A few years ago I was introduced to PSK31 by Bob WA3SWA who had set up a ham station in his new house. I was fascinated with this strange digital mode showing text scroll along the screen when clicking on a vertical trail amongst many others (water fall), each one being an amateur operator transmitting. I then ordered a RigBlaster Plus from West mountain Radio in Norwalk, Connecticut. It was simple to interface with my then Windows 98 computer and soon had my ICOM 756PRO tuned to 20 meters on 14.0715 MHz. He recommended using DIGIPAN which is more or less the standard today since it is very easy to setup and use. Bob was my first contact and later help me configure the MACROS so that continual typing wasn't necessary when making contacts and how to watch the ALC to prevent the transmit output to be overdriven (IMD). PSK31 is definitely my favorite mode next to CW and logged many countries and all states within a year, both on 20 and 40 meters. When upgrading to a new computer later using Windows XP, I noticed a great improvement especially when receiving weak stations. Being curious, I downloaded a program that tests the computer sound card and compared both the older with the new computer. There was a big difference between the two, apparently from newer technology used in the sound cards. I never run more than 25 watts output which works wonders using my Cushcraft R8 vertical.
I worked a few stations on PSK31 who were using a new interface called a "NAVIGATOR" which they all bragged how well it performed for them. Always wanting to try new devices, I discovered a web site Navigator Interface that sold the Navigator which is located in Aberdeen, MD. not far from me. I called them and talked to Glenn W3GWW who guaranteed I would like the Navigator or have my money refunded. Luckily Glenn takes Pay Pal and soon ordered mine since he doesn't allow direct pickup. I received it in two days and right away began reading the comprehensive manual on how to set it up. There are interface cables for sale available for the hookup to your particular radio but I prefer making my own which required a DB25P connector which Radio Shack sells (plugs in the rear of the Navigator), some shielded audio cables with 3.5 MM connectors and some patience. It comes with a USB cable which is the only connection to the computer. To prevent interference from other programs while in digital mode, I purchased another computer to be used exclusively with my Navigator for digital modes. Software was stripped to bare bones but did leave the LAN card active since QRZ is used for automatic call lookups. I planned on using the 756PRO since my Yaesu was being used for satellite operations each day. It may seem intimidating at first, but all the information you need is in both the manual and on the US Interface site. There is a powerful forum on Yahoo for the Navigator where others are extremely helpful but if the instructions are followed, there should be no problems.
The Navigator contains it's own sound card, leaving the computer card available for recording or voice keying if using SSB in a contest. It is recommended you use software called MixW which has a $50 one time license fee but is well worth it since it comes bundled with all the extra software such as SSTV, WINKEY CW, PSK31, Pactor and many more. It is also TCP/IP compatible etc. This was my first adventure into Slow Scan TV and Teletype but always came back to my reliable PSK31. What a difference in the noise floor with the Navigator interface which shows stations which never before were workable. MixW does a great job controlling the 756PRO with the MACROS configurable to set the bandwidth filters to many different values with the click of a mouse. Some people use Ham Radio Deluxe with good results, however most questions on the forum seem to be about HRD, mostly when setting it up. My Yaesu now sits next to the 756PRO since it is used sometimes using Meteor Scatter software and the Navigator. A two way DB25 switch was acquired to run with either the FT847 or 756PRO by the Navigator. All that is necessary is to click on whichever rig is being used in MixW's software. The WSJT meteor scatter software is free and easy to get going and there is a great reflector site (pun intended) Ping Jockey where you can see operators in UTC time setting up contacts. So far, I have only19 States confirmed and many more meteor scatter contacts recorded using 160 watts on the 144 MHz band and a Cushcraft 13B2 beam antenna.. WSJT actually is a digital recorder, listening and recording for several seconds, then playing back in a slower speed looking for WSJT pulses.
|
