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Help with RTTY

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Jeff Kinzli N6GQ

Help with RTTY

I've not done much in the way of RTTY but thought I'd get on for CQWW
this weekend and work a few guys with the built in data capability in
the K3.

Try as I might, I can't get it to decode anything correctly. I seem to
have lackluster results getting stuff to display on the VFOB area of
the screen with any kind of consistency and I just don't know what's
wrong.

Does anyone have a "RTTY with the K3 for dummies"? I don't really want
to go off and install any RTTY software, would just like to use the
built in K3 stuff to make a few QSOs.

Thanks, unicast to me is fine.

Jeff
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Help with RTTY

Jeff,

If you are not accustomed to RTTY (or other digital modes) operation, I
would encourage you to use a computer application to start out with.
Clicking on the waterfall display to decode signals is much easier than
tuning the signal to a spot which will allow good decoding in the K3 VFO
B area (or using K3 Utility Terminal - same thing).
Once you have developed a feel for the RTTY mode, then you can advance
to using the K3 Utility or the K3 VFO B area for decoding.

If you insist on using the VFO B display or K3 Utility, set the AFSK-A
(or FSK-D) menu parameter to the baud rate of the station you are trying
to copy (it will usually be 45 bps), then use the dual passband to
reject unwanted signals - tune the K3 carefully using CWT so you see 3
bars on each side of the center marker. You should then see good
decoded text.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/24/2010 8:13 PM, Jeff Kinzli N6GQ wrote:

> I've not done much in the way of RTTY but thought I'd get on for CQWW
> this weekend and work a few guys with the built in data capability in
> the K3.
>
> Try as I might, I can't get it to decode anything correctly. I seem to
> have lackluster results getting stuff to display on the VFOB area of
> the screen with any kind of consistency and I just don't know what's
> wrong.
>
> Does anyone have a "RTTY with the K3 for dummies"? I don't really want
> to go off and install any RTTY software, would just like to use the
> built in K3 stuff to make a few QSOs.
>
> Thanks, unicast to me is fine.
>
> Jeff
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

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Jim Brown-10

Re: Help with RTTY

Jeff,

I strongly agree with Don. MMTTY integrates VERY nicely with both
WriteLog and N1MM. I use N1MM. You're welcome to come up here and see it
this weekend. I'm not taking it seriously, but I will get on and play a
bit.

73, Jim K9YC

On 9/24/2010 5:40 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Jeff,
>
> If you are not accustomed to RTTY (or other digital modes) operation, I
> would encourage you to use a computer application to start out with.
> Clicking on the waterfall display to decode signals is much easier than
> tuning the signal to a spot which will allow good decoding in the K3 VFO
> B area (or using K3 Utility Terminal - same thing).
> Once you have developed a feel for the RTTY mode, then you can advance
> to using the K3 Utility or the K3 VFO B area for decoding.
>
> If you insist on using the VFO B display or K3 Utility, set the AFSK-A
> (or FSK-D) menu parameter to the baud rate of the station you are trying
> to copy (it will usually be 45 bps), then use the dual passband to
> reject unwanted signals - tune the K3 carefully using CWT so you see 3
> bars on each side of the center marker. You should then see good
> decoded text.

Jeff Kinzli N6GQ

Re: Help with RTTY

On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 18:10, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote:
> Jeff,
>
> I strongly agree with Don. MMTTY integrates VERY nicely with both
> WriteLog and N1MM. I use N1MM. You're welcome to come up here and see it
> this weekend. I'm not taking it seriously, but I will get on and play a
> bit.

Jim and Don, thanks for the input. I think I got it working sort of,
enough to make a few QSOs.

Jim, I may take you up on that...I'll be in touch if I can make it up.

Thanks!

Jeff

> 73, Jim K9YC
>
> On 9/24/2010 5:40 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> Jeff,
>>
>> If you are not accustomed to RTTY (or other digital modes) operation, I
>> would encourage you to use a computer application to start out with.
>> Clicking on the waterfall display to decode signals is much easier than
>> tuning the signal to a spot which will allow good decoding in the K3 VFO
>> B area (or using K3 Utility Terminal - same thing).
>> Once you have developed a feel for the RTTY mode, then you can advance
>> to using the K3 Utility or the K3 VFO B area for decoding.
>>
>> If you insist on using the VFO B display or K3 Utility, set the AFSK-A
>> (or FSK-D) menu parameter to the baud rate of the station you are trying
>> to copy (it will usually be 45 bps), then use the dual passband to
>> reject unwanted signals - tune the K3 carefully using CWT so you see 3
>> bars on each side of the center marker. You should then see good
>> decoded text.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

Barry

Re: Help with RTTY

In reply to this post by Jeff Kinzli N6GQ

I know this is a little late for the contest, but if you're using the RTTY decode within the K3, it defaults to 75 baud (100 WPM). You need to change that to decode 60 WPM, which is the standard.

Dennis KB7ST

Re: Help with RTTY

In reply to this post by Jeff Kinzli N6GQ

Jeff,

I was in the same situation with native RTTY and PSK decoding with the K3. We camp a lot in our small RV trailer and I wanted to master the native capability B4 hooking up a computer. I just couldn't get the hang of tuning PSK and RTTY, but got it down pat now. Most of the ham band RTTY QSOs were too short to get the hang of tuning, and I mastered the PSK tuning first. Here are my suggestions ~

-- change the RTTY pitch decode to 915 instead of 2125. I found it easier to listen with my ear, having set CW pitch to its highest of about 900 hZ. I was trying to find the 'audio tone sweet spot', so to speak.

-- find some strong RTTY transmissions. The two that helped me the most were the W1AW 3PM and 6PM Pacific data transmissions on Mon thru Fri. If those times are inconvenient, then on Saturdays the 'old' coastal station of KPH has been re-licensed as KSM under the wonderful sponsorship of a group of folks. http://radiomarine.org/ And they do RTTY transmissions long enuf to zero in. I'm not taking anything away from what the other folks have said as they have been most helpful to me. So I would start tuning up in FSK D mode until the leftmost bars when solid and could hear the 915 pitch tone. Once you got it decoding on those transmitters, then you can play with narrowing the filter BW and trying the DUAL PB.

Good luck...
Dennis

SN #4335 with 13, 2.8 and 400 8-pole filters and 10 watts. TCXO KBPF3 general coverage option. Plus the wonderful T1 tuner and two BL2 baluns. Back on HF after 25-year absence.