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==Amateur Radio Digital Operations==
 
==Amateur Radio Digital Operations==
Ham radio on HF is not only about voice and CW (Morse Code) - there's a considerable amount of digital transmissions too. There are even digital mailboxes as well as experiments using Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM)
+
Ham radio on HF is not only about voice and CW (Morse Code) - there's a considerable amount of digital transmissions too. There are even digital mailboxes as well as experiments using Digital Radio Mondiale ([[DRM]])
  
  
Line 6: Line 6:
  
  
This topic is discussed in the [http://forums.radioreference.com/amateur-radio-data-transmissions/ Amateur Radio Data Transmissions] forum.
+
This topic is discussed in the [https://forums.radioreference.com/forums/amateur-radio-data-transmissions.200/ Amateur Radio Data Transmissions] forum.
 
 
  
 
==General Information==
 
==General Information==
* [http://www.arrl.org/part-97-amateur-radio Part 97 Rules]
+
* [http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title47/47cfr97_main_02.tpl Part 97 Rules]
  
* [http://www.ciarc.org/downloads/Digital_Mode_Band_Plan.pdf Amateur Digital Mode Band Plan (PDF)]
+
* Digital amateur signals are restricted to certain portions of the bands. [http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/allocate.html Here] is a general list of bands which shows the sections restricted to CW (Morse Code) and digital
  
* Digital amateur signals are restricted to certain portions of the bands. [http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/allocate.html Here] is a general list of bands which shows the sections restricted to CW (Morse Code) and digital
+
* [http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Band%20Chart%20-%2011X17%20Color.pdf US Amateur Radio Bandplan (PDF)] via the ARRL
  
 +
* [http://www.arrl.org/considerate-operator The Considerate Operator's Frequency Guide]    (ARRL page)
  
 
==Where Can I Find Information on the Various Modes?==
 
==Where Can I Find Information on the Various Modes?==
This listing is not complete, but it gives a good representation of the various modes you will find on the HF Amateur bands. Please feel free to substitute links, and add modes that are not listed here.
+
This listing is not complete, but it gives a good representation of the various modes you will find on the HF Amateur bands. Please feel free to substitute links, and add modes that are not listed here. Many of these links are courtesy of the [https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Amateur_Radio Signal Identification Guide] wiki
  
* Airmail -    [http://siriuscyber.net/airmail/ Airmail website]
 
  
* [[ALE]] -    [http://www.hflink.com HFLink]  
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Automatic_Link_Establishment_(2G_ALE) ALE]
 
   
 
   
* ALE400 -    [http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2007/narrowband_ale_mode.htm ALE400 – Narrow band ALE mode now available]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/ALE-400 ALE400]
 +
 
 +
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System_(APRS) APRS]
  
* APRS - [http://info.aprs.net/index.php?title=Main_Page APRS Wiki]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/CHIP CHIP64 / CHIP128]
** Note - While APRS is primarily a mode typically found on 2 meters and up, there are a few HF frequencies, too, and they're listed [http://info.aprs.net/index.php?title=Frequencies here]
 
 
   
 
   
* Clover -    [http://www.arrl.org/clover Clover (via ARRL)]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/CLOVER-I Clover]
 +
 
 +
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/CLOVER_2000 Clover 2000]
 
   
 
   
* Contestia -  [http://www.oliviamode.com/Contestia.htm Contestia Digital Mode]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Contestia Contestia]
 
   
 
   
* Domino -    [http://www.arrl.org/domino DominoEX (via ARRL)]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/DominoEX DominoEX]
 +
 
 +
* [https://rsgb.org/main/blog/front-page-news/2019/04/26/new-digital-mode-announced/ FT4]
 +
 
 +
* [https://www.essexham.co.uk/ft8-basics-explained FT8]
 +
** [https://g4ifb.com/FT8_Hinson_tips_for_HF_DXers.pdf FT8 Operating Guide Weak Signal HF DXing for Technophiles (PDF)]
 
   
 
   
* Feld-Hell (Hellschreiber) - [http://antoninoporcino.xoom.it/Hell/ Hellschreiber by IZ8BLY]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Hellschreiber Hellschreiber]
 +
 
 +
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/G-TOR G-TOR]  
 
   
 
   
* JT-65 -      [http://jt65-hf.com/ JT65-HF.Com]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/JT65a JT-65]
 
   
 
   
* JT-6M -      [http://www.jt6m.org/home.php JT6M.Org]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/JT6M JT-6M]
 +
 
 +
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/JT9 JT-9]
 +
 
 +
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Multi_Frequency_Shift_Keying_(MFSK) MFSK]
 
   
 
   
* MT-63 -      [http://www.w0btu.com/wm2u/mt63.html MT63 Page]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/MT63 MT-63]  
 
   
 
   
* Olivia -    [http://www.oliviamode.com/ Olivia - the Magical Mode]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Olivia Olivia]
 +
 
 +
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/PACKET PACKET]  
 
   
 
   
* PACTOR I -  [http://www.arrl.org/pactor PACTOR-I (via ARRL)]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/PACTOR_I PACTOR-I]  
 
   
 
   
* PACTOR II -  [http://www.arrl.org/pactor-ii PACTOR-II (via ARRL)]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/PACTOR_II PACTOR-II]
 
   
 
   
* PACTOR III - [http://www.arrl.org/pactor-iii PACTOR-III (via ARRL)]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/PACTOR_III PACTOR III]
 +
 
 +
* [https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/PACTOR_IV PACTOR IV]
 
   
 
   
* PACTOR 4 -  [http://www.p4dragon.com/en/PACTOR-4.html SCS PACTOR 4 page]
+
* [http://ac4m.us/pax.html PAX / PAX2]
 +
 
 +
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Phase_Shift_Keying_(PSK) PSKxx modes (PSK31, 63, 125, etc.)]
 
   
 
   
* PSK31 -      [http://bpsk31.com/ BPSK.Com]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Robust_PACKET Robust Packet Radio]  
 
* PSK63 -      [http://www.qsl.net/kh6ty/psk63/ PSK63-A Super Fast Mode for Contesting]
 
 
* PSK125 -    [http://f1ult.free.fr/DIGIMODES/MULTIPSK/PSK125_en.html BPSK125 et QPSK125] translated to English
 
  
* ROS -        [http://freespace.virgin.net/brian.walker3/ROS.htm Introduction to ROS Mode]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/ROS ROS]  
  
* THOR  -      [http://ac4m.us/thor.html AC4M Digital Site - Thor]  
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/THOR THOR]  
 
   
 
   
* THROB -      [http://ac4m.us/throb.html AC4M Digital Site - Throb]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/THROB THROB]
 +
 
 +
* [https://rosmodem.wordpress.com/ VARA]  
  
* Winlink -    [http://www.winlink.org/ Winlink website]
+
* WinMOR  -    [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winmor Winmor definition on Wikipedia]
  
 
* WSPR    -    [http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wspr.html WSPR website]
 
* WSPR    -    [http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wspr.html WSPR website]
 +
 +
 +
; Digital Services (email, etc.)
 +
 +
* Airmail -    [http://siriuscyber.net/airmail/ Airmail website]
 +
 +
* PSKMail  -  [http://pskmail.org/ PSKMail website]
 +
 +
* Winlink -    [http://www.winlink.org/ Winlink website]
  
  
Line 74: Line 100:
 
* FDMDV  -    [http://n1su.com/fdmdv/ FDMDV website]
 
* FDMDV  -    [http://n1su.com/fdmdv/ FDMDV website]
  
* FreeDV  -    [http://freedv.org/tiki-index.php FreeDV Website]
+
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/WinDRM WinDRM]
 +
** What is [[DRM]]?
 +
 
 +
* [https://github.com/DazDSP/EasyDRF/tree/master/Release EasyDRF]
 +
** Newer and Improved version of WinDRM
  
* HamDRM  -    mentioned on this [http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html website]
+
* [http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/p/amateur-radio-digital-voice-resource.html The Spectrum Monitor Ham Digital Voice Research List]
  
* WinDRM -    [http://n1su.com/windrm/ WinDRM website]
 
  
 +
; Waterfall Samples
 +
[[Image:VARA waterfall.JPG|right|400px|VARA Waterfall]]
 +
* [[Amateur Radio Digital Modes Waterfall Gallery]]
 +
* [http://www.w1hkj.com/modes/index.htm FLDigi-Sights and Sounds]
 +
* [[300 Baud HF Packet Waterfall]]
 +
* [[Hellschreiber Waterfall]]
 +
* [[Various Pactor Mode Waterfalls]]
 +
* [[Robust Packet Radio Examples]]
 +
* [[WinMOR Waterfall]]
  
 
==How Do I Connect My Transceiver and PC?==
 
==How Do I Connect My Transceiver and PC?==
There are still some folks that connect their transceivers to a Terminal Node Controller or TNC such as the [http://www.kantronics.com/products/kamxl.html Kantronics KAM-XL]). There are several advantages - transmit keying, isolation and audio are all handled in a single box. Unfortunately sometimes these TNCs are a bit limited in the modes they cover. Without firmware updates, you are limited to the modes the TNC covers.  
+
There are still some folks that connect their transceivers to a Terminal Node Controller or TNC (such as the [http://www.kantronics.com/products/kamxl.html Kantronics KAM-XL]). There are several advantages - transmit keying, isolation and audio are all handled in a single box. Unfortunately sometimes these TNCs are a bit limited in the modes they cover. Without firmware updates, you are limited to the modes the TNC covers.  
  
 
Far and away the more popular way to go is via the soundcard. There are several models such as the [http://www.tigertronics.com/sl+main.htm Tigertronics SignaLink]. These devices remove the restriction of only working on some modes - there's usually a wide variety of software vailable, and in this case, all the transmit keying and audio is also in a single box.  
 
Far and away the more popular way to go is via the soundcard. There are several models such as the [http://www.tigertronics.com/sl+main.htm Tigertronics SignaLink]. These devices remove the restriction of only working on some modes - there's usually a wide variety of software vailable, and in this case, all the transmit keying and audio is also in a single box.  
Line 88: Line 126:
 
There are other soundcard devices that simply feed audio back and forth from the transceiver, but you would need to build your own keying circuit for your transceiver. Fortunately there are many such schematics on the web.  
 
There are other soundcard devices that simply feed audio back and forth from the transceiver, but you would need to build your own keying circuit for your transceiver. Fortunately there are many such schematics on the web.  
  
See the [http://www.chace-ortiz.org/umc/hardware.html Utility Monitoring Central Hardware] page for examples of each.
+
See the [[HF Hardware Decoders]] page for examples of each. [https://www.qsl.net/wm2u/interface.html WM2U's Soundcard Interfacing] might be a source of information for interfacing with older transceivers.
 
 
The next challenge is to determine how to wire the microphone or other jack from your transceiver to the PC or TNC. This varies from model to model, and can be difficult to determine without a manual. Fortunately there is a [http://www.qsl.net/wm2u/interface.html website] that show the wiring diagrams for many different transceivers. In addition, there are numerous Yahoo groups devoted to particular model(s) of transceivers, and is a likely alternative for finding this information if that website doesn't have it.
 
  
 +
The next challenge is to determine how to wire the microphone or other jack from your transceiver to the PC or TNC. This varies from model to model, and can be difficult to determine without a manual. There are numerous mailing lists devoted to particular model(s) of transceivers (and various applications). These are likely sources of information.
  
 
==What Software Can I Use?==
 
==What Software Can I Use?==
 
This list is just a sample of some of the more popular (and some lesser-known) packages that can copy some or all of these modes. Additions are solicited. There are also several websites with audio (and sonogram) samples of many digital modes to aid in learning what a particular mode sounds and looks like.
 
This list is just a sample of some of the more popular (and some lesser-known) packages that can copy some or all of these modes. Additions are solicited. There are also several websites with audio (and sonogram) samples of many digital modes to aid in learning what a particular mode sounds and looks like.
 +
* [http://www.airlinkexpress.org/index.html AirLink Express]
  
* [http://info.aprs.net/index.php?title=Software APRS Wiki - Software]
+
* [http://www.dxatlas.com/CwSkimmer/ CW Skimmer]
  
 
* [http://www.digipan.net DigiPan]
 
* [http://www.digipan.net DigiPan]
Line 104: Line 142:
 
* [http://www.dxzone.com/dx12538/easyterm-ezt3271.html  EasyTerm]
 
* [http://www.dxzone.com/dx12538/easyterm-ezt3271.html  EasyTerm]
  
* [http://www.w1hkj.com/Fldigi.html FLDigi]
+
* [http://www.w1hkj.com FLDigi (author's web site)], [https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi FLDigi (SourceForge download site)]
  
* [http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/ Ham Radio Deluxe] (includes DM780)
+
* [https://github.com/DJ2LS/FreeDATA FreeDATA]
 +
 
 +
* [https://www.hamradiodeluxe.com/ Ham Radio Deluxe] (includes DM780)
 +
 
 +
* [http://hflink.com/hamring/ HamRing]
  
 
* [http://www.qsl.net/hamscope/ HamScope]
 
* [http://www.qsl.net/hamscope/ HamScope]
 +
 +
* [http://antoninoporcino.xoom.it/Hell/index.htm IZ8BLY Hellschreiber]
 +
 +
* [http://antoninoporcino.xoom.it/Chip64/index.htm IZ8BLY Chip64]
 +
 +
* [http://antoninoporcino.xoom.it/MT63/index.htm IZ8BLY MT63]
 +
 +
* [http://antoninoporcino.xoom.it/Stream/index.htm IZ8BLY Stream]
 +
 +
* [http://js8call.com/ JS8Call]
 +
 +
* [http://nw7us.us/jt65a.html JT65-HF]
 +
 +
* [http://www.jtdx.tech/en/ JTDX]
  
 
* [http://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmtty.php MMTTY]
 
* [http://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmtty.php MMTTY]
 +
 +
* [http://www.polar-electric.com/Morse/MRP40-EN/ MRP40 CW Decoder and Sender]
 +
 +
* [http://lz2hv.org/mshv MSHV]
 +
 +
* [http://www.blackcatsystems.com/software/multimode.html MultiMode] (For Macs)
  
 
* [http://f6cte.free.fr/index_anglais.htm MultiPSK]
 
* [http://f6cte.free.fr/index_anglais.htm MultiPSK]
 +
**[[HF and LF Modes used by MultiPSK]]
  
* [http://mixw.net/ MixW]
+
* [https://rigexpert.com/products/software/mixw-4/ MixW4]
 +
 
 +
* [http://www.paxon.de/ Paxon]
 +
 
 +
* [https://www.qsl.net/kh6ty/psk63/ QuikPSK]
  
 
* [http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/ ROS]
 
* [http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/ ROS]
  
 
* [http://www.dxsoft.com/en/products/truetty/ TrueTTY]
 
* [http://www.dxsoft.com/en/products/truetty/ TrueTTY]
 +
 +
* [https://rosmodem.wordpress.com/ VARA]
 +
 +
* [http://f5vag.nerim.net/g4ide/uiview_org/winpack/index.html WinPack]
  
 
* [http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=3749 WinWarbler]
 
* [http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=3749 WinWarbler]
 +
 +
* [http://www.wolphi.com/ Wolphi Amateur Radio Apps]  Android applications
 +
 +
* [https://www.qsl.net/zs5wo/wopsk.htm WoPSK]
 +
 +
* [http://www.dh3ww.de/wpp/index.htm WPP]  in German
  
 
* [http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html WSJT-X]
 
* [http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html WSJT-X]
Line 126: Line 203:
 
* [http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/?zakanaka,50 Zakanaka]
 
* [http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/?zakanaka,50 Zakanaka]
  
 
; Listings for Tigertronics Modems
 
* [http://www.tigertronics.com/bay_soft.htm Software listings for the Tigertronics BayPac Modem]
 
 
* [http://www.tigertronics.com/sl_soft.htm Software listings for the Tigertronics SignaLink]
 
 
  
 
; Audio Samples
 
; Audio Samples
Line 139: Line 210:
  
 
* [http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html G4UCJ's Radio Website]
 
* [http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html G4UCJ's Radio Website]
 +
 +
* [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Amateur_Radio Signal Identification Guide - Amateur Radio]
  
 
* [http://www.mixw.net/index.php?j=signals MixW digital signal examples]
 
* [http://www.mixw.net/index.php?j=signals MixW digital signal examples]
Line 149: Line 222:
  
  
==Testing Receiving Data on Your New Setup==
+
; Listings for Tigertronics Modems
The single best way to test receiving data would be to have a station with a known schedule. W1AW has such a schedule - the website for the schedule is [http://www.arrl.org/digital-transmissions here]
+
* [http://www.tigertronics.com/bay_soft.htm Software listings for the Tigertronics BayPac Modem]
  
 +
* [http://www.tigertronics.com/sl_soft.htm Software listings for the Tigertronics SignaLink]
 +
  
==Slow Scan TV (SSTV)==
+
; Slow Scan TV (SSTV) Applications
While amateurs are the primary users of this mode, HF Pirates have been known to use this as well - for example, Wolverine Radio. So if you're listening to a pirate, it might be useful to have one of these packages in the background. You never know what they might send....
+
* See the SSTV section of the [[HF Software Decoders]] article
  
* What is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSTV SSTV] (Slow Scan TV)?
+
==Testing Receiving Data on Your New Setup==
 
+
The single best way to test receiving data would be to have a station with a known schedule. W1AW has such a schedule - the website for the schedule is [http://www.arrl.org/digital-transmissions here]
* [http://www.barberdsp.com/ ChromaPix] by Silicon Pixels
 
  
* [http://www.pervisell.com/download/roote.htm JVComm32]
 
  
* [http://mixw.net/ MixW]
+
==Where Can I Find Additional Resources?==  
 
 
* [http://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.php MM-SSTV]
 
 
 
* [http://www.blackcatsystems.com/software/multimode.html MultiMode] for Macs
 
 
 
* [http://users.telenet.be/on4qz/ QSSTV (Linux)]
 
 
 
* [http://www.computer-int.com/rc.htm RadioCom]
 
 
 
* [http://www.barberdsp.com/w95sstv/w95dload.htm W95SSTV]
 
 
 
 
 
==Where Can I Find Additional Resources?==
 
 
; References
 
; References
 
* [http://www.arrl.org/shop/Digital-Communications/ ARRL Store]
 
* [http://www.arrl.org/shop/Digital-Communications/ ARRL Store]
Line 181: Line 241:
  
 
;Mailing Lists and Forums
 
;Mailing Lists and Forums
* [https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/digitalradio/info Digital Radio]
+
* See the [[Utility_Monitoring_Central_Links#Mailing_Lists / Social|UMC Mailing Lists]] section
* [https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dxsoft/info DXSoft Software]
+
* [https://digitalradio.groups.io/g/main Digital Mode Radio]   on groups.io
* [https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/win-fldigi/info FLDigi]
+
 
* [http://forums.hrdsoftwarellc.com/ Ham Radio Deluxe support forums]
+
 
* [https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/hflink/info HFLink (ALE)]
 
* [https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mixw/info MixW]
 
* [https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/multipsk/info MultiPSK]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MM-SSTV MM-SSTV Yahoo group]
 
  
[[Category:HF Topics]]
+
[[Category:HF in Amateur Radio]]
 +
[[Category:HF Modes]]

Latest revision as of 18:48, 3 February 2024

Amateur Radio Digital Operations

Ham radio on HF is not only about voice and CW (Morse Code) - there's a considerable amount of digital transmissions too. There are even digital mailboxes as well as experiments using Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM)


This page is an introduction to this topic - please feel free to add or correct anything found here. It's not intended to be comprehensive, but does touch on all the topics you will need to consider before getting involved in this side of the hobby.


This topic is discussed in the Amateur Radio Data Transmissions forum.

General Information

  • Digital amateur signals are restricted to certain portions of the bands. Here is a general list of bands which shows the sections restricted to CW (Morse Code) and digital

Where Can I Find Information on the Various Modes?

This listing is not complete, but it gives a good representation of the various modes you will find on the HF Amateur bands. Please feel free to substitute links, and add modes that are not listed here. Many of these links are courtesy of the Signal Identification Guide wiki



Digital Services (email, etc.)


Digital Voice
  • EasyDRF
    • Newer and Improved version of WinDRM


Waterfall Samples
VARA Waterfall

How Do I Connect My Transceiver and PC?

There are still some folks that connect their transceivers to a Terminal Node Controller or TNC (such as the Kantronics KAM-XL). There are several advantages - transmit keying, isolation and audio are all handled in a single box. Unfortunately sometimes these TNCs are a bit limited in the modes they cover. Without firmware updates, you are limited to the modes the TNC covers.

Far and away the more popular way to go is via the soundcard. There are several models such as the Tigertronics SignaLink. These devices remove the restriction of only working on some modes - there's usually a wide variety of software vailable, and in this case, all the transmit keying and audio is also in a single box.

There are other soundcard devices that simply feed audio back and forth from the transceiver, but you would need to build your own keying circuit for your transceiver. Fortunately there are many such schematics on the web.

See the HF Hardware Decoders page for examples of each. WM2U's Soundcard Interfacing might be a source of information for interfacing with older transceivers.

The next challenge is to determine how to wire the microphone or other jack from your transceiver to the PC or TNC. This varies from model to model, and can be difficult to determine without a manual. There are numerous mailing lists devoted to particular model(s) of transceivers (and various applications). These are likely sources of information.

What Software Can I Use?

This list is just a sample of some of the more popular (and some lesser-known) packages that can copy some or all of these modes. Additions are solicited. There are also several websites with audio (and sonogram) samples of many digital modes to aid in learning what a particular mode sounds and looks like.


Audio Samples


Listings for Tigertronics Modems


Slow Scan TV (SSTV) Applications

Testing Receiving Data on Your New Setup

The single best way to test receiving data would be to have a station with a known schedule. W1AW has such a schedule - the website for the schedule is here


Where Can I Find Additional Resources?

References


Mailing Lists and Forums