Fldigi and Flarq a Digital Mode for Traffic Handling NBEMS

Fldigi is a nice program for PSK31 and various other digital modes. It is simple to use and has several advantages going for it for traffic handling. I normally use Digipan for HF digital, but I have been playing with this one for a few days now. I like this software with an eye towards traffic handling. The traffic handling comes into play with Flarq. Flarq provides handshaking on top of Fldigi to provide 100% assurance the message got through. It will also send binary files, which is where I would like to try using Qforms for Radiogram traffic. Flwrap is also another piece of Fldigi that could be very usefull. It would enable you to send a bulletin, weather report, situation updates or data to one or more stations at a time with 100% accuracy. Nets can be conducted using fldigi alone, and net control can suggest that two stations move to an adjacent frequency, have one beacon, the other connect, and then pass traffic using the error-free ARQ protocol provided by flarq. NBEMS is the combined use of Flarq, Fldigi, a Single Sideband Transceiver and the appropriate antenna system. I have included some great help sites.

http://w1hkj.com/NBEMS/

http://www.w1hkj.com/

http://w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp/index.html

http://w1hkj.com/FlarqHelpFiles/flarq.html

SCI-6 PC Sound Card Interface Kit

I recently purchased a SCI-6 PC Sound Card Interface Kit from Unified Microsystems. Gary Sutcliffe, W9XT, makes a really good kit. It was well designed and inexpensive kit. The kit sells for $24.95 plus $5.50 shipping. I have built several sound card interfaces, but price wise this kit is hard to beat. This is because finding the needed parts is getting expensive and hard to find locally. If you have any soldering skills, this kit is fun and quick to build. It takes less than an evening to build with the great instructions that come with it. If you follow the guide and use good building techniques it will work the first time you hook it up. The only thing you need with this kit is the cables for your radio. Order this kit and get started with digital communications.

http://www.unifiedmicro.com/sci6.htm

Mobile Winlink Up and Running

I now have the mobile Winlink system up and running. The final tests went very well. I can connect to my RMS or the one in Owensboro K4HY-12. The mobile consists of a Yaesu FT-1802m and a SCI-6 PC Sound Card Interface. I will post a wright up on this unit. Now I can start testing the complete system with the HSMM radios with it. With this system, I can now pull up somewhere and supply a link for Email for any of our served agency's. This is good for that "Last Mile" communications. With a small 2m beam on a 10 foot pole, I could increase the range of the mobile unit. Now it is time to display the system for the public and other Hams.

"Radio Hams" Film (Pete Smith Specialty)

Here is a good movie about Ham Radio from 1939. Just thought I would share it.

Airlink Express for PSK31

I recently ran across another PSK31 software package. I have always preferred Digipan, and Airlink Express resembles Digipan. It sets up easy and works close enough like digipan that I had a very small learning curve to use it. This software is compatible with Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista, and Microsoft Windows 7. It offers PSK, MFSK and RTTY digital modes with logging and macro capabilities. This software is from Alex Krist, KR1ST and he did good with this one. Download the software and make some digital contacts tonight!

These are just some of the features available in Airlink Express:

■Automatic Multi Channel Display

■Support for Multiple Soundcards

■PSK31, PSK63, PSK125, PSK250, MFSK and RTTY

■Radio Control (CAT)

■Center Bandpass Tuning

■True FSK Keying

■Macros

■Bandpass Filters

■Logging with ADIF Import and Export

■Replay Last 60, 30, or 15 Seconds
 
Here is a screen shot
 

 
http://www.airlinkexpress.org/index.html

QForms for Winlink

Qforms is a great program for Winlink Radiogram messages. QForms supports ICS, Radiogram, and Simple format messages. QForms allows entry of text into an electronic form to create a message, which is then saved in an XML format. The XML file is then sent to another station that is also running QForms where it can be opened, displayed and printed. Optionally, a text version of the message can be created, saved and sent to a remote station. The text format can not be re-opened by QForms other than as a simple text file. This is an easy way to send properly formated Radiograms. Checkout the download page at The Active Ham.

http://www.activeham.com/pmwiki.php?n=Main.HomePage

Abbreviations, Acronyms and Initialisms

When we talk to other Hams via a Digital mode we sometimes come across a word we do not understand. When this happens there are several places to find out what it means. You know we can never ask the ham we are talking to what it means, thats not the way we do things. But there is hope. Here a some web sites that can help you to be one of the "in" crowd. The first is the "List of Abbreviations found in ARRL Publications" http://www2.arrl.org/qst/aguide/Abbrev_AWE.pdf. This site has a lot of useful Ham Speak in it. Then we have the common "Q" signals https://www.arrl.org/files/bbs/general/q-sigs. This is a good place to learn some good Ham Speak QSL? We also use a many CW abbreviations and there is a great site with those from AC6V his site is located at http://www.ac6v.com/morseaids.htm#CW. Then we come to some of the more modern "text message" abbreviations, which can be found at http://www.acronymfinder.com/. As you can see as a modern Ham we have many ways to keep up with technology. And I guess if all else fails, just ask.


http://www2.arrl.org/qst/aguide/Abbrev_AWE.pdf
https://www.arrl.org/files/bbs/general/q-sigs
http://www.ac6v.com/morseaids.htm#CW
http://www.acronymfinder.com/

K4Y Special Event Station for Field Day 2010

It was real easy to aplly for a 1x1 call sign for the 2010 Field Day. I was surprised at how easy and how few hoops there were to get the call K4Y. All you have to due is go to the ARRL for all the rules and regulations. You apply and check avaliability at http://www.1x1callsigns.org/ . You have five different Coordinators to choose from. The application is done online and in a couple of days you get your approval.

ARRL
1x1callsigns.org

Field Day 2010

It is that time of year that all of us Hams start thinking not about Spring, but start planning Field Day! I am helping plan Henderson County ARES activate the EM EOC. This will be a fun undertaking, any local help is needed. For more information:

                                http://www.arrl.org/?artid=9414

2010 Field Day Packets Now Available (Feb 2, 2010) -- It’s that time of year again -- time to start gearing up for ARRL Field Day, June 26-27, 2010! ARRL’s flagship operating event -- always held the fourth full weekend in June -- brings together new and experienced hams for 24 hours of operating fun. Field Day packets are now available for download and include the complete rules (including changes for 2010), as well as other reference items such as forms, ARRL Section abbreviation list, entry submission instructions, a Frequently Asked Questions section, guidelines for getting bonus points, instructions for GOTA stations, a kit to publicize your event with the local press and more.

 

Asterisk Amateur Radio Network

Asterisk Amateur Radio Network, AARN, is a possible branch for the HSMM.  Asterisk is based on the ASTERISK PBX software. It has the capability to interconnect communications from and between Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Internet Telephone (VoIP – SIP, IAX2) and Radio Communications Via Analog and Digital on HF, VHF, UHF, SHF. Using HSMM and Asterisk, multiple services can be interconnected for the served agencies. I will be looking into this for the future.


http://asteriskradio.net/wp/aarn/