[WriteLog] LSB is really FSK, and Entrgra Serial Hub issues

[Don Melcher]

Thanks Don

Yes - I understand all that about FSK and AFSK, etc.

What is interesting, in the commercial (Marine) HF business (my business) -
FSK is Upper Sideband. and in the end, with Baudot or Si(Am)tor, it doesn't
matter, as long as the mark/space relationship is correct - i.e.: a RTTY
station with tones "normal" in LSB can work a station with tones "reversed"
in USB - the only thing different is the frequency on the dial - when in
LSB/USB factors in the BFO frequency, where a radio in FSK should - again,
at least in the commercial world, reads the carrier or "center" frequency.

In BPSK PSK31, Pactor or PactorII - it doesn't matter what sideband you are
on. It apparently does with QPSK, don't know about Clover.

The issue is that Feild Day is a Multi-Mode contest - and it seems to me
this is how it should work - when you have "LSB is really FSK" checked - the
program should put the radio in LSB mode when you select FSK as the mode for
the contact, and of course score it as a "data" QSO - and maybe that is how
it is working (though it did not initially indicate so) - I haven't had time
to further explore it, but it seems that the "wording" of the switch is
backwards - and perhaps, since the program also does PSK31 - it should be
"Data is really LSB" (or USB).

The advantage of using FSK or RTTY on some radios is that it lets you select
the narrow CW filter in that mode. On the Icom 718, it has an expanded
filter selection option that lets you select the 500hz filter in sideband -
on the 706, 746 and some others - you can fool the radio in telling it that
you have a narrow SSB filter installed in the set mode, but really it is the
CW filter.... but then you have to change it back in the set mode to use it
for CW, unless you want to install 2 CW filters. But RTTY or FSK on Icom ham
rigs is for the FSK tones generated in the radio, not the external modem or
sound card - something that WON'T work for PSK31, PactorII or Clover, so you
have to use SSB - also, be careful with Icom Ham Rigs as the Mic is not
muted by a PTT signal on the ACC jack if that is where you have your modem
hooked up - the Mic is still hot so you have to disconnect the mic when
running data in USB/LSB.

BTW - A quick way to tell the center of the IF passband for your radio with
the narrow filter is by usaing the tuning indicator in program like
Digi-pan - just look at the bandwidth of the white-noise coming through the
receiver!

One of the things on my "wish list" for WL is support of the Yaesu FT817 - a
really nifty QRP rig for portable operation (I travel a fair amount)- but it
would hopefully let you select the "User" data mode which is SSB with the
ability to select the narrow filter, and use the "Data" jack on the back as
the audio in instead of the Mic input.

But you are right about Yaesu - EVERY radio is different - that is why I, as
a SCS PTCII dealer, have stopped supporting Yaesu - SCS is feeling the same
way.

Hopefully I will have a PTCIIPRO in my hands by Field Day and be able to use
it for RTTY/PSK31 - the PTCII is a VERY GOOD RTTY box - hopefully the Pro
will be even better (hard to imagine).

73

Don Melcher
W6ZO

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Hill AA5AU [mailto:aa5au@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2001 8:04 PM
To: Don Melcher
Subject: Re: [WriteLog] LSB is really FSK, and Entrgra Serial Hub issues


Don et al,

LSB is really FSK... is only used when you use AFSK for RTTY.
In some cases, some radios need to be in the LSB mode to operate
AFSK when audio is sent from a TNC or sound card to the audio input
(or mic input) of a transmitter to send RTTY.

LSB is really FSK... needs to be checked when running AFSK and
your radio is in LSB.  If this is not checked, WriteLog thinks you are
running a SSB contest and will try to send a .wav file.  By checking
LSB is really FSK... then WriteLog knows to send the contents of the
buffer as set up for RTTY.  That is all it's meant to do (I think).  If it
changes the mode of your transceiver, that's something new to me.

If you want to run SSB, do not check LSB is really FSK...  By the way,
LSB is the standard for running AFSK on RTTY.  Some may argue
that AFSK is for VHF only.  Well, in today's HF digital world, AFSK
means to you are sending audio to your radio and the audio shifts mark
and space.  FSK is when you send on/off keying to your radio and your
radio does the frequency shift keying unless, of course, you are using
a Yaesu radio, then everything goes out the window.

Hope this helps.

73, Don AA5AU

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Melcher" <don@hfradio.com>
To: <writelog@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2001 3:46 PM
Subject: [WriteLog] LSB is really FSK, and Entrgra Serial Hub issues


>
> I am a new WL user, but...?
>
> Shouldn't it be FSK is really LSB? Seems bass-ackwards to me - I was
> checking out WL for FD and when I checked the option it put my IC 718 in
> RTTY when I selected LSB - shouldn't this be a switch for AFSK to put the
> radio in LSB (or, USB, if prefered) when you tell the program to go to
FSK?
> Am I missing something? Why would you want the radio to go to RTTY when
you
> select LSB???
>
> But when I went back just to confirm what I was seeing, and it works like
I
> expected - AFTER I changed bands. Boy am I confused!!!
>
> Also - using the Entrgra 4Serial/2USB adapter, and the selected port stops
> responding after a while and I get a server busy window, with the whole
> program locked-up. Previous posts re:Entrgra indicate no problems. Tried
> with and without the port being configured for DOS support, and changed
the
> port from Radio to TNC to Rotor - same problems.
>
> BTW - the band-map window is REALLY cool!!!!
>
>
> Don
> W6ZO
>
>
>
>
> --
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>




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