Soundcard Digital Modes

Soundcard Digital Soundcard Digital ModesModes

Tyler GriffithsTyler Griffiths

N7UWXN7UWX

22Tyler Griffiths - N7UWXTyler Griffiths - N7UWX

Evolution of AcronymsEvolution of Acronyms

Human transmitted digitalHuman transmitted digital CW – Operator determines performanceCW – Operator determines performance

Machine sent digitalMachine sent digital RTTY – Baudot 5-bit codeRTTY – Baudot 5-bit code

Machine sent corrected data packetsMachine sent corrected data packets Packet – APRS – TCP/IPPacket – APRS – TCP/IP

High noise immunity RTTY replacementsHigh noise immunity RTTY replacements PSK31 – QPSK – MFSK – MT63PSK31 – QPSK – MFSK – MT63

Intermittent channel weak-signal modesIntermittent channel weak-signal modes HSCW – FSK441 (WSJT)HSCW – FSK441 (WSJT)

Extreme weak signal modeExtreme weak signal mode JT44 (WSJT)JT44 (WSJT)

Sound Card Digital ModesSound Card Digital Modes

Connecting your Radio to your ComputerConnecting your Radio to your Computer

You can purchase an interface to connect your transceiver to your computer, OR you can make your own for a few $.


Computer/Radio InterfacingComputer/Radio Interfacing

144.390

Interface

Transmit Audio

Receive Audio

Push-to-talk (PTT)

Computer Control

CI-V or CAT

COM Port

COM Port

Line or Mike Input

Line or Speaker Output

Sound Card Digital ModesSound Card Digital ModesConnecting your Radio to your ComputerConnecting your Radio to your Computer

Receive Audio Connection:Receive Audio Connection:

Connect an audio cable between the transceiver audio output and the soundcard LINE IN jack.

Sound Card Digital ModesSound Card Digital ModesConnecting your Radio to your ComputerConnecting your Radio to your Computer

Transmit Audio Connection:Transmit Audio Connection:

Connect a shielded audio cable between the transceiver MIC input and the soundcard LINE OUT jack through a 40 db attenuator. If your transceiver has a LINE input, no attenuation is required. (eliminate the 2 resistors)


Connecting your Radio to your ComputerConnecting your Radio to your ComputerT/R Connection:T/R Connection:CW

PSK31

RTTY

PACKET

APRS

FSK411

JT44

EME

PTT is controlled via the RTS and/or DTR outputs PTT is controlled via the RTS and/or DTR outputs of the computer’s RS-232 serial port.of the computer’s RS-232 serial port.

http://www.sv2agw.com/downloads/


Connecting your Radio to your ComputerConnecting your Radio to your ComputerT/R Connection:T/R Connection:CW

PSK31

RTTY

PACKET

APRS

FSK411

JT44

EME

PTT is controlled via the RTS and/or DTR outputs PTT is controlled via the RTS and/or DTR outputs of the computer’s RS-232 serial port.of the computer’s RS-232 serial port.

http://www.sv2agw.com/downloads/


Soundcard PacketSoundcard Packet

AGW Packet Engine for 1200 or 9600AGW Packet Engine for 1200 or 9600

Supports Terminal, TCP/IP, DX Cluster, Supports Terminal, TCP/IP, DX Cluster, DigipeaterDigipeater

APRS Software support via APRSPoint, UI APRS Software support via APRSPoint, UI View and WinAPRSView and WinAPRS

Supports multiple simultaneous Supports multiple simultaneous connectionsconnections

Allows remote use over a network/InternetAllows remote use over a network/Internet


PSK 31PSK 31

Designed by Peter G3PLX Designed by Peter G3PLX Based on the RTTY mode of operation useful for live Based on the RTTY mode of operation useful for live keyboard to keyboard QSO keyboard to keyboard QSO Works at 31.25 baudsWorks at 31.25 baudsUses varicode character coding providing 50wpmUses varicode character coding providing 50wpmGive very good copy under low Eb/No numbers and is Give very good copy under low Eb/No numbers and is thus suitable for QRPthus suitable for QRPThat instead of using FSK or on/off keying uses BPSK or That instead of using FSK or on/off keying uses BPSK or QPSK with a Viterbi decoderQPSK with a Viterbi decoderUses advanced DSP and narrow band (31 Hz!!) Uses advanced DSP and narrow band (31 Hz!!) techniquestechniques


PSK 31 FrequenciesPSK 31 Frequencies

HF BandHF Band FrequencyFrequency VHF BandVHF Band FrequencyFrequency

160 M160 M 1807 KHz1807 KHz 6 M6 M 50.290 MHz50.290 MHz

80 M80 M 3580 KHz3580 KHz 2 M2 M 144.144 MHz144.144 MHz

40 M40 M 7070 KHz7070 KHz 1.251.25 222.070 MHz222.070 MHz

30 M30 M 10140 KHz10140 KHz 70 cm70 cm 432.200 MHz432.200 MHz

20 M20 M 14070 KHz14070 KHz 33 cm33 cm 909.000 MHz909.000 MHz

17M17M 18100 KHz18100 KHz

15M15M 21080 KHz21080 KHz

12M12M 28120 KHz28120 KHz Most PSK 31 is USBMost PSK 31 is USB


QPSKQPSK

Quadernary Phase-Shift KeyingQuadernary Phase-Shift Keying Four phases instead of 2 for PSKFour phases instead of 2 for PSK Extra capacity used for error-correctionExtra capacity used for error-correction Improvements of up to 5 fold in error-rateImprovements of up to 5 fold in error-rate Not as good for QRP (3dB hit)Not as good for QRP (3dB hit) Extra transmission delayExtra transmission delay More frequency sensitive (within 4Hz)More frequency sensitive (within 4Hz) Must use correct sidebandMust use correct sideband Start BPSK and switch to QPSKStart BPSK and switch to QPSK


MFSK 16MFSK 16

Multiple frequency-shift keying (MFSK) is a variation Multiple frequency-shift keying (MFSK) is a variation of frequency-shift keying (FSK) that uses more than of frequency-shift keying (FSK) that uses more than two frequencies.two frequencies.Sixteen tone carriers, ~16Hz apartSixteen tone carriers, ~16Hz apart42 WPM in 316Hz with FEC42 WPM in 316Hz with FECHigh rejection of pulse and broadband noise due to High rejection of pulse and broadband noise due to narrow bandwidth per tonenarrow bandwidth per toneLow baud rate for sensitivity and multi-path rejection Low baud rate for sensitivity and multi-path rejection - data bit rate higher than symbol baud rate- data bit rate higher than symbol baud rateTolerance of ionospheric effects such as doppler, Tolerance of ionospheric effects such as doppler, fading and multi-pathfading and multi-path


HamScope SoftwareHamScope Software


DigiPan SoftwareDigiPan Software



fldigi Softwarefldigi Software

Winmor (Winlink 2000)Winmor (Winlink 2000)


1919

APRS SoftwareAPRS Software

2020

Digital ModesDigital ModesWaterfall’sWaterfall’s

CW PSK-31 QSPK PACKET RTTY

2121

Interesting Waterfall!Interesting Waterfall!


FSK 441 - WSJTFSK 441 - WSJT

Frequency-shift keying (FSK) is a frequency Frequency-shift keying (FSK) is a frequency modulation scheme in which digital information is modulation scheme in which digital information is transmitted through discrete frequency changes of transmitted through discrete frequency changes of a carrier wave.a carrier wave.[[

100% duty cycle, so no extra energy wasted by On/Off 100% duty cycle, so no extra energy wasted by On/Off keyingkeyingMore user-friendly interface--like RTTY or PSK31 modesMore user-friendly interface--like RTTY or PSK31 modesMuch better S/N than HSCW at same speedMuch better S/N than HSCW at same speedEach character takes about 2.3ms to send with four Each character takes about 2.3ms to send with four tones. That’s 441 baud.tones. That’s 441 baud.


JT 44 - WSJTJT 44 - WSJT

Uses long term signal averaging to recover a signal that Uses long term signal averaging to recover a signal that is up to 30dB below the noise floor!is up to 30dB below the noise floor!Humans have “short ears” limited by their sensory Humans have “short ears” limited by their sensory memory—they can only analyze a signal in a small memory—they can only analyze a signal in a small timeframetimeframeComputers can analyze in relatively large timeframesComputers can analyze in relatively large timeframesInspired by the PUA43 mode (with dedicated hardware)Inspired by the PUA43 mode (with dedicated hardware)Uses 44 tones, one for each character in the PUA43 Uses 44 tones, one for each character in the PUA43 alphabet (same as FSK441), plus a synchronization alphabet (same as FSK441), plus a synchronization tone. Each character is assigned a unique frequencytone. Each character is assigned a unique frequencySlow transmission speed: 5.38 baudSlow transmission speed: 5.38 baudHighly redundant (FEC)Highly redundant (FEC)


JT44 – Terrestrial UseJT44 – Terrestrial Use

JT44 works well on troposcatter paths that JT44 works well on troposcatter paths that are too short for MS enhancementare too short for MS enhancementSeveral operators have used it on 6m for Several operators have used it on 6m for borderline TE, and marginal Es openings.borderline TE, and marginal Es openings.Microwave non-line-of-sight pathsMicrowave non-line-of-sight pathsCould be a good way of overcoming Could be a good way of overcoming atmospheric absorption above 10GHzatmospheric absorption above 10GHzContest stations can make otherwise Contest stations can make otherwise impossible contactsimpossible contacts


JT44 – EME UseJT44 – EME Use

JT44’s ability to recover extremely weak JT44’s ability to recover extremely weak signals makes it ideal for EMEsignals makes it ideal for EMEMost activity by arranged schedule.Most activity by arranged schedule.144MHz is the most popular band.144MHz is the most popular band.Also operation on 50 MHz, 432MHz, and Also operation on 50 MHz, 432MHz, and 1296 MHz 1296 MHz so farso far…. …. A pair of single-yagi stations should be A pair of single-yagi stations should be able to work each other, with QRO powerable to work each other, with QRO powerPortable EME operation can be a realityPortable EME operation can be a reality


What Does It Take?What Does It Take?

Windows PCWindows PC Windows 98 or higher recommendedWindows 98 or higher recommended Pentium 150MHz or betterPentium 150MHz or better

SoundBlaster compatible soundcardSoundBlaster compatible soundcard Most laptop sound systems workMost laptop sound systems work More expensive cards have less noise and More expensive cards have less noise and

are more frequency stable/accurateare more frequency stable/accurate

Interface cablingInterface cabling RigBlaster or Rascal interfaces not necessaryRigBlaster or Rascal interfaces not necessary


Soundcard InterfacingSoundcard Interfacing

Most radios have audio in/out PTT on Most radios have audio in/out PTT on back via a Data or AUX portback via a Data or AUX portThese line level in/outs are bestThese line level in/outs are bestMike/speaker levels can be used with Mike/speaker levels can be used with appropriate attenuationappropriate attenuationPTT support generally via transistor or PTT support generally via transistor or optoisolator switchoptoisolator switchPTT can be done with CAT port but PTT can be done with CAT port but requires radio-specific softwarerequires radio-specific software


PTT SwitchingPTT Switching


Soundcard InterfaceSoundcard Interface


Soundcard InterfaceSoundcard Interface


Built-in SoundcardBuilt-in SoundcardInterfaceInterface

West MountainRIGblaster Advantage$189.95

TigertronicsSignaLink USB$99.99

microHAMUSB Interface III$155.00


Remote ControlRemote Control

Radio tuning, antenna rotation, transmission Radio tuning, antenna rotation, transmission and reception are all computer controllableand reception are all computer controllable

This software is easily remote controlled via This software is easily remote controlled via Terminal Server, Team Viewer or Terminal Server, Team Viewer or NetMeetingNetMeeting

Using Skype to talk on the radioUsing Skype to talk on the radio

Access can be via LAN or InternetAccess can be via LAN or Internet

There are shared radios on the InternetThere are shared radios on the Internet


ResourcesResourcesDigiPan: DigiPan: http://www.digipan.net/http://www.digipan.net/

Fldigi: Fldigi: http://www.w1hkj.com/Fldigi.htmlhttp://www.w1hkj.com/Fldigi.html

Ham Radio Deluxe: Ham Radio Deluxe: http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/

Winlink 2000: Winlink 2000: http://www.winlink.orghttp://www.winlink.org

Signal link USB: Signal link USB: http://www.tigertronics.com/slusbmain.htmhttp://www.tigertronics.com/slusbmain.htm

West Mt. Radio: http://www.westmountainradio.com/rigblaster.phpWest Mt. Radio: http://www.westmountainradio.com/rigblaster.php

microHAMmicroHAM http://www.microham.com/contents/en-us/d158_U3.html

Rascal: Rascal: http://www.packetradio.comhttp://www.packetradio.com

Rig ExpertRig Expert http://www.arraysolutions.com/Products/rig_expert_standard.htmhttp://www.arraysolutions.com/Products/rig_expert_standard.htm

AGW Packet Engine: AGW Packet Engine: http://www.sv2agw.com/downloads/http://www.sv2agw.com/downloads/

KB3KAO Sound card TNC: http://www.kb3kai.com/sound-card-tncKB3KAO Sound card TNC: http://www.kb3kai.com/sound-card-tnc

Sound Card Packet: Sound Card Packet: http://www.soundcardpacket.org/http://www.soundcardpacket.org/

Web RadiosWeb Radios http://www.websdr.org/http://www.websdr.org/

Documents

Soundcard Digital Modes