Tips for Better RTTY Contest Operation

Transcription

1 Tips for Better RTTY Contest Operation MINNESOTA WIRELESS ASSOCIATION FALL MEETING SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 ALAN DEWEY, K0AD

2 Introduction 1. High Level Overview 2. Based on N1MM+ (Examples) 3. Will Answer Writelog Questions (with Help) 4. References W0YK Dayton 2016 Presentation

3 K0AD RTTY Claim to Fame

4 Topics 1. Filtering 2. Using Multiple Decoders 3. Using the Call Stack 4. SO2R 5. Function Keys vs Mouse 6. Message Setup Tips 7. Using Call History / Previous Exchange Files

5 Topics 1. Filtering 2. Using Multiple Decoders 3. Using the Call Stack 4. SO2R 5. Function Keys vs Mouse 6. Message Setup Tips 7. Using Call History / Previous Exchange Files

6 Filtering- WØYK Recommendations 1. Minimize Band Noise on Scope (5% of Range) 2. Normally Use 500 Hz Filter 3. Use 250 Hz Filter If Lots of QRM 4. Do Not Use Twin Peak Filters 5. Turn Off (or Minimize AGC)

7 AFC (Automatic Frequency Control) 1. When Running AFC On 2. When S&P AFC OFF 3. In N1MM Plus Digital Window Setup, Check: AFC On/Off with CQ

8 Improving Your Transmitted FSK Signal 1. Important that others copy you well. 2. Just like on CW, slow PC can cause jitter with direct FSK keying. 3. Solution (Offload FSK from your PC) USB products like Microham External TU units Tiny FSK ( Audrino / Rasberry Pi homebrew unit (Google K8UT Hamvention 2015)

9 Topics 1. Filtering 2. Using Multiple Decoders 3. Using the Call Stack 4. SO2R 5. Function Keys vs Mouse 6. Message Setup Tips 7. Using Call History / Previous Exchange Files

10 Using Multiple Decoders 1. Increases Chances of Decoding Signal 2. One Decoder Not Always the Best

11 Using Multiple MMTTY Profiles

12 Multiple MMTTY Instances Needed

13 Multiple RTTY Decoders 1. 2 Tone Better decoding than MMTTY under tough condx 2. GRITTY Currently available for N1MM+ only Uses statistics to determine what text might be Does not work as well with tight filtering

14 Multiple RTTY Decoders

15 Multiple Scopes

16 Cleaned Up Display with Multiple Decoders 2Tone Scope Behind Here GRITTY Scope Minimized 2Tone Gritty MMTTY

17 Topics 1. Filtering 2. Using Multiple Decoders 3. Using the Call Stack 4. SO2R 5. Function Keys vs Mouse 6. Message Setup Tips 7. Using Call History / Previous Exchange Files

18 Call Sign Stacking

19 Call Sign Stacking 1. Let Pileup Continue 1 to 3 seconds after getting first call sign. 2. Slow Down to Win WØYK 3. Calls pushed onto stack as they arrive 4. GRAB command in Macros moves call into Entry Window 5. Often Used with the NOW message 6. Most useful when you are a Wanted call sign

20 Topics 1. Filtering 2. Using Multiple Decoders 3. Using the Call Stack 4. SO2R 5. Function Keys vs Mouse 6. Message Setup Tips 7. Using Call History / Previous Exchange Files

21 Single Operator / Two Radio (SO2R) 1. SO2R Easier in RTTY than CW or SSB 2. Assumes Your Station has SO2R Infrastructure 2 Radios, Switching, Bandpass Filters, Etc. 3. Dual CQing Particularly Effective on RTTY 4. Remember You don t Own 2 Frequencies

22 Coax Coax Radio 1 IC-7600 Top Ten SO2R Box Radio 2 FT-2000D To Computer WXØB SixPak Ant. Switch Auto/Manual Switch To Computer Dunestar Switchable Band-Pass Filter Interface Box Dunestar Switchable Band-Pass Filter To 6 Meter Beam To 15/20 Dipole To 10/15/20 Vertical Manual Coax Switch WXØB SixPak To Yagi (10/15/20) To Yagi (40) To 80 M Inverted V To 160 M Inverted L

23 Be Sure to Configure TX Lockout!

24 Single Operator / Two Radio Video Clip Play Video Clip

25 Other SO2R RTTY Tips 1. When Dual Cqing, Set Up a QRV Macro 2. Less Time to Watch Foot Ball! 3. Some Contesters are Doing SO3R and Beyond on RTTY

26 Topics 1. Filtering 2. Using Multiple Decoders 3. Using the Call Stack 4. SO2R 5. Function Keys vs Mouse 6. Message Setup Tips 7. Using Call History / Previous Exchange Files

27 Function Keys vs Mouse 1. Matter of Personnel Preference 2. Not necessarily either / or can be both 3. INSERT and + key extremely useful in both Writelog and N1MM Plus

28 RTTY Messages F-Key Messages

29 Message Buttons Keep it Simple Control Commands Run Messages S&P Messages Misc Messages

30 K0AD Preference 1. Use mouse most of the time 2. Use F Keys During Simple Running (or Dual Cqing) Dual CQ: F1 / F1 / F1,etc 3. Use mouse when going hot and heavy with SO2R 4. Sometimes variety reduces boredom

31 Topics 1. Filtering 2. Using Multiple Decoders 3. Using the Call Stack 4. SO2R 5. Function Keys vs Mouse 6. Message Setup Tips 7. Using Call History / Previous Exchange Files

32 F Keys for RTTY (From WØYK) CR/LF Space Receive

33 F Keys for RTTY (From WØYK) rarely used RTTY practice RIT clear

34 F Keys for RTTY (From WØYK) other radio freq. Stacked Call Sign exchange

35 Message Set Tips from WØYK 1. Short, as with CW/SSB 2. No extraneous info (not 5NN) once 4. Serial number twice 5. Space (not hyphen) 6. Omit DE 7. RTTY chars (%R, %E)

36 Topics 1. Filtering 2. Using Multiple Decoders 3. Using the Call Stack 4. SO2R 5. Function Keys vs Mouse 6. Message Setup Tips 7. Using Call History / Previous Exchange Files

37 Call History / Preset Exchange Files 1. Think of these as a Typing Aid 2. You still need to verify what is sent! 3. Particularly usefully in RTTY Contests (less mouse clicks) 4. Sources for Call History Files 1. Build / maintain your own 2. Download from Web Site 3. Use last year s contest

38 Call History Using Last Contest 1. Load Previous Contest 2. Clear and Update 3. Load New Contest Log 4. Enable Call History Lookup

39 Super Check Partial (from WØYK) 1. SCP (Super Check Partial) enables computer to pick out call signs in receive window Call signs New mults and double mults Dupes 2. Use main SCP from CW/SSB/RTTY contests RTTY SCP is a subset

40 CQWW RTTY Screen For K0AD

41 One Final Tip Just like CW and SSB, More BIC equals more QSOs equals Higher Score!