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)