RTTY Lets get started Mike, K4GMH k4gmh@arrl.net
INTRODUCTION • Where to find HF RTTY on your radio • RTTY Code or what is all this noise about • Interface between Computer and Radio • Computer RTTY Software • Sources of information • RTTY Contesting
WHERE TO FIND RTTY OPERATION • 10 meters: 28080-28100 KHz, during contests 28060-28150 KHz • 15 meters: 21080-21100 KHz, during contests 21060-21150 KHz • 20 meters: 14080-14100 KHz, during contests 14060-14140 KHz • 40 meters: 7025-7050 and 7080-7100 KHz, during contests 7025-7100 KHz • 80 meters: 3580-3600 KHz, during contests 3570 (or lower)-3600 KHz • 160 meters: No RTTY contesting • Notes: • Avoid PSK-31 operations near 28120, 21070, 14070, 7070, 3580 KHz • Avoid the NCDXF beacons at 21150 and 14100 KHz • For more detail, see www.aa5au.com/gettingstarted/rtty_subbands.htm
RTTY CODE • RTTY uses the 5-bit ITA2 code • 5 bits means only 32 characters can be represented • To get around this there are two “sets”, Letters and Figures • Each set uses 26 characters plus 6 common entries • Letters mode • “A” through “Z” (26 CAPITAL letters) • Ltrs shift, Figs shift, null, space, carriage return, line feed • Figures mode • “0” through “9”, various punctuation (26 characters) • Ltrs shift, Figs shift, null, space, carriage return, line feed • Letters Shift and Figures Shift latches which set displayed
RTTY CODE
MARK AND SPACE • RTTY transmission is a continuous carrier which shifts frequency between two distinct frequencies • There is no amplitude modulation, only a pure carrier similar to CW with the addition of a frequency shift. • The lower RF frequency is known as the SPACE • The upper RF frequency is known as the MARK • The difference between the two is known as the SHIFT • Using FSK for a RTTY transmission with display setting at 14090 • Mark frequency is 14090 KHz • Space frequency is 14089.830 KHz • Shift is 170 Hz • Characters sent at 45 baud or 1/6 second per character (60 WPM)
MARK AND SPACE
INTERFACE OVERVIEW
INTERFACE TYPES • The difference is the way your transmitter generates the RF signal. • AFSK = audio frequency shift keying • Mark (2.125kHz) and Space (2.295kHz) audio signals generated from computer sound card to audio input on radio. • AFSK is should be transmitted in LSB mode so Mark frequency is higher than Space frequency. • FSK = frequency shift keying • With FSK, your transmitter receives a simple on-off signal which causes the carrier frequency to shift between mark and space. • Digital signal generated from computer viaserial port or USB (through USB to converter) to FSK input on radio.
FSK vs AFSK • Why use FSK? • Ability to use your CW filters in most rigs • Easier than AFSK to set up • No need to adjust audio drive • Why use AFSK? • If your rig doesn’t have an FSK input • Same interface as PSK31 • Ability to use AFC
FULL MODE INTERFACE
SIMPLE FSK INTERFACE
COMMERCIAL INTERFACES • There are many commercial interfaces with many options • Buxcomm – Rascal • Donner’s – Digital Interface • Ham Radio Solutions – EZMaster • KK7UQ – Model II • MFJ – 1273, 1275, and 1279 • MicroHAM – USB Interface II • RigExpert – Navigator • Tigertronics – Signal Link • West Mountain Radio – RigBlaster • ZLP Electronics - DigiMaster
Computer Software • Software for computer decoding received RTTY signal and • generating RTTY signal for transmission (that I am familiar • with) • - MMTTY (http://mmhamsoft.amateur-radio.ca/) • - MixW2 (http://mixw.net/) • - Ham Radio Deluxe w/ Digital Master 780 • (http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/) • MMTTY RTTY only, but used with all major contest • logging software. Free • MixW2 includes most digital programs including CW • (send/receive), SSB, SSTV, PSK, Packet (receive only), • Olivia, etc. $50 • HRD/DM 780 PSK, SSTV, Olivia, etc. Free?
MMTTY SCREEN
MixW2 SCREEN
SOURCES OF INFORMATION AA5AU Website: Getting Started on RTTY - detailed step-by-step instructions (www.aa5au.com/rtty.html) RTTY Contest Macros - examples and explanations: (www.rttycontesting.com/rttymessages.htm) RTTY Tutorials - WriteLog, MMTTY, software-generated FSK, Microham Microkeyer, etc. (www.rttycontesting.com/tutorials/tutorials.htm) Downloads - Super Check Partial (RTTY version), keyboard templates, etc. (www.rttycontesting.com/downloads/downloads.htm) Miscellaneous - SO2R, contest notes, survey results, USB-to-serial adaptors, improving your RTTY scores Getting Started on RTTY: AA5AU website (www.aa5au.com/rtty.html) British Amateur Radio Teledata Group (BARTG) (www.bartg.org.uk/articles/Getting%20started%20on%20RTTY.pdf) DX-Stations Guide to RTTY Operations (www.plicht.de/ekki/rtty/dxguide.html) Sound Card Interfacing: Understanding Soundcard Interfacing by Ernie Mills, WM2U (www.qsl.net/wm2u/interface.html) Simple Serial FSK Setup (users.skynet.be/ON4AOI/keyer.shtml) Understanding FSK and AFSK (homepage.mac.com/chen/w7ay/cocoaModem/More/Contents/part2.html) Using MMTTY with FSK (mmhamsoft.amateur-radio.ca/extfsk.htm) USB-to-Serial Port Adapters (www.rttycontesting.com/usb) N1MM Logger documentation (pages.cthome.net/n1mm/html/English/Help.htm)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION RTTY Discussion: - Email reflector (lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rtty) - Searchable archives (lists.contesting.com/archives//html/RTTY/) RTTY Background: History of RTTY (www.rtty.com) Other: Article about RTTY Contesting and SO2R (contestclubfinland.com/pileup/pu4_06.pdf) – 3.8 MB file
RTTY CONTESTS • First weekend in January ARRL RTTY Roundup • Second weekend in February CQ World Wide RTTY Contest • Fourth weekend in February North American QSO Party • Third weekend in March BARTG Spring RTTY Contest • First weekend in April EA RTTY Contest • Second weekend in May A. Volta RTTY DX Contest • Third weekend in July North American QSO Party • Third weekend in August SARTG RTTY Contest • Last weekend in September CQ WW RTTY DX Contest • Second weekend in October BARTG RTTY Sprint • Third weekend in October JARTS World Wide RTTY Contest • Second weekend in November Worked All Europe DX Contest • Third weekend in December OK DX RTTY Contest
RTTY CONTESTING REFERENCES • ARRL HF Digital Handbook www.arrl.org/catalog • WriteLog for Windows http://www.writelog.com • N1MM Logger http://www.n1mm.com/ • CocoaModem (MacOS) http://homepage.mac.com/chen/ • w7ay/Site/indes.html • MMTTY http://mmhamsoft.amateur-radio.ca/mmtty • AA5AU RTTY Contesting http://www.rttycontesting.com