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RTTY for SOTA?

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wayne burdick

RTTY for SOTA?

Administrator

No, this is not a trick question :) And yes, I'm aware that most data mode operation uses computer based modes like FT8 and JS9call these days. But read on.

Of all the data modes available to ultralight adventures, RTTY is the easiest to use, for three reasons -- assuming you have a KX3 or KX2:

- it's easy to tune in mark/space tones using the CWT display on the rig's LCD

- text decode appears immediately on the VFO B display -- no other gear required

- paddle-sent CW gets converted to RTTY while in FSK-D mode

- no need for a computer, smartphone, etc. to do demodulation

The K3/K3S, KX3, and KX2 all have these RTTY and PSK modes built-in, at multiple baud rates.

I've made hundreds of Field Day and contest QSOs using RTTY on Elecraft rigs, but I was wondering...has anyone tried RTTY on a SOTA outing?

If someone would like to experiment with this on a sked, I'd be happy to give it a go.

I also have the vague notion that slower, nonstandard RTTY might be fun to experiment with to improve SNR and reduce bit error rate during fading. Thoughts on this topic would be welcome. It would be easy to add such a mode to our KX line.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Michael Walker

Re: RTTY for SOTA?

Wayne

I think doing RTTY is a good idea. Speaking from someone who used to own a
Model 15 with Tube Terminal Unit! :)

I still do RTTY today.

Mike va3mw

On Mon, Aug 17, 2020 at 9:27 PM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

> No, this is not a trick question :) And yes, I'm aware that most data
> mode operation uses computer based modes like FT8 and JS9call these days.
> But read on.
>
> Of all the data modes available to ultralight adventures, RTTY is the
> easiest to use, for three reasons -- assuming you have a KX3 or KX2:
>
> - it's easy to tune in mark/space tones using the CWT display on the rig's
> LCD
>
> - text decode appears immediately on the VFO B display -- no other gear
> required
>
> - paddle-sent CW gets converted to RTTY while in FSK-D mode
>
> - no need for a computer, smartphone, etc. to do demodulation
>
> The K3/K3S, KX3, and KX2 all have these RTTY and PSK modes built-in, at
> multiple baud rates.
>
> I've made hundreds of Field Day and contest QSOs using RTTY on Elecraft
> rigs, but I was wondering...has anyone tried RTTY on a SOTA outing?
>
> If someone would like to experiment with this on a sked, I'd be happy to
> give it a go.
>
> I also have the vague notion that slower, nonstandard RTTY might be fun to
> experiment with to improve SNR and reduce bit error rate during fading.
> Thoughts on this topic would be welcome. It would be easy to add such a
> mode to our KX line.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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>

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wayne burdick

Re: RTTY for SOTA?

Administrator

Yeah, Mike, there's something "magic" about it. Receive tuning isn't finicky. And when you send CW with the paddle, you get to hear both your CW sidetone as well as the FSK mark/space tones, 12 dB down :)

Wayne
N6KR

> On Aug 17, 2020, at 7:16 PM, Michael Walker <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Wayne
>
> I think doing RTTY is a good idea. Speaking from someone who used to own a Model 15 with Tube Terminal Unit! :)
>
> I still do RTTY today.
>
> Mike va3mw
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 17, 2020 at 9:27 PM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
> No, this is not a trick question :) And yes, I'm aware that most data mode operation uses computer based modes like FT8 and JS9call these days. But read on.
>
> Of all the data modes available to ultralight adventures, RTTY is the easiest to use, for three reasons -- assuming you have a KX3 or KX2:
>
> - it's easy to tune in mark/space tones using the CWT display on the rig's LCD
>
> - text decode appears immediately on the VFO B display -- no other gear required
>
> - paddle-sent CW gets converted to RTTY while in FSK-D mode
>
> - no need for a computer, smartphone, etc. to do demodulation
>
> The K3/K3S, KX3, and KX2 all have these RTTY and PSK modes built-in, at multiple baud rates.
>
> I've made hundreds of Field Day and contest QSOs using RTTY on Elecraft rigs, but I was wondering...has anyone tried RTTY on a SOTA outing?
>
> If someone would like to experiment with this on a sked, I'd be happy to give it a go.
>
> I also have the vague notion that slower, nonstandard RTTY might be fun to experiment with to improve SNR and reduce bit error rate during fading. Thoughts on this topic would be welcome. It would be easy to add such a mode to our KX line.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Rick M0LEP-2

Re: RTTY for SOTA?

On Tue 18 Aug Wayne Burdick wrote:
> If someone would like to experiment with this on a sked, I'd be happy
> to give it a go.

The 2020 SOTA Challenge is running different "Flavours" for the first
seven UTC days of each month this year. As luck would have it, the
flavour for September 1st-7th is datamodes. I'm pretty sure RTTY counts
there. :)

For more details see the announcement on the SOTA reflector at
https://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/sota-flavours-challenge-2020/21808

....with more at
https://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/flavours-challenge-discussion/21953

....and discussion of the previous datamodes week at
https://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/datamodes-challenge-flavour-1st-7th-february-2020/22009

--
73, Rick, M0LEP (KX3 #3281)

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Jim Brown-10

Re: RTTY for SOTA?

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

On 8/17/2020 6:25 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
> RTTY is the easiest to use, for three reasons -- assuming you have a KX3 or KX2:

That's the easy part. The hard part is finding someone to work, except
during RTTY contests, and contesters are not going to be happy with RTTY
sent that way. :)

73, Jim K9YC
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Adrian-3

Re: RTTY for SOTA?

Jim, Yes tough to find RTTY on the bands now. I have had to setup skeds
via RTTY online groups/clubs to

get a RTTY session. Also Gabe VK2LGS please PM (good on qrz re vk4tux
email), for a RTTY contact if interested.

Adrian Fewster

On 19/8/20 8:44 am, Jim Brown wrote:

> On 8/17/2020 6:25 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
>> RTTY is the easiest to use, for three reasons -- assuming you have a
>> KX3 or KX2:
>
> That's the easy part. The hard part is finding someone to work, except
> during RTTY contests, and contesters are not going to be happy with
> RTTY sent that way. :)
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>

Dave Fugleberg

Re: RTTY for SOTA?

A few weeks ago, I was playing with my KX2 and tuning around on 20m when I
ran across a RTTY signal. It was a special event station. I worked them
with the paddle on the KX2.
I wouldn’t want to work RTTY all day that way, but it does get the job done
without a PC, and RTTY outside of contests does happen from time to time!
73 de W0ZF

On Tue, Aug 18, 2020 at 7:04 PM Adrian <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Jim, Yes tough to find RTTY on the bands now. I have had to setup skeds
>
> via RTTY online groups/clubs to
>
>
>
> get a RTTY session. Also Gabe VK2LGS please PM (good on qrz re vk4tux
>
> email), for a RTTY contact if interested.
>
>
>
>
>
> Adrian Fewster
>
>
>
>
>
> On 19/8/20 8:44 am, Jim Brown wrote:
>
> > On 8/17/2020 6:25 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
>
> >> RTTY is the easiest to use, for three reasons -- assuming you have a
>
> >> KX3 or KX2:
>
> >
>
> > That's the easy part. The hard part is finding someone to work, except
>
> > during RTTY contests, and contesters are not going to be happy with
>
> > RTTY sent that way. :)
>
> >
>
> > 73, Jim K9YC
>
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
>
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>
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>
>
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>
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
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>
>

KK1W

Re: RTTY for SOTA?

In reply to this post by Michael Walker

Wayne,

A small group of SOTA activators were on Burley Hill, W1/MR-002, September
30th, 2012 using the SOTA Jerks club call NE1SJ. Propagation was better in
2012 and toward the end of the activation I tuned around the 10 meter band
with my KX3 looking for more contacts. Back then I was probably using a 41'
end fed wire and it wasn't very high.

I found some strong RTTY signals, apparently a contest but I don't know
which one. Remembering the KX3 could do RTTY with the paddles I quickly
figured out how to make it work (well, maybe not so 'quickly' but it didn't
take too long) and managed to work Marco, IK0YVV. I put another contact in
my SOTA log and Marco logged another contest Q.

I think there were four of us on this activation (KX1X, N1FJ, K1MAZ and
myself) and I'm sure everyone remembers working Italy on 10m RTTY, QRP that
day.

Anyway, that was my only SOTA RTTY experience with KX3 #1124. I've made
hundreds of SOTA contacts since but most are CW.

Still using my KX3, this year not many SOTA activations but it has had a
workout in FD 2019 and 2020, 2A battery, QRP.

'73...
Jim/KK1W

> I've made hundreds of Field Day and contest QSOs using RTTY on Elecraft
> rigs, but I was wondering...has anyone tried RTTY on a SOTA outing?
>

> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>

--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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wayne burdick

Re: RTTY for SOTA?

Administrator

Great story, Jim. Thanks.

10 m is amazing when it's open. I once worked Italy from Massachusetts mobile, driving up 495, running about 250 mW CW to a mag-mount whip about 3' long. The rig was homebrew, about 4x2x1", powered by a 9 V lithium battery. I would say "doesn't get much better than that," but every year I then get surprised by things that *are* better.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

> On Aug 19, 2020, at 4:14 AM, KK1W <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Wayne,
>
> A small group of SOTA activators were on Burley Hill, W1/MR-002, September
> 30th, 2012 using the SOTA Jerks club call NE1SJ. Propagation was better in
> 2012 and toward the end of the activation I tuned around the 10 meter band
> with my KX3 looking for more contacts. Back then I was probably using a 41'
> end fed wire and it wasn't very high.
>
> I found some strong RTTY signals, apparently a contest but I don't know
> which one. Remembering the KX3 could do RTTY with the paddles I quickly
> figured out how to make it work (well, maybe not so 'quickly' but it didn't
> take too long) and managed to work Marco, IK0YVV. I put another contact in
> my SOTA log and Marco logged another contest Q.
>
> I think there were four of us on this activation (KX1X, N1FJ, K1MAZ and
> myself) and I'm sure everyone remembers working Italy on 10m RTTY, QRP that
> day.
>
> Anyway, that was my only SOTA RTTY experience with KX3 #1124. I've made
> hundreds of SOTA contacts since but most are CW.
>
> Still using my KX3, this year not many SOTA activations but it has had a
> workout in FD 2019 and 2020, 2A battery, QRP.
>
> '73...
> Jim/KK1W
>
>
>
>
>
>> I've made hundreds of Field Day and contest QSOs using RTTY on Elecraft
>> rigs, but I was wondering...has anyone tried RTTY on a SOTA outing?
>>
>
>> 73,
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]