.
> I believe there is an early morning weekend one using FreecDv but I never could receive it.

There is a GB2RS news broadcast every week using FreedDV at 9am local
time on Sunday, it comes from Bures in Suffolk on 3643kHz. Mode is 700D
although sometimes 700E is tested. G6WPJ is the newsreader, he usually
uses a power amplifier so is a bit stronger for the news.

Daily nets at 4pm local time on 3693kHz are there most days, usually
the main activity is from South Wales with a few other stations around
the southern UK active on occasion.

HTH.

--

Brian G8SEZ

[wal...@k5wh.net]

Great information. Thanks for the update Brian..


Walter/K5WH

-----Original Message-----
From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Brian Morrison
Sent: Monday, November 1, 2021 3:43 PM
To: digita...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [digitalvoice] Re: [Announcement] FreeDV Activity Day - November 6-7, 2021

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[n1ig anthony]

I listened off and on during the day, and was able to copy a few stations (sort of).

I heard n4dv on 20m with a lot of fading in and out.

I was able to hear wn3i and w0eg on 40m pretty clearly if I rotated the loop appropriately.

Unfortunately, that was all I was able to hear.

looking at PSK reporter is shows that I was copied by k5wh & w5hrh on 20m,  but IDK if a person heard me or just a computer recognized my calling cq.

Anthony - N1IG

[Mooneer Salem]

Hi Anthony,

Good to hear that you were able to pick people up! 40 meters here only really reaches northern California and the immediately surrounding states, but I may try that later today or tonight.

Thanks,

-Mooneer K6AQ

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[Mooneer Salem]

Hi all,

Well, it looks like Activity Day was a pretty good success. Here's what PSK Reporter looked like at 11pm Pacific last night:

Also, there were enough people logged into the QSO Finder that some of the bottom UI elements were being pushed to the right. It's definitely the most number of people on the QSO Finder I've ever seen:

How did it go for everyone else? And is there interest in doing this again?

Thanks,

-Mooneer K6AQ

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[Mel Whitten]

Yes, I thought it went well except for some SSB QRM, however that was to be expected.

 

Perhaps, next Activity Day could be announced in the ARRL Letter under “Announcements.”  I see Rick does it for FT8.  😊  Or maybe under its own title.

 

 

 

From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Mooneer Salem
Sent: Sunday, November 7, 2021 3:52 PM
To: digita...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [digitalvoice] Re: [Announcement] FreeDV Activity Day - November 6-7, 2021

 

Hi all,

 

Well, it looks like Activity Day was a pretty good success. Here's what PSK Reporter looked like at 11pm Pacific last night:

 

 

Also, there were enough people logged into the QSO Finder that some of the bottom UI elements were being pushed to the right. It's definitely the most number of people on the QSO Finder I've ever seen:

 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digitalvoice/CAAzDfxN_BdiCvOb2TZEHWE_%3Dvsgw1WU0iHwO%3DPzFW7bm3Jy%3DXg%40mail.gmail.com.

[wal...@k5wh.net]

I would say it was an outstanding success indeed.

 

Thanks so much for pulling this together.

 

For me, I think it would be well worth doing at least once per quarter, and if we continue to see the participation levels like we saw with this event, perhaps even more frequent than that.

 

A couple take-aways for me, were that we had upwards of 40 stations in the QSO finder at it’s peak.

Multiple countries beyond the USA were active, like Germany, Switzerland, UK, Japan, South America, and Canada, to name a few.

Several stations were active on 10m, 12m, 15m, 17m, 40m, and 75m. Using multiple modes like 1600, 700c, 700d, 700e, and 2020.

Another great example of creativity, were that W4BCX-Ray and W3FGP-Maurice had a successful contact on the RS-44 satellite using FreeDV on 700D mode.

 

It was really great to see so many stations burning up the bands, and I for one, can’t wait to do it again.

 

For everyone, don’t forget, that many of us are active on FreeDV every day of the week, so feel free to drop in anytime and call CQ for plenty of responses to be had.

 

Thanks again Mooneer,

Walter/K5WH

 

From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Mooneer Salem

Sent: Sunday, November 7, 2021 3:52 PM
To: digita...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [digitalvoice] Re: [Announcement] FreeDV Activity Day - November 6-7, 2021

 

Hi all,

 

Well, it looks like Activity Day was a pretty good success. Here's what PSK Reporter looked like at 11pm Pacific last night:

 

 

Also, there were enough people logged into the QSO Finder that some of the bottom UI elements were being pushed to the right. It's definitely the most number of people on the QSO Finder I've ever seen:

 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digitalvoice/CAAzDfxN_BdiCvOb2TZEHWE_%3Dvsgw1WU0iHwO%3DPzFW7bm3Jy%3DXg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Mooneer Salem]

I'm down with quarterly. 

BTW, there are 163 active JS8Call monitors at the moment on PSK Reporter. Based on that, I think if there's consistent growth we may be able to bump it up to monthly :)

-Mooneer K6AQ

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digitalvoice/005201d7d42c%2422369150%2466a3b3f0%24%40k5wh.net.

[Mooneer Salem]

Hi all,

What are your thoughts about having the next Activity Day on February 19, 2022? This seems to avoid Hamcation as well as a few SSB contests on the weekend of the 26th.

Thanks,

-Mooneer K6AQ

[wal...@k5wh.net]

Sounds like a good date.

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[Dudley Hurry]

Sounds good to me also, already created a calendar entry

73,

Dudley

WA5QPZ

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 11, 2021, at 12:52 PM, wal...@k5wh.net wrote:



<image001.png>

 

Also, there were enough people logged into the QSO Finder that some of the bottom UI elements were being pushed to the right. It's definitely the most number of people on the QSO Finder I've ever seen:

 

<image002.png>

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digitalvoice/000201d7eec0%244817cd90%24d84768b0%24%40k5wh.net.