PSK31, Stick a Fork In It

[K2WH]

I have a request of PSK31 users, please try PSK62 or even 125. Most PSK or digital programs have this option and It makes a QSO so more refreshing and a lot less boring watching the letters slowly scroll across the screen while you guess ahead of time the next word coming up.

Your entire "Brag" file is lightning fast as are other canned msgs. Yeah, its a little wider, but there's plenty of room around .070, spread out.

PSK62, try it, you'll like it.

K2WH

[KU0DM]

Let me know when you are available.

Would love to set-up a PSK250 SKED.

VBdigi (http://www.w1hkj.com/NBEMS/index.html)

Thanks--
Duncan, KU0DM

[K2WH]

Let me know when you are available.

Would love to set-up a PSK250 SKED.

VBdigi (http://www.w1hkj.com/NBEMS/index.html)

Thanks--
Duncan, KU0DM

250? Wow didn't know its up that high. I can go 125 with MixW.

[KU0DM]

Yeah, 250 is amazing, but VBdigi is the only software I know that does 250. The link for it is above in my previous post if anyone is curious.

125 would be fine. Anything faster than 31.

I am with ya, it seems that everything just crawls at 31 bauds.

[NV5E]

I can't type much faster than PSK-31 prints and other than contests I'm not really in a hurry.
Rob

[W6TMI]

I can't type much faster than PSK-31 prints and other than contests I'm not really in a hurry.
Rob

I can type a bit faster, but not that much, for casual ragchewing 31 is fine.

[K4AVL]

I don't even type as fast as 31 if you take into account that I have to correct about 4-5 typos per line while I send, if the program lets me. What I usually do is have a macro called "scratch" (or 2-3 similar with certain topics pre-prepared a bit), which I'm busy preparing while waiting for the other guy to finish typing, then I send that when I'm ready.
But I see so many of them use the same long macros, even for months at a time, that it sure would be nice to have them flash across the screen quicker, and cut to the chase.

[K4AX]

You guys need to get with the program and start using PSK992! :D

[N0KMA]

But I see so many of them use the same long macros, even for months at a time, that it sure would be nice to have them flash across the screen quicker, and cut to the chase.

Agreed, some of the macros i see are worse than a tv commercial. They drag on and on and on and on and on and on........

I know they are proud of all the time they put into the macros, as well as the accomplishments they seem to have to include in them as well. But honestly i don't care. I usually stay away from the long macro guys, once their macros are done printing they usually have nothing else to say.

Long live RTTY.

Todd
N0KMA
20wpm no code general

[N9DSJ]

Am sure you mean BPSK63...a lot of programs allow BPSK63, 125, 220 and 250...and for weak signal work where few care about brag files, try BPSK10 or BPSK8. Not to mention BPSK modes with FEC and ARQ. Actually not all that much room around .070 if one listens (assuming you mean 14.070).

73,

Bill N9DSJ




I have a request of PSK31 users, please try PSK62 or even 125. Most PSK or digital programs have this option and It makes a QSO so more refreshing and a lot less boring watching the letters slowly scroll across the screen while you guess ahead of time the next word coming up.

Your entire "Brag" file is lightning fast as are other canned msgs. Yeah, its a little wider, but there's plenty of room around .070, spread out.

PSK62, try it, you'll like it.

K2WH

[WN9HJW]

Am sure you mean BPSK63...

PSK63 is 1 better than PSK62.

[W4INF]

I agree, 31 is slower than everything. I don't know how else to say it. 63 would be a MUCH better speed.

[W6TMI]

Since I usually tail end, or hunt/peck I can sorta tell if I'd be interested in talking to someone or not. Yes I'd avoid a macro convo. Just tell me what radio, antenna, PSK program and maybe OS if something different.. I dont really care about the computer stuff, except as part of the convo, not your introduction.

[KI4NGN]

I have a request of PSK31 users, please try PSK62 or even 125. Most PSK or digital programs have this option and It makes a QSO so more refreshing and a lot less boring watching the letters slowly scroll across the screen while you guess ahead of time the next word coming up.

Your entire "Brag" file is lightning fast as are other canned msgs. Yeah, its a little wider, but there's plenty of room around .070, spread out.

PSK62, try it, you'll like it.

K2WH
The faster the rate, the faster that people will have to wait for what I'm typing. :)

So Bill, back to the HF world and your 756Pro? :)

Mike

[VA3SAX]

if you're having a real QSO using it then 31 is a perfectly fine speed. I generally use the time I'm receiving the other station to be able to type up my response which saves a bit of waiting. I will have to agree witrh you however that a faster speed might be nice for macro only QSOs but where's the fun in that? at that point you might as well just get out your cell phone or your MSN and text "wazzup?" to your buddies. this is exactly why I stopped using msn for chit chat and started with amateur radio. meaningless convos are not for me

[K0CMH]

None of this would have happened if they had not dropped the code requirement. We would not have to worry about BPSK-anything. And those pesky transistors -- never should have allowed them to be invented, let alone used.:D

[N2RJ]

Your entire "Brag" file is lightning fast as are other canned msgs.

Here's an idea - cut down the size of your "brag" file. For DXing I really only need your callsign and a signal report.

[K1CJS]

You guys need to get with the program and start using PSK992! :D

Don't you mean PSK 1064? :D

[KY5U]

The faster the rate, the faster that people will have to wait for what I'm typing. :)

So Bill, back to the HF world and your 756Pro? :)

MikeYep and the more bandwidth wasted waiting for someone to type.

[K2WH]

The faster the rate, the faster that people will have to wait for what I'm typing. :)

So Bill, back to the HF world and your 756Pro? :)

Mike

Never left HF although been doing alot with 900 mhz and mentoring new hams.

K2WH

[K8YZK]

I thought PSK31 was developed as a mode that would use a little amount of space, and still get the info across. Yes it is slow, but I type slow, and I don't mind reading and guessing what is next as it comes across.

Now on the brag info, I don't care if you are running a MITS 8088 computer or the latest greatest,. I am interested in you and what you do, married or not, kids, other hobbies. I would like to know what kind of radio and antenna your are using and software, if it takes awhile to get this info across, hey no problem, send it.

So for those that still operate cw, do you still copy the slow guys(me) or even try to have a QSO with someone doing 5wpm.

RTTY still rocks.

Kurt

[KR2D]

Actually not all that much room around .070 if one listens (assuming you mean 14.070).




That's because people don't turn the big knob and spread out a little bit. There's PLENTY of room for digimodes above 14.070, but it's mostly empty except for a handful of RTTY QSOs. Instead, everyone has the knob locked at 14.070, trying to cram hundreds of QSOs into 2.5 kHz.

Please, spread out!

[AG3Y]

I believe that this fetish with contests has had a lot to do with the decreased ability to actually have a meaningful conversation with somebody on the ham bands. This is true, not only for CW, and the digital modes, but for the voice modes as well!

If I were inclined to do so, I could tune in some of the ongoing "conversations" on the bands, and hear minutes, and even hours worth of NOTHING being transmitted back and forth. "Yeah, I put the Kenwood amplifier in the line yesterday to see if it worked any different than the Yaesu one. Do you hear any difference? ? " " No, you are still hitting me with 20 pounds just like yesterday " etc. etc.

When was the last time you heard someone talking about their family, hobbies, a good book they read, etc. etc. ? I bet it has been a LONG TIME !

so sad. 73, Jim

[VA3SAX]

how abouts bpsk9600?

[AB3EO]

Jim, I have. I had a nice long talk this weekend with a Canadian ham about traveling and using an RV, last month I had a QSO about Scouting. My longest contacts have been on PSK31.

Reading this thread has provoked some thought. I am going to change my brag file to:
Radio, Antenna, Interests. Just a short list of topics as conversation starters. I know it won’t match everybody, but it might help find that common ground. It has to be more interesting than exchanging weather reports.

[W8NSI]

Why not go all the way to psk3500? :eek:

Add a microphone in there to comment as you type...

[KN4DS]

When was the last time you heard someone talking about their family, hobbies, a good book they read, etc. etc. ? I bet it has been a LONG TIME !
I recently spent an hour on a PSK-31 QSO with a nice gentleman, where we discussed quite a few things, like the state of television and how the digital transition will mean more channels of tripe...

Seriously, an hour long rag chew on PSK-31. A rare event, I believe. Not a macro in sight, either.

Last night, I was willing to chat for a while, but the only answer to CQ I got was a 6 land station who sent his 3 macros (and I responded in kind, though I almost always "personalize" the macros for the person I'm in contact with, a few personal comments) and he was gone.

[KN4DS]

It has to be more interesting than exchanging weather reports.
Spot on, OM.

I can find the weather in any part of the world in seconds on the 'net.

When stations start telling me the temp at their QTH, they get:

"The temperature right now on the world-famous KN4DS back porch is (current temp)" and that's pretty much it.

Oh, if the weather's been a true event (like our tornados here in Georgia over the weekend), that's different. Or I might chat a while about the upcoming weather for tomorrow considering what's happening just to our west today...

Y'know, if you just want the RST to get your QSL count up, I'm ok with that, too, but just say that...

"Your RST is 579, 579, name here is Bill, Bill, 73 and tnx, KN4DS de KX9XXX SK SK SK"

[K0RGR]

How about BPSK1.2Gig? The 20 meter band will only accomodate 1 QSO, but it is danged fast! You can send the whole Bible in about the time it takes a fly to beat its wings!

[WA9CWX]

I might try the higher rates, but 31 seems to work ok for my slow typing speed.

MOST of my ragchews that last in the one hour or more range are on RTTY or PSK.

Some of my CW ragchews go an hour, but 30-40 minutes is more common.

I suspect that now that the sun spots are going to be increasing, I will spend more time on 10-20 meters, and 'QSOs' will tend to be shorter.

Anyway, I sure find PSK a lot more enjoyable than the old RTTY, with NO chance of correcting my spelling or anything else !

Frank

[W4INF]

<snip>My longest contacts have been on PSK31.<snip>
Mine too! And with 25-50w only too! My logbook is on line, check it for distances, some are not calculated due to missing LatLon data for the OP.

Andrew

[G0GQK]

PSK 31 was developed so that a large number of digital contacts could be made on bands where, despite those who suggest ham radio is dying, there is a shortage of space. So, low power 10-20 watts, and a frequency usage as narrow as morse code. Perhaps it is slow, but do you read a newspaper as fast as even PSK 63 ? You do ! Fantastic ! Do you remember what it was you just read, and are your eyes giving you problems watching and trying to absorb the gems of information flashing from left to right at high speed ?

There are thousands of amateurs around the world now using PSK 31 because with radio conditions as they are its much easier to have contacts, and that is what we all do, have contacts with people in foreign parts who find it difficult to read English at 31 baud, never mind 63 and 125 ! If you whack through your personal details at that speed you have to wait a minute or more while the person on the other end finger jabs his message, unless of course he zaps his macro message back immediatly, ZAP...zap....ZAP....zap SK. Fantastic ! Just like CQWW.... 59001 QSL you also 59 756 QSL QRZ ?

G0GQK

[KX8C]

By far my longest and most satisfying QSO's have been on PSK31. Hour long chats with a stateside or EU/Carrib DX station are very enjoyable, really get a chance to get past the rst/rig/wx bit and get to know people. Even more satisfying are subsequent QSO's, where ya never get around to the rst/wx bit, 'cause there is so much else to talk about.

I've had about 9 PSK63 QSO's. Each time I call CQ on PSK63, getting a response is difficult, even when the band is filled with those calling CQ on PSK31. Not sure why.

[KN4DS]

Each time I call CQ on PSK63, getting a response is difficult, even when the band is filled with those calling CQ on PSK31. Not sure why.

My suspicion is that the other operators don't know what the 63 signal looks like... in other words, they don't recognize that all they need to do is change modes.

I was calling CQ on 63 one day on 20m, and I saw a 31 signal seemingly answering my call... so I switched to 31 and it was another ham berating me for having a horrible signal, nothing but gibberish and twice as wide as it should be.

[KI4NGN]

Never left HF although been doing alot with 900 mhz and mentoring new hams.

K2WH
Was just kidding Bill! I know you're stil active. Been a long while since we had a QSO, and most of them are Hi, nice to chat again, have to run. :)

Mike

[WU8Y]

None of this would have happened if they had not dropped the code requirement. We would not have to worry about BPSK-anything. And those pesky transistors -- never should have allowed them to be invented, let alone used.:D

Heh!

What the 20m band plan ought to look like:

14000 - 14000.005 kHz CW
14000 - 14347 kHz Data
14347 - 14350 kHz Phone

:D

[WU8Y]

My suspicion is that the other operators don't know what the 63 signal looks like... in other words, they don't recognize that all they need to do is change modes.

I was calling CQ on 63 one day on 20m, and I saw a 31 signal seemingly answering my call... so I switched to 31 and it was another ham berating me for having a horrible signal, nothing but gibberish and twice as wide as it should be.

MultiPSK has a switch that, when activated, sends the transmission mode (in Feld-Hell) before the transmission...IOW, it prints "BPSK-63" on the other station's waterfall display.

I think that's the neatest trick, and very useful.

[ks4du]

On one thread we've got guys that:
1) Think PSK is too slow
2) Think PSK is too fast
3) Think there should be no frequency allocations for CW
4) Think contesters suck and people should rag chew more
5) Don't think at all


Here's your hankies!..........

[KR2D]

MultiPSK has a switch that, when activated, sends the transmission mode (in Feld-Hell) before the transmission...IOW, it prints "BPSK-63" on the other station's waterfall display.

I think that's the neatest trick, and very useful.

I agree, definitely useful and an ingenious solution, but.....There has been some question about whether that is legal in the USA. The argument is that it's an image, and image modes are not allowed in the CW/Data subband. I don't know if that question has been resolved.

[AG3Y]

I'm stilll waiting for an answer, too ! Been waiting ever since it was possible to send pictures using MFSK with MixW, about 5 or more years ago. Seems I've read something about it in QST, from the ARRL Pundits, but I have never seen it in Black and White in part 97, and of course, we all know that is the only place where it really matters!

Com'on, FCC what are you waiting for ? Is it OK to send any kind of file using a digital mode, or does it have to be text ony in the "CW-Digital" portion of the bands, and "pictures only" in the "Voice-picture" portion of the band?

The R&R that established those criteria were based on technology from around the 1950s. It is time for an update !

73, Jim

[KA8NCR]

I recently spent an hour on a PSK-31 QSO with a nice gentleman, where we discussed quite a few things, like the state of television and how the digital transition will mean more channels of tripe...

Seriously, an hour long rag chew on PSK-31. A rare event, I believe. Not a macro in sight, either.

Last night, I was willing to chat for a while, but the only answer to CQ I got was a 6 land station who sent his 3 macros (and I responded in kind, though I almost always "personalize" the macros for the person I'm in contact with, a few personal comments) and he was gone.


What a coincidence, I had the same kind of QSO! Except I was receiving some 4-lander.

[K0CMH]

"On one thread we've got guys that:
1) Think PSK is too slow
2) Think PSK is too fast
3) Think there should be no frequency allocations for CW
4) Think contesters suck and people should rag chew more
5) Don't think at all"

I think, but not about this.

[K2WH]

I agree, definitely useful and an ingenious solution, but.....There has been some question about whether that is legal in the USA. The argument is that it's an image, and image modes are not allowed in the CW/Data subband. I don't know if that question has been resolved.


I've never heard of this. Are we saying here that if one sends a short Feldhell msg on 14.070 or thereabouts, any text sent will be displayed as an image on a PSK31 screen?

K2WH

[KI4NGN]

If it is being used the way I understand it, you will see text within the signal in the waterfall display. I could be thinking of something else, but I did see that once and that is how what I was seeing was explained to me.

Oh yea...was also told that it was illegal.

[KR2D]

I've never heard of this. Are we saying here that if one sends a short Feldhell msg on 14.070 or thereabouts, any text sent will be displayed as an image on a PSK31 screen?

K2WH

I don't think it's actually Feldhell, but it works in a similar way. It does exactly what you think: text appears as an image on the waterfall. The image is "painted" by modulating tones in the appropriate way. Ingenious! The width of the image signal is the same as the width of whatever mode you're using, so it doesn't interfere with others.

Check out the Video ID feature of DM780 (digimode software from the creator of Ham Radio Deluxe). The Video ID feature will send either the mode (PSK31, MFSK16, etc) or your call sign so it appears as text in the waterfall trace.

Other software besides DM780 will also do it, but I forget which ones (MutiPSK? MixW?).

As I said earlier, I'm not sure of the legality in the US. I don't see it often on the air. I haven't used it myself, and won't until I'm sure it's legal.