[RTTY] Distortion

[Jim McDonald]

Don,

I have a PROII now but previously had an MP and then a MARK V.  I used both
with a RIGblaster Plus and then a Pro and then a HB interface, all on FSK
(or the internal AFSK generator to be precise).

I used a Kantronics KAM Plus, a HAL P38, and now MMTTY, both stand-alone and
with Writelog.

The December 2001 RIGblaster Plus review in QST might be helpful.

In my notes for the serial keying jumper block in the Plus, I see that I had
the first and last pairs of pins shorted.  There is a shorting jumper across
the PTT RTS pins and another across the key TXD pins.  It is same as the
last pictorial on page 9 of the manuals except that I didn't have the
shorting jumper across the DTR pair.

AA5AU's web site has the info on setting up MMTTY for FSK.
http://www.rttycontesting.com/tutorials/tutorials.htm

Of course you need to use the RTTY jack on the MP.  I used RG-174 cables.

I'm no technician either (I'm a CPA), but I find it satisfying setting these
things up.  Call me any evening if I can help (really) - (480) 354-2870 in
AZ (on MST, not daylight time).

73,
Jim N7US


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "VE3XD" <ve3xd at rogers.com>
To: <W0YR at aol.com>; <rtty at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 11:18 AM
Subject: RE: [RTTY] Distortion



Let me explain why I still use AFSK. It's not that I want to but rather that
it is the only RTTY mode I've been able to make work. I'm not an electronics
technician or anything close but I can usually get things to work however
FSK has had me stymied. This doesn't seem right as it is seemingly a rather
simple mode to implement providing the right tools are available; ie. rig,
interface, computer, and software. Well I have all four and yet no dice.

1. Rig: Mark V with the FSK direct input available. I still use AFSK on the
packet jack and it works well.

2. Interface: Rigblaster Plus. According to the manual it is supposed to
support FSK. I found several references to this, one being an article in QST
that mentioned the need to use a jumper on the TXD pin. But there was no
other tangible help in the article. Several other posts I found mentioned
TXD but the references were obscure and of little value as there was no
further discussion. There is no helpful information on the West Mountain
website either about FSK with the Plus.

3. Computer: Still using a W98SE P450 devoted to the shack that does
everything else well, CW, PSK, phone, logging, packet. Two serial
interfaces, one for CW and one for rig control.

4. Software: Mainly Writelog with the MMTTY engine for RTTY. As with the RB
there is very little in the help files for these programs giving directions
in setting up FSK. Especially when things don't work exactly as they
suggest. I've tried both with and without MMTTY and also MMTTY standalone
but no go.

So after 3 days of messing with the above before the weekend I gave up and
went back to AFSK. Oh yes, when I restored all the settings CW would not
work. Another hour to sort that out.

So the question is whether it's worth the effort to make the switch. I have
done very well in the past with AFSK. I have got to wonder whether anyone
has ever noticed the difference. Especially as I only run low power.

Don VE3XD


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