QRZ! Ham Radio 4

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Text File | 1994-03-20 | 17KB | 411 lines

Pactor/Amtor/RTTY Multimode HF software 0. License ---------- This software is copyrighted 1993 by Tom Sailer, HB9JNX, Weinbergstrasse 76, 8408 Winterthur, Switzerland. You may not use this program for purposes other than amateur radio. You may not modify this program. You may share this program, provided you do not charge any fee for use, copying or distributing and you do not remove or modify any file. Commercial use or distribution is strictly prohibited without the w r i t t e n p e r m i s s i o n of the author. The author hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The author will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason. The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software. Files belonging to the DJ6HP version TERMD EXE ALLMODE INI LICENSE TXT MANUAL DOC Files belonging to the DSP version CONV170 DSP CONV200 DSP CONV425 DSP CONV850 DSP CONVM DSP CONVM200 DSP FFTSAMPL DSP TERM EXE ALLMODE INI LICENSE TXT MANUAL DOC 1. General overview ------------------- The HB9JNX HF RTTY/Amtor/Pactor software allows you to operate in these modes using cheap hardware. All the protocols are handled by the computer. Therefore you need at least a 286 computer, 386 should be better. There are currently two versions of this software: One for use with a DJ6HP-like analog converter, the other one for use with the Texas Instruments DSP Starters Kit with the TMS320C26 (Of course, you can use any hardware with the TMS320C26 and the TLC32040 whit 40MHz clock frequency). The DSP version is the preferred one. Its memory ARQ (in Pactor) performs much superior to that in the DJ6HP version, since the demodulator data is transferred to the computer with a high precision instead of just "0" or "1". Additionally, it allows you to use different mark/space separations (useful to copy commercial RTTY stations) and allows you to set the mark and space frequencies anywhere in the audio passband of your transceiver. Another plus is the spectrum display. The demodulator software is what is called "matched filters", which are the ideal noncoherent FSK demodulator. This document assumes that you are already familiar with RTTY, Amtor and Pactor (Pactor is not very different from Amtor from the operators point of view, except that you are encouraged to type in lower case, since lower case letters are compressed better). It assumes too that you are familiar with expressions such as mark frequency, space frequency, how to calculate the transceiver frequency to receive a particular mark frequency, baud rates, etc. If not, get help from a nearby ham who's experienced with these things. 1.1. Connection of the hardware ------------------------------- 1.1.1. DSP Version ------------------ Connect the DSP Starters Kit to the computer as you would for use with the Texas Instruments debugger. If you've built the hardware yourself, you must wire the XF line to the RS232 RXD, the BIO line to the RS232 TXD and the RS line to the RS232 DTR. Since the DSP is a 5V device and RS232 uses +-12V, you have to USE APPROPRIATE LINE DRIVERS (such as 1488/1489). You should invert RXD and TXD once, and DTR twice. (If you inverted DTR only once, change the ComDTRInvert entry in the allmode.ini file, see also Appendix A) Connect the Transceiver fixed level audio output (if not available, the try the phones output, but this may be too slow) to the AIC input or auxin, and the AIC output to the transceiver input. You may adjust the modem output level in the allmode.ini file, but it is recommended to use an external resistor divider network. The transmitter is keyed via the RS232 RTS line. ATTENTION: +-12V. I recommend the use of transformers for the audio input and output and an optocoupler for RTS, in order to separate the transceiver and the computer/modem galvanically. 1.1.2. DJ6HP filter converter version ------------------------------------- In order to operate Pactor, you need first to make the filter bandwidths larger. Consult the local Packet BBS. Then connect the converter to a parallel printer port as follows: - Converter (digital) output to the BUSY line (Pin 11) (low is mark) - (A)FSK generator to DATA6 (Pin 8) (high is mark) - PTT to DATA7 (Pin 9). (high is transmit) - Ground is Pin 18-26. 1.1.3. Configuring the software ------------------------------- The configuration is stored in the ALLMODE.INI file. This is an ASCII text file. See Appendix A for the details on the entrys in this file. 2. Operation ------------ 2.1. Transceiver filters ------------------------ Do not use too narrow receiver IF filters, especially with the DSP version. These filters usually exhibit a very large phase distortion at the edge of their passband. Do not use filters narrower than 500Hz. Even 500Hz may be too narrow, so you probably should try it without the filter. (Remember: the bandwith taken by a 200 Baud Pactor signal is 400Hz). Adjust the center frequency of your converter to the center frequency of the receiver filter. 2.2. Organisation of the user interface --------------------------------------- The user interface is menu driven. The screen is split into 4 areas: The Rx window is the largest area. It shows you in white what you received from the QSO partner, and in blue, what you typed and is already transmitted. The Tx window is only a few lines and shows what you're currently typing. Note that the word currently typed is not sent until you type a non-letter character, in order to allow you to correct mistypings in AMTOR and RTTY. (In Pactor, you may correct as much as you want, since a BACKSPACE signal can be sent over the air). The Monitor window shows you what is currently going on on the air. You need to know the protocol basics in order to understand what this means. The same holds for the link state window. The menu is invoked via the F2 key. You may then select every item with the arrow keys and the ENTER key which is light white. The gray white items are disabled. Submenus are indicated by an arrow pointing to the right. I won't explain every menu item, since operation should be quite straight forward. One note though: On Startup, nothing happens at first. If you want to listen to a QSO in Amtor or Pactor, you will have to press F4, or if you want to print RTTY, you will have to press F7. The same can be accomplished via the menu. 2.3. Tuning ----------- Tuning in the DJ6HP version should be done with an external indicator, such as an X-Y-scope. Tuning in the DSP version can be accomplished in two ways: The spectrum display can be used to tune and to determine the spacing between mark and space. (Note: RTTY and Amtor usually have 170Hz, Pactor has 200Hz, but Amtor and RTTY with the PTC have also 200Hz, in short 170Hz and 200Hz are mixed randomly in the amateur community). During a QSO or for fast tuning you may use the tuning indicator at the top right of the screen. 2.4. Pactor quirks ------------------ In the Pactor section, there a few things are implemented uncommonly. There is no automatic algorithm for speed change. That is, you have to switch manually to 200 baud. Speed down is requested if a packet cannot be correctly received during 4 cycles. Note that you can only request a speed up if you are the information receiving station (IRS). The reason for this is that observations on the band have shown that the original PTC looses a lot of time trying to speed up without success if the condx are quite bad. Given the information in the link state window, it should be quite easy (after you've made some experiences) to decide if 200 bauds could work. If you try to speed up and fail, the software automatically falls back to 100 baud. I think this limitation is not too severe since in any case this terminal software cannot be used for unattended operation. Pactor disconnect may fail, i.e. if you want to disconnect the other end you and you miss the first acknowledge, your end tries to disconnect until the retry counter reaches zero. This is due to (yet another) bug in the original PTC. Hopefully this will be fixed in the PTCplus design. (N.B. this does not work correctly with two original PTCs too). You may stop transmitting QRT packets by manually pressing F4 (for Listen mode) Appendix -------- A. ALLMODE.INI File format -------------------------- A.1. General Format ------------------- This file is an ordinary ASCII Text file, without any control sequences. It is organised in sections. The section names are enclosed in square brackets. [section] key=value ... If value is a boolean, then it may be either 0,F,1 or T. Integer numbers may be either decimal or hexadecimal, terminated with a "H". A.2. Section [DSP] (not available in the DJ6HP version) ------------------ AICLevel=0 This parameter specifies the adc input range. 0 = -1.5 .. 1.5 Volts 1 = -3 .. 3 Volts 2 = -6 .. 6 Volts AICAuxIn=T This parameter specifies whether the normal input (F) or the auxilary input (T) should be used. ConvTXAttenuation=15 This parameter specifies the attenuation of the audio output level (in decibels, not negative and integer). ConvAdjust=9500H In the DSP version, the whole timing is controlled by the DSP. This parameter may be used to adjust the clock of the DSP board. Increase it if the clock is too slow. An indication for this is the "dt" value in the status display, if it is mostly negative, WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN CONNECTED, I.E. AMTOR SLAVE OR PACTOR SLAVE MODE, then try to increase this value (and vice versa) ComRTSInvert=F The RTS line is used as the PTT. Specifies whether you're using negative or positive logic. ComDTRInvert=F The DTR line is used to reset the DSP. Specifies whether you're using negative or positive logic. (Use F for the standard TI DSK board) ComInt=4 Interrupt line for the com port. Only Ints from 3 to 7 are supported. 4 for COM1 and COM3, 3 for COM2 and COM4 ComAddr=3F8H Address of the com port. 3F8H for COM1, 3E8H for COM2, 2F8H for COM3, and 2E8H for COM4 ProgFile##=CONVM200.DSP ## are consecutive numbers starting with 00. Specifies which DSP software files are available and should appear in the DSP menu. These are different converters. The number in the filename usually stands for the frequency shift between mark and space of this specific converter. A.3. Section [FFT] (not available in the DJ6HP version) ------------------ DefaultFreq=1275 Specifies the default frequency for the cursors in the FFT display. DefaultMark=F Specifies whether the above frequency is the mark frequency or the space frequency. The other frequency is calculated from this frequency and the shift set in the FFT screen. MatchedFilter=CONVM.DSP This is the matched filter converter software. This software package is able to calculate matched filters for the frequencies you've specified in the FFT screen. This is the filter software for these matched filters. After leaving the FFT screen or by selecting the "Download matched filter" menu command, this filter is downloaded to the DSP. Sample=FFTSAMPLE.DSP This is the DSP software for the FFT screen Mono=F If T, forces the use of a monochrome display mode. ColSpace=10 ColMark=14 ColGrid=4 ColTrace=15 ColText=7 These are different color settings. Range is from 0 to 15, except for the monochrome modes, where it is from 0 to 1 A.4. Section [DJ6HP] (not available in the DSP version) -------------------- ConvAdjust=20 In the DJ6HP version, the hole timing is controlled by the computer clock. This parameter may be used to adjust the computer clock. Decrease it if the clock is too slow. An indication for this is the "dt" value in the status display, if it is mostly negative, WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN CONNECTED, I.E. AMTOR SLAVE OR PACTOR SLAVE MODE, then try to decrease this value (and vice versa) (ATTN: It's exactly the other way round as with the parameter of the same name in the DSP section!!) LptAddr=3BCH This is the address of the LPT port. LPT1 is 378H, LPT2 is 278H, and the LPT port on the hercules graphics card is 3BCH. Connect the Converter (digital) output to the BUSY line (Pin 11), the (A)FSK generator to DATA6 (Pin 8) and PTT to DATA7 (Pin 9). Ground is Pin 18-26. A.5. Section [RTTY] ------------------- AutoRYRY=T If set, when you start RTTY transmitting, repeated RY is transmitted until you typed the first word. Bits=5 The number of data bits. Valid are 5,7 and 8. CCITT=F Specifies whether the CCITT or the US MIL code should be used. CRLF=F Specifies if a LINEFEED should be sent after CARRIAGE RETURN. Baud=45 The Baudrate, from 45 to 100. DataReverse=F Whether the data bits should be inverted. Reverse=F Whether all should be inverted. A.6. Section [AMTOR] -------------------- WRU=DE MY0CALL+? If not empty, this enables the WRU mechanism. This can be useful for some mailboxes which support the WRU mechanism. After connecting, the mailbox sends you it's bannertext, followed by the wru? character. Then this software gets the key and sends the text you've specified. It should end with +? to give the key back to the mailbox. Using this mechanism can save you the manual login procedure. RxAfterTx=20 This value determines how many milliseconds the software should wait before starting to send in the SLAVE mode. For DX, set it to TxDelay. If you want to do a short range QSO, set it to about 50. TxDelay=20 This is the number of milliseconds your transceiver needs to key up SelCall=NONE This is your selcall. It consists of exactly 4 letters. It is usually the concatenation of the first and the last three letters in your callsign. if you have only three letters in the callsign, you may take the first one twice. Eg. HB9JNX => HJNX, HB9ZZ => HBZZ, ZS5S => ZZSS CrLf=T Whether a LINE FEED should be sent after a CARRIAGE RETURN CapsOnly=F Whether lowercase should be enabled. TxReverse=F Whether the TX should be inverted. Reverse=F Whether mark and space should be exchanged. A.7. Section [PACTOR] --------------------- RxAfterTx=50 This value determines how many milliseconds the software should wait before starting to send in the SLAVE mode. For DX, set it to TxDelay. If you want to do a short range QSO, set it to about 50. You can leave it quite high, since Pactor has a LongPath mode for DX operation. TxDelay=50 This is the number of milliseconds your transceiver needs to key up MyCall=MY0CALL Your Callsign (up to 8 characters) A.8. Section [LISTEN] --------------------- CheapPactor=F If you have a slow computer and it crashed when entering the listen mode or "LOST INTS" is displayed, you may try to set this parameter to T A.9. Section [PACTOR_CALLS] --------------------------- Call##=CA0LL You may specify a list of the calls you use often. The calls entered here appear in the Pactor Call menu, so you don't have to type them. ## are consecutive numbers starting with 00. A.10. Section [AMTOR_CALLS] --------------------------- Call##=CALL You may specify a list of the amtor selcalls you use often. The selcalls entered here appear in the Amtor Call menu, so you don't have to type them. ## are consecutive numbers starting with 00. A.11. Section [FILES] --------------------- Desc##=Title Name##=Filename This is a list of the text files you need often. These files appear in the send file menu. ## are consecutive numbers starting with 00. A.12. Section [CWID] -------------------- Speed=180 This is the speed (paris) of the CW id. Set it to a high number (eg. 180 to 240) to keep the interruption of the data transfer as short as possible. Interval=600 This is the interval in seconds of the CW id during an ARQ QSO. Set it to the highest value which is allowed (set it to 0 to disable CW ID-ing during an ARQ QSO if you needn't do CW id-ing) Call=MY0CALL The text which should be sent as CW id. Omit it if you do not want any CW id.