fldigi Experimentation

[Charley Scarborough]

Dennis and I have been experimenting with fldigi, which allows one to
use a number of digital communications modes. We tried, BPSK31, BPSK63,
QPSK31, QPSK62, Contessa and CW using a computer to interface with our
radios. I was using my Yaesu FT-817, which only puts out 5W and copy
was still usable on his end, although QPSK31 was hands down the best.
So far, I've talked to folks in KY, WA and Baha on PSK31 with great
signal reports in spite of me using a QRP radio.

This might be a great option for HisNet if everyone could get up to
speed on using a computer to talk to their radio. Might also allow a
guy to leave the radio on for long periods of time and occasionally see
what the message traffic has been. By the time we were done, we'd both
concluded this might have real possibilities.

c.

[Paul Bethke]

What's the baud rate?

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[Robert Joseph Glaser]

At some point, I'll have to get up to speed. 

May have a 2 month job in Chattanooga. 

May be able to be on this Wednesday.

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[Charley Scarborough]

According to Wikipedia, the baud rate is 31 baud, which is considerably
faster than I can type.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSK31

But there are option that go up to 500-1000 if you have the kind of
signal strength that will support it, which is hard to come by on the
ham bands at the power levels most folks use 5-30W. Dennis and I saw a
significant increase in error rate just by moving up to the 63 baud mode.

It was designed as a point to point chat interface for HF radios,
although one may copy text and past it into the send box should sending
short documents be necessary. The folks who really seem to get into
that sort of thing though appear to like Contessa 4/250. If a guy wanted
to collect messages and look them over every now and then, it might be a
better option. PSK seems to support the full ANSI character set, while
Contessa seems to use a reduced character set like CW.

Each mode option, of which there are many, has it's own peculiarities
based on what the designer was trying to achieve. It would likely take
days to try all the mode and baud rate options fldigi support by the
time one investigated sending images and slow scan TV. Most of the
higher baud rate stuff is probably designed for shorter range VHF/UHF
operation possibly using FM rather then USB I'd guess. There's a whole
new digital world out there for you to investigate though Paul.

It's a free download at https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/
and can do some things without a radio. Hope this answers your question.

c.

On 2/27/2017 11:39 AM, Paul Bethke wrote:
> What's the baud rate?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Charley Scarborough
> Sent: Monday, February 27, 2017 1:32 PM
> To: HHCBro...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: [HHCBroadcasts] fldigi Experimentation
>

> Dennis and I have been experimenting with fldigi, which allows one to use a number of digital communications modes. We tried, BPSK31, BPSK63, QPSK31, QPSK63, Contessa and CW using a computer to interface with our radios. I was using my Yaesu FT-817, which only puts out 5W and copy was still usable on his end, although QPSK31 was hands down the best.

[Charley Scarborough]

In order to proceed with digital communications you'd need to get an interface cable like the following for your ICOM-706.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PSK31-Interface-Full-CAT-for-Icom-IC-706-All-versions-/262479953469

If connects your radio PTT, data port, mic and headphones to your computer mic, headphone and USB port.  He appears to sell two versions, so you'd need to contact him to make sure you're ordering the one most appropriate for your needs.

c.

On 2/27/2017 6:28 PM, Robert Joseph Glaser wrote:

At some point, I'll have to get up to speed. 

May have a 2 month job in Chattanooga. 

May be able to be on this Wednesday.

[Robert Joseph Glaser]

Charley,

Is this the correct cable? I remember there was a change. I will order two if so. Guess I also need to confirm the correct version.

Bob

Faith leads to the answer.

 

[Robert Joseph Glaser]

Charley,

I didn't see two versions; it is listed to work with the 706mkiig.

BB

[Charley Scarborough]

There are a number of possible cables for your radio Bob.  My guess is this dealer would recommend:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Icom-USB-CAT-control-and-Digimode-Interface-PSK31-SSTV-Echolink-and-more-/371080675522

but I have not ask.  This supplier had offered to sell my two such cables for $125 and I initially was planning to go that way, but decided on another supplier and suspect he would recommend:

http://www.g3liv.co.uk/page7.html

for your radio.  They are a little more expensive than the one I was initially looking at, around $109 each.  He might also save you some money if you wanted to buy two if you contacted him.  You can read reviews of what folks think of either at, http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/53.

Note that the cable you listed uses a 9-pin RS-232 connect to your laptop.  Most computers don't have these kind of connectors anymore and I suspect you're looking for a cable with a USB interface.  So be careful what you ask for.  Best to talk it over with the supplier before you order.  In my case, I needed to interface two different radios to a single laptop.  www.g3liv.co.uk had a box explicitly designed for such a purpose that came with the two cable needed to interface to the radios.  As you can see from eham, he is very highly respected.  I tend  to gravitate towards folks with a good eham rating by a large number of reviewers and G3LIV fit that criteria.  Buying a cable like this is a little like buying a car.  There are lots of options and it's your responsibility to identify the one most appropriate for you needs.  My guess is, you want a USB computer interface no matter which option you go with.

c.

On 3/22/2017 7:54 AM, Robert Joseph Glaser wrote:

Charley,

Is this the correct cable? I remember there was a change. I will order two if so. Guess I also need to confirm the correct version.

Bob

Faith leads to the answer.