Fldigi

Fldigi
Fast Light Digital
Workshop
February 15, 2014
Toledo, Ohio
What we will cover
Session 1 (Today)
1. Hardware needed
2. Software needed
3. Hardware installation
4. Software installation
5. Software configuration
6. Transmitting and receiving digitally
Session 2 - Date TBD
1. NBEMS (Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software)
2.
3.
4.
5.
Flwrap
Flmsg
Modes – when to use
Logging with fldigi
KC8TVW 2014
2
What do you need?
• Transceiver for the band desired
• Laptop/Desktop with sound card
Sound card may be part of the interface hardware
• Hardware interface between computer and radio
Not required if acoustically coupled
• Software – Readily available & most are free
KC8TVW 2014
3
What do you need to receive?
You do not need an interface
Typically 1/8” stereo audio cable or computer mic
RadioShackModel:
42-2387 $14.99
Software - fldigi
Computer & Receiver/Transceiver/Scanner
1/8” stereo phone plug audio cable
Mic In
Mic In
Spkr Out
or
KC8TVW 2014
Acoustic Coupling
4
Simple – Acoustic Coupling – Transmit and Receive
Computer
Built in
Microphone
No Interface
Radio
Receive
Speaker Out
Transmit
Built in
Speakers
Microphone
Simplest, but least reliable
KC8TVW 2014
5
Simple – Acoustic Coupling – Transmit and Receive
Manual Control
KC8TVW 2014
6
Using the computer soundcard
1. Four or Five cables
2. Soundcard is not designed around
communications
3. Other programs can change sound card settings
4. May need to change sound card settings to run
other programs
Most Computers:
Desktop = Line in/Line Out
Laptops = Mic in/Headphone
KC8TVW 2014
7
Interface without a built-in soundcard
Computer
USB Port
Interface
Serial In
Mic/Line In
Headphone/
Line Out
Spkr Out
Audio In
Mic Out
KC8TVW 2014
Transceiver
Mic/Data In
8
Interface without a built-in soundcard
Rigblaster Plus
$160
KC8TVW 2014
9
Interface with a built-in soundcard
USB Cable
Cable – Mic or data
Tigertronics SignalLinkUSB $110
http://www.tigertronics.com/
Additional Mono Cable –
Used with radios that do not have Receive Audio on the Mic jack.
If you connect to your radio's Data or Accessory Port, not needed
KC8TVW 2014
10
Signalink to Radio Cables
SignaLink USB Part Numbers (please specify when ordering):
SLUSB4R - For 4-Pin Round Mic Connector
SLUSB8R - For 8-Pin Round Mic Connector
SLUSBRJ1 - For RJ-11 Mic Connector
SLUSBRJ4 - For RJ-45 Mic Connector
SLUSB5PD - For 5-pin DIN Data / Accessory Port Connector
SLUSB8PD - For 8-pin DIN Data / Accessory Port Connector
SLUSB13I - For ICOM 13-pin DIN Accessory Port Connector
SLUSB13K - For Kenwood 13-pin DIN Accessory Port Connector
SLUSB6PM - For 6-pin mini DIN Data / Accessory Port Connector
SLUSBK3 - For the Elecraft K3's rear panel Audio In/Out & PTT jacks
SLUSBKX3 - For the Elecraft KX3's Mic and Phones jacks
SLUSBHTW - For various Baofeng, Wouxun and Kenwood HTs including the UV-5R,
KG-UV6D, TH-F6A and TH-F7E (click here for a complete list of supported radios)
SLUSBHTY - For various Yaesu HTs including the FT-60R and VX-8GR (click here for
a complete list of supported radios)
SLUSBNC - Un-terminated cable (bare wires on radio end) for building your own cable
KC8TVW 2014
11
How does one interface work with many radios?
1. Radio specific cable (specify radio when purchasing)
2. User installed jumpers (or jumper module)
KC8TVW 2014
12
The Software
Why fldigi (fast light digital)?
1. Free
2. Works with all modes (PSK, MT63, Olivia, etc.)
3. Easily configured (macro, looks, etc)
4. Constantly upgraded to match emcomm
requirements
5. Designed to handle most/all message forms
6. It’s what the rest of us use
KC8TVW 2014
13
Where to find it
www.w1hkj.com/download.html
KC8TVW 2014
14
Installing The Software
1. Right click on each of the 3 programs and save
to the desktop
2. From the desktop, run each setup program
Takes 5 minutes total
Break for software installation
KC8TVW 2014
15
The fldigi screen
Receive Text Area
Transmit Text Area
Macros
Waterfall
KC8TVW 2014
16
Setting up the software
Configure>Operator
KC8TVW 2014
17
Configure>Operator
KC8TVW 2014
Save then Close
18
Configure>UI>Macros
KC8TVW 2014
Save then Close
19
The fldigi screen
RxID will change modes if sending
station has TxID turned on
Tune will send a “homing” signal until
turned off
TxID will transmit mode being used
Receive Audio Level
Black>Green>Yellow>Red
Good>----------------->Too High
Adjusting RF Gain may help
AFC – Leave off
Waterfall
SQL – Squelch
If on, adjust vertical slider
KC8TVW 2014
20
Setting up the software
Op Mode
KC8TVW 2014
21
Modes
KC8TVW 2014
22
Digital Modes
BPSK31
MT63-1000
KC8TVW 2014
Olivia 8-500
Contesia 4-250
RTTY
23
Where to find PSK31
2 Meter Band FM: 145.55
2 Meter Band SSB: 144.144
6 Meter Band: 50.125
10 Meter Band: 28.110 - 28.125 Mhz
12 Meter Band: 24.920 - 24.930 Mhz
15 Meter Band: 21.060 - 21.080 Mhz
17 Meter Band: 18.100 - 18.110 Mhz
20 Meter Band: 14.060 - 14.080 Mhz
30 Meter Band: 10.130 - 10.145 Mhz
40 Meter Band: 7.035, 7.070 Mhz
80 Meter Band: 3.620 - 3.640 Mhz
USB
Note: Some radios have digital specific modes. ie D-USB
KC8TVW 2014
24
Understanding Macro Keys
Left click will run the macro
Right click will allow editing of the macro
Anything between Waterfall
<> will run the function
Anything not between <> will simply print/transmit
KC8TVW 2014
25
Understanding Macro Keys
To move a function from the right box to the macro
Click on the function
Click on the green arrow
Waterfall
KC8TVW 2014
26
Understanding Macro Keys
Create the following macro in the row 1 of macros, number 12 (last one)
Note Blank
Create the following macro in the row 1 of macros, number 11
Waterfall
KC8TVW 2014
27
Understanding Macro Keys
Create the following macro in the row 1 of macros, number 10
<TX>
Test <MYCALL>
<ZDT>
<MYCALL> SK
<RX>
Waterfall
KC8TVW 2014
28
QSO Screen Capture
KC8TVW 2014
Screen From Actual QSO - BPSK31
29
Etcetera
• How much power do I need?
– 10-20% of normal (25 watts is a lot)
• Are there nets available?
– wpanbems
– SATERN
– Local
• 2 Meter Simplex
– 146.40-146.58
– 147.42-147.57
KC8TVW 2014
30
No.
HF Net Name
Day
Time-ET
HF Frequency
Waterfall
Mode-1
Mode-2
PL
Echolink
1
paNBEMS 80m Net
Sunday
10:00am
3.5835mhz
1 khz
Olivia 8/500
MT63-1K
2
paNBEMS 40m Net
Sunday
11:00am
7.073mhz
1 khz
Olivia 8/500
MT63-1K
3
Satern Net ( Alberta Canada)
Mon-Sat
12 pm,6 pm
14.065.00 mhz
1 khz
Olivia 16/500
4
Virginia Digital Net (VDN)
Nightly
7:15pm Eastern
3.578.5 mhz
1.3 khz
Olivia 4/500
5
Ohio ARES / OES HF Digital Net
Tuesday
8:00pm
3.580.00 mhz
1 khz
Olivia 8/500
MT63-1k
[email protected]
6
paNBEMS 80m Net
Tuesday
7:30pm
3.5835MHz or 3.5920MHz
1 khz
Olivia 8/500
MT63-1K
[email protected]
7
Maine NBEMS 80m Net
Wednesday
6:30pm
3.590 mhz
1 khz
Olivia 8/500
MT63-1K
[email protected]
8
Ohio Communications NBEMS Net (OCN)
Thursday
7:00pm
3.612.5 mhz
1 khz
Olivia 8/500
MT63-1k
[email protected]
9
MI Digital Traffic Net
Tue,Thu,Sat
8:00pm
3.5830 mhz
1 khz
Olivia 8/500
10
Minnisota ARES Digital Net (MN ARES)
Thursday
9:00pm
3.583.5 mhz
1 khz
Olivia 16/500
11
Tri State NBEMS net (PA)
Saturday
9:30am
3.9530 mhz
1 khz
12
Chautauqua County ARES Digital Net (NY)
Saturday
2:00pm
3.5830 mhz
1 khz
Olivia 8/500
MT63-1k
No.
VHF/UHF Net Name
Day
Time-ET
VHF/UHF Frequency
Waterfall
Mode-1
Mode-2
PL
13
Midcoast NBEMS VHF Net (ME)
Sunday
7:00pm
147.060 mhz
1.5 khz
FM Phone
MT63-2k
91.5
14
wpaNBEMS UHF Net
Sunday
8:00pm
443.450 mhz
1.5 khz
FM Phone
MT63-2k
100
15
CVARC Digital Net (PA)
3rd Sunday
9:30pm
147.120 mhz
1.5 khz
FM Phone
MT63-2k
n/a
[email protected]
16
Berks County NBEMS Net (PA)
Monday
7:00pm
147.180 mhz
1.5 khz
FM Phone
MT63-2k
110.9
[email protected]
17
Scott County Training Net (MN)
Monday
7:00pm
146.535 mhz
1 khz
Olivia 16/500
MT63-2k
18
Toledo Mobile Radio NBEMS Net (OH)
Sunday
7:00pm
147.270 mhz linked 442.850 mhz
1.5 khz
FM Phone
MT63-2k
103.5
[email protected]
19
SPA NBEMS Net (PA)
Tuesday
8-9pm
146.970 mhz
1kz
PSK-250
MT63-2k
123
[email protected]
20
NW PA NBEMS Net ( Union City, PA)
Wednesday
6:30pm
146.700 mhz Link 147.030
1.5kz
MT63-2k
MT63-1k
186.2
21
Columbiana County Digital Net (OH)
Wednesday
8:30pm
145.510 mhz simplex
1 khz
BPSK-125
n/a
[email protected]
22
Sussex County RACES Digital Net (DE)
1st & 3rd Thu
~8pm
146.425 mhz
1.5 khz
MT63-2k
n/a
[email protected]
23
Chautauqua Cnty ARES Digital Net-NY
Wednesday
8:30pm
146.880 & 146.940 mhz
1 khz
FM Phone
MT63-2k
24
Chester County UHF NBEMS Net (PA)
Thursday
~8pm
446.175 mhz
1.5 khz
FM Phone
MT63-2k
100
25
Lebanon Valley Digit. Rndup Net-PA
Friday
8-10 pm
146.610 mhz
1 khz
BPSK-125
MT63-2k
131.8
Contact
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Echolink
Contact
[email protected]
443450
[email protected]
[email protected]
207-642
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
REVISED JANUARY 13, 2013
KC8TVW 2013
31
Questions?
Let’s Have Some Fun
Test our installations
KC8TVW 2013
32