Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Versatile FSQ digimode

Last weekend there was the fieldday. Julian OH8STN noted on facebook he was going to be QRV portable digital as his personal fieldday. I wrote about Fast Simple QSO digimode before. I tested it with Julian that time also with success. This time besides Julian there was a norwegian station LB9YH involved as well. We actually received each other very well. But....it would be nice if for example in a weekend of choice there would be a couple more radio experimenters on to test FSQ. If you're only want to make QSOs for your logbook this experiment is not interesting for  you as there is no QSO involved, only a connection to other stations. If you are interested this piece of software is easy to understand but has a lot of features you can experiment with...

So I was thinking. When there is a huge distaster or war going on and there is no internet anymore, no telephone, no "commercial" radio or TV even no electricity. I know, that is really worse....
We as hobby radio operators still have possebilities to send our messages, fax, pictures, files and whatever information you like. But what about those systems like Winlink and PSKmail which are widely used by emergency nets? They don't relay messages without internet as the "servers" are just relaying from air to landlines. No, you really need a simple independent system which can run individually or as a kind of network free for everyone with a amateurradio license to jump in without any membership, payment or code. I think FSQ comes close to this system.

So I downloaded and installed the newest version of FSQcall, although you can run FSQ also in FLdigi (FLdigi can run on both Windows and Linux). It really is a simple to understand program and most things are automatic. The interesting thing is that you can use a number of commands to get information from the station you see without intervention of the other operator. For example your signal report, location from the other station, a webcam image, fax, files etc.

FSQcall can be found on: http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/MFSK/FSQweb.htm
You can also find a powerpoint here which compares FSQ with pro ALE systems that are in use for example in the military.

FLdigi FSQ configuration here: http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.22/fsq_configuration_page.html


I was planning to make a video but KB9RLW Kevin has already done it. You get a impression....



If you like to install the program yourself to experiment it could be wise to click help and read the FSQ introduction first.

Calling Frequencies

Region 1 (Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Northern Asia)
80m     3588 kHz USB (sunset to sunrise)
40m     7044 kHz USB (sunrise to sunset)
30m    10144 kHz USB (local day, DX night)

Region 2 (The Americas)
80m     3594 kHz USB (sunset to sunrise)
40m     7104 kHz USB (sunrise to sunset)
30m    10144 kHz USB (local day, DX night)

Region 3 (Asia-Pacific)
80m     3580 kHz USB (sunset to sunrise)
40m     7105 kHz USB (sunrise to sunset)
30m    10149 kHz USB (local day, DX night)

5 comments:

Paul Stam PAØK said...

Hallo Bas, het lijkt me een aanwinst voor de digitale modes wereld. Zeker wat jij zegt over als er een ramp is en alle uitvalt is dit voor amateurs een prima mode. Ik ga zeker eens uitluisteren op de frequencies. Zelf ben ik geen chatter (of reg chewer) alle programma's met een chatfunctie schakel ik altijd uit. Dus of ik deze mode echt ga gebruiken, ik denk het niet. Maar ik vind het wel heel interessant. De video van Kevin is bijzonder duidelijk. 73 Paul PC4T

PE4BAS, Bas said...

Hallo Paul, weet niet of je op de 30m band uit kan komen maar ik ben er mee QRV op het moment. Je hoeft niet te chatten. Je kan bijvoorbeeld ook het beeld van mijn webcam laten sturen. Geen idee of er nu condities zijn. Maar als je me ziet (programma zend elk half uur een baken uit) probeer dan eens het commando "pe4bas% w". 73, Bas

Paul Stam PAØK said...

hallo Bas, 30 meter is een beetje moeilijk. Antenne geeft veel RF terugkoppeling op 30m. Alleen met 5 watt dan gaat het een beetje. Ik zat al te denken aan een groundplane voor 30 meter. Luisteren is natuurlijk geen probleem. 73 Paul

PE4BAS, Bas said...

Hallo Paul, heb de boel weer uitgezet. Het werd te warm in de shack. En met die regen zet ik geen ramen open. 73, Bas

Paul Stam PAØK said...

Ik dacht al... ik had de set een paar uur aanstaan op 30m ;-)