CTU 2016 Presents Advanced RTTY Contesting Ed Muns

CTU 2016 Presents Advanced RTTY Contesting Ed Muns, W 0 YK

Advanced RTTY Contesting l l l l l 1 st CTU session: “Getting Started in RTTY Contesting” Radio Configuration Messages Keyboard Optimization Super Check Partial & Pre-Fill Callsign Stacking Multiple Decoders SO 2 V, SO 2 R-SOn. R Logging Software Ergonomics 2/70

Radio Configuration AGC l Turn off AGC l l l or, at least minimize AGC increases error rate in modern software decoders Use minimum discernible headphone volume l Ear protection from loud signals 3/70

Radio Configuration decoder level l Decoder audio level l l Band noise 5% of fullscale Note 500 Hz IF filtering 4/70

Radio Configuration IF filtering l l PC Audio isolation l Transformer l Commercial interface l Some radios (K 3) Narrow IF filters (Roofing & DSP) l 500 Hz - normal l 250 Hz - strong QRM only l Tone filters – don’t use! l l l Icom Twin Peak Filter K 3 Dual-Tone Filter Audio filtering l JPS NIR-10/12 l Timewave DSP-599 zx l Modern DSP rigs 5/70

Radio Configuration soundcard levels l Adjust levels in Windows Volume Control (or, in MMTTY Options/Soundcard …) l l l RX audio goes to LINE IN (or, MIC w/pad) l l Use isolation transformer, if needed Mute other inputs and outputs Options/Soundcard input level TX AFSK audio (mic) comes from LINE OUT l l l Options/Soundcard output level Turn off radio compression (speech proc. ) Avoid over-drive 6/70

Radio Configuration FSK bandwidth Old K 3 FSK bandwidth l l No waveshaping < DSP 281 firmware Typical of all radios 50 watts Thanks K 0 SM (http: //www. frontiernet. net/~aflowers/k 3 beta/) New K 3 FSK bandwidth l l l Optimal DSP filter DSP 281+ firmware, March 2013 Lobby other mfrs 7/70

Radio Configuration AFSK bandwidth MMTTY - AFSK l No filtering l K 3 @ 1 m. W Thanks K 0 SM (http: //www. frontiernet. net/~aflowers/k 3 rtty. html) MMTTY - AFSK l Default 48 -tap TX BPF l K 3 @ 1 m. W 8/70

Radio Configuration AFSK bandwidth MMTTY - AFSK l Default 48 -tap TX BPF l K 3 @ 1 m. W Thanks K 0 SM (http: //www. frontiernet. net/~aflowers/k 3 rtty. html) MMTTY - AFSK l 512 -tap TX BPF l K 3 @ 1 m. W 9/70

Radio Configuration AFSK bandwidth MMTTY - AFSK l 512 -tap TX BPF l K 3 @ 1 m. W Thanks K 0 SM (http: //www. frontiernet. net/~aflowers/k 3 rtty. html) 2 Tone - AFSK l Default “AM” setting l K 3 @ 1 m. W 10/70

Radio Configuration PA IMD impact on AFSK bandwidth MMTTY - AFSK l No filtering l K 3 @ 100 watts Thanks K 0 SM (http: //www. frontiernet. net/~aflowers/k 3 rtty. html) MMTTY - AFSK l 512 -tap TX BPF l K 3 @ 100 watts 11/70

Radio Configuration PA IMD impact on AFSK bandwidth MMTTY - AFSK l 512 -tap TX BPF l K 3 @ 100 watts Thanks K 0 SM (http: //www. frontiernet. net/~aflowers/k 3 rtty. html) MMTTY - AFSK l No MMTTY filter l K 3 AFSK filter l K 3 @ 100 watts 12/70

Radio Configuration FSK & AFSK bandwidth l FSK Use radio FSK filter l l l DSP TX filter (K 3) Crystal TX filter (K 3) Lobby other mfrs l l l Otherwise, use AFSK l l AFSK Use radio AFSK filter l With TX filtering Properly adjusted Use MODEM TX filter l l 13/70 DSP TX filter (K 3) Crystal TX filter (K 3) Lobby other mfrs MMTTY 512 -tap 2 Tone default

Messages l l l l Short, as with CW/SSB No extraneous info 599 (not 5 NN) once Serial number twice Space (not hyphen) Omit ‘DE’ RTTY chars (%R, %E) www. rttycontesting. com/tutorials/messages 14/70

Messages optimize l Modular l l l Chaining Group logically Supports a cadence 15/70

Messages formatting CR/LF Space Receive 16/70

Messages efficiency rarely used RTTY practice RIT clear 17/70

Messages special other radio freq. Stacked Call Sign exchange 18/70

Messages personal QSL message personal greeting 19/70

Messages CQ WW RTTY l l l l WW W 1 UE CQ <his call> 599 05 (TU) 599 05 TU W 1 UE CQ W 1 UE ZN AGN ? 20/70

Messages CQ WPX RTTY l l l l WPX AK 1 W CQ <his call> 599 1867 (TU) 599 1867 TU AK 1 W CQ AK 1 W NR AGN ? 21/70

Messages NA RTTY Sprint l l l l l NA N 0 NI CQ <his call> N 0 NI 154 TONI IA IA <his call> 154 TONI IA IA N 0 NI TU N 0 NI NR NAME QTH AGN ? 22/70

Messages: Space Delimiter Un. Shift On Space* *UOS or USOS f: FIGS character l: LTRS character Garbled copy l Protocol that provides some noise immunity for shift characters by: l l l forcing the Letters set after a received Space sending a FIGS character after a Space when the next character is in the Figures set MMTTY: l RX UOS and TX UOS can be independently enabled or disabled 23/70

Messages: Space Delimiter UOS and a noise hit f: FIGS character l: LTRS character best case Garbled copy worst case Turning on UOS for both RX and TX is the best hedge: l Most other stations will be that way l MMTTY default; 78% of survey respondents use MMTTY l With only one noise hit, at least one of the important exchange elements is received properly 24/70

Messages: Hyphen Delimiter? f: FIGS character l: LTRS character UOS is defeated: so all four cases have identical noise results l Sending Hyphen instead Space “defeats” UOS and speeds up the message slightly by eliminating the FIGS character l l Garbled copy However, if the first FIGS character is hit by noise, then the entire exchange is garbled Space with USO enabled is a slightly better hedge l Majority of stations use MMTTY with UOS enabled so at least one of the important exchange elements is received 25/70

Messages: “Double Shift” LTRS/FIGS noise immunity l l l MMTTY Double Shift may be enabled to send two LTRS or FIGS characters instead of one Eliminates single noise hits on LTRS and FIGS characters Moderate speed penalty for all transmissions Probably not a good trade-off 26/70

Keyboard Optimization l Accelerator keys l l l ESM (Enter Sends Message) l l Insert: grab call sign & send exchange +: log QSO & send TU/CQ message Enter sends CQ, exchange or TU/CQ message Key remapping l l Most-used messages Group around Enter key 27/70

Keyboard Optimization key re-mapping Fn key labels Push to Stack long CQ Pop from Stack mycall S&P exch Stateful Enter - CQ - hiscall/exch - TU/log Insert … hiscall/exch Full-size QWERTY keyboard; no number pad; integrated cursor keys 28/70 c 1 TU NOW

Super Check Partial l SCP (Super Check Partial) enables computer to pick out call signs in receive window l l Call signs New mults and double mults Dupes N 1 MM Logger Use main SCP from CW/SSB/RTTY contests l RTTY SCP is a subset 29/70

Super Check Partial logger differences N 1 MM Logger Write. Log Win-Test 30/70

Pre-Fill “Danger, Will Robinson!” l l Pre-fill is a typing aid using prior log data Each logger is unique: l N 1 MM: Call History Lookup File (text file) l l Write. Log: Pre-fill File (ADIF file) l l User-created with text editor from prior ADIF logs Win-Test: Database File l l User-created with Excel from prior logs Provided for specific contests by the Win-Test team Log what is communicated to you! 31/70

Callsign Stacking “Slow Down to Win” l Sailboat racing analogy: l l Let pile-up continue 1 -3 seconds after getting first call sign l l l Pinwheel effect at mark-rounding Increase chance for another call sign or two Increase chance for QSO-phase-skip Apply same tactic for tail-enders … pause before sending TU/CQ message 32/70

The 4 Phases of a QSO l Normal Run mode flow: l 1. Enter or F 1 (CQ) l l Normal S&P mode flow: 1. CQ repeat AGN? 2. pile-up 2. Enter or F 4 (mycall) l 3. Insert or ‘ (grab call sign, send exchange) l 3. receive exchange Ø check pre-fill, click their exchange Send fill(s) l 4. receive exchange Ø check pre-fill, click their exchange l AGN? or NR? or QTH? or NAME? 4. Enter or F 5 (send exchange) l send fill(s) AGN? or NR? or QTH? or NAME? 1. Enter or + (log contact, send TU/CQ) l repeat 1. find next CQ optionally send F 7 (QRV message) 33/70

Callsign Stacking skip 2 phases Normal Shortened 1. WPX P 49 X CQ, or TU P 49 X CQ 2. K 3 LR K 5 ZD 3. K 3 LR 599 2419 1. (skip CQ) 2. (skip pile-up) 3. K 3 LR TU NW K 5 ZD 599 2420 4. TU 599 1134 4. TU 599 842 34/70

Callsign Stacking tail-ender Normal Shortened 1. WPX P 49 X CQ, or TU P 49 X CQ 2. K 3 LR 3. K 3 LR 599 2419 K 5 ZD 4. TU 599 842 1. (skip CQ) 2. (skip pile-up) 3. K 3 LR TU NW K 5 ZD 599 2420 4. TU 599 1134 35/70

Callsign Stacking l Efficiently work: l l l multiple callers in a pile-up, and tail-enders to a completing QSO Calls pushed onto the stack as they arrive Message parameter pops call off of the stack into the Entry window Eliminates 2 of 4 QSO phases, which doubles rate 36/70

Multiple Decoders choice of Tones l l Low tones are less fatiguing Low/High tones can be mixed to put two audio streams in one ear: l l SO 2 R plus SO 2 V per radio SOn. R 37/70

Multiple Decoders MMTTY l l l Dominant SC MODEM Standalone, or … Contest loggers: l l l 38/70 N 1 MM Logger+ Write. Log Win-Test Introduced June 2000 Mako Mori, JE 3 HHT

Multiple Decoders 2 Tone l l l Outperforms MMTTY ? Uses less CPU cycles Contest loggers: l l l 39/70 N 1 MM Logger+ Write. Log Win-Test Introduced late 2012 David Wicks, G 3 YYD

Multiple Decoders GRITTY l l Best accuracy ? Bayesian statistics Standalone, or … Contest loggers: l l l 40/70 N 1 MM Logger+ only Introduced late 2015 Alex Shovkoplyas, VE 3 NEA

Multiple Decoders hardware MODEM 41/70

Multiple Decoders MMTTY & DXP 38 - Write. Log l Parallel decoding l l l Software, e. g. , MMTTY Hardware, e. g. , DXP 38 Diverse conditions l l l Flutter Multi-path QRM, QRN Weak signals Off-frequency stations 42/70

Multiple RTTY Decoders multiple MMTTY profile windows l Parallel decoding l l l same audio stream switching takes too long Multiple profile windows l l l l Standard Fluttered signals (FIR) Multi-path hyper sensitive EU 1 SA AA 6 YQ-FIR-512 l weak signals in QRN 43/70

Multiple Decoders two IF bandwidths l Narrow IF filtering (main RX) l l Hardware modem, i. e. DXP 38 MMTTY profiles l l l l Standard Fluttered signals (FIR) Multi-path hyper sensitive EU 1 SA Wide IF filtering (sub RX) l MMTTY profiles l AA 6 YQ-FIR-512 § § Dual Peak Filter “Matched filter” 44/70

SO 2 V 1. l l l 2. l l If Assisted and running on VFO-A, then A<>B Click spot, tune, ID station, work station A<>B, resume running Or, set up decoder windows on VFO-A and VFO-B Radio must have two true receivers Monitor both frequencies simultaneously with right/left channels of sound card Left-click call from 2 nd RTTY window into VFO-B Entry Window l Two ways to transmit on VFO-B: l I. II. A<>B, work the mult, A<>B SPLIT, work the mult, SPLIT, resume running § § Requires “wire-OR’d” FSK or AFSK and two transmit RTTY windows K 3/Write. Log invokes SPLIT when call is right-clicked 45/70

SO 2 V Wire-OR FSK/PTT Signals (W 0 YK) Serial Signals (K 8 UT) 46/70

SO 2 V Wire-OR FSK/PTT Signals (W 0 YK) Serial Signals (K 8 UT) 47/70

SO 2 R l l Eliminates SO 1 R RTTY boredom Think beyond run and S&P: l l Dueling CQs; run on two bands simultaneously S&P on two bands simultaneously, esp. w/Packet SO 2 V on one or both radios (SO 4 V!) Two networked computers: l l Eliminates PC focus swapping RTTY doesn’t require much typing l Mini-keyboards ideal for RTTY 2 x SO 2 V=SO 4 V for picking up mults on both run bands Easily extendible to SO 4 R No time to watch TV or read spy novels! 48/70

SO 2 R M 2 configuration Right-hand Trackball Left-hand Trackball Right-sized Keyboards 49/70

SO 2 R in the NA Sprint l l l Set VFOs at least 10 k. Hz apart on both radios Find a clear spot on one radio and CQ while you tune the other radio for a station to work If you don’t find a station to work quickly (within a minute), find a clear frequency and duel CQ After a QSO swap VFOs on that radio, search for up to a minute, then resume dueling CQ Don’t waste time trying to work the “couplet” … CQing is OK in Sprint! 50/70

SOn. R > 2 radios l Simplify antenna/filter band-decoding: l l l Dedicate a band/antenna to the 3 rd (or 4 th) radio Networked PC/radio simplifies configuration RTTY (vs. CW or SSB) easier for operator l l PC decodes for operator Low tones & high tones allows two radios per ear l Classic audio headphone mixer provides radio 1, radio 2 or both 51/70

SOn. R Multi-Multi configuration L R 3 dedicated to 10 meters 52/70

Logging Software 2012 CQ WPX RTTY 53/70

Logging Software The Big Three l Write. Log (1994) l l l N 1 MM Logger+ (2000; free) l l l created for RTTY (CW & SSB came later) www. rttycontesting. com/tutorials dedicated RTTY software designer www. rttycontesting. com/tutorials Win-Test (2003) l RTTY is low priority. 54/70

Logging Software Write. Log MMTTY ☻ 2 Tone ☻ other decoders ☻ Call sign acquisition ☻ Contests supported ☻ Advanced RTTY ☻ N 1 MM ☻ ☻ ☻ Win-Test ☻ ☻ none ☻ fewer none • All three are entirely adequate for basic RTTY contesting • Use the logger you are already familiar with for CW & SSB 55/70

Logging Software N 1 MM Logger, Write. Log, Win-Test l 13 features compared l l l All three score ‘ 5’ on: l l l Simplifying assumption: features equally weighted Rated 0 to 5 MMTTY integration Stateful Enter key (ESM: Enter Sends Message) Accelerator keys QRV message parameter Another 9 advanced RTTY features distinguish these loggers 56/70

RTTY Contest Loggers relative ratings WL N 1 WT Logger 5 5 5 l RTTY window readability 5 4 0 l Multiple decoders 4 5 0 l MMTTY, 2 Tone, GRITTY 0 5 3 l ESM mouse ctrl & Sprint mode 5 5 0 l SO 2 V 5 3 3 l M 2 SO 2 R configuration 5 4 5 l Re-mapped keys 5 5 3 l Call sign stacking 5 4 4 l AFSK/FSK flexibility 39 40 23 Overall 57/70

Logging Software multiple decoders l l l N 1 MM Logger limited to 4 total, but has best DXP 38 & GRITTY support Write. Log has 10 additional decoders per rcvr and the most hardware MODEMs Win-Test only supports one instance of MMTTY or 2 Tone Write. Log & N 1 MM Logger only Multiple parallel decoders for marginal copy 58/70

Logging Software ESM mouse control l l l Left-click enters call sign or exchange Right-click (ESM) sends exchange or TU/CQ QSOs can be worked entirely with mouse action, except for the rare instance where a call or exchange must be typed in Particularly suited to unique non-prefillable exchanges such as serial numbers N 1 MM Logger only Eliminates keyboard for efficiency 59/70

SO 2 V l l Basic capability with two VFOs Advanced capability with two receivers l l l Requires second receiver in radio Independent RTTY window for second receiver radio/logger SPLIT mode N 1 MM Logger & Write. Log Interleave S&P QSOs on Run band 60/70

SO 2 R M 2 configuration l l l PC & UI per radio; networked Single signal interlock Extendible to SOn. R Only Write. Log Another user preference alternative; SOn. R 61/70

Logging Software key re-mapping l l Soft re-definition of keyboard keys Examples: l l Insert ‘ = Pop. Call. From. Stack l Write. Log provides a rich built-in function set for key shortcuts l Write. Log & Win-Test remap keys and functions N 1 MM Logger uses Hot. Keys Relocates keys for efficiency l l 62/70

Logging Software re-mapped keys Fn key labels Push to Stack long CQ Pop from Stack mycall Sprint S&P exch Stateful Enter - CQ - hiscall/exch - TU/log Insert … hiscall/exch Full-size QWERTY keyboard; no number pad; integrated cursor keys 63/70 c 1 TU NOW

Logging Software callsign stacking l l l N 1 MM Logger can automatically fill stack Write. Log has convenient stack management Win-Test script can use partner stack All three loggers Doubles rate by skipping CQ & pile-up 64/70

Logging Software callsign stacking l N 1 MM Logger automatically pushes calls into the Grab window. l l It can also explicitly push calls onto the Call Stack (like Write. Log and Win-Test) There is a rich list of stack functions and ESM integration Write. Log explicitly right-clicks calls onto the call stack l Win-Test requires a LUA script to push calls onto the Partner Stack Automatic vs. explicit pushing is personal pref. l 65/70

Logging Software AFSK & FSK flexibility l l Write. Log has built-in AFSK & FSK N 1 MM relies on MODEM for AFSK or FSK Write. Log Independence from MODEM for transmit 66/70

RTTY Contest Loggers relative ratings WL N 1 WT Logger 5 5 5 l RTTY window readability 5 4 0 l Multiple decoders 4 5 0 l MMTTY, 2 Tone, GRITTY 0 5 3 l ESM mouse ctrl & Sprint mode 5 5 0 l SO 2 V 5 3 3 l M 2 SO 2 R configuration 5 4 5 l Re-mapped keys 5 5 3 l Call sign stacking 5 4 4 l AFSK/FSK flexibility 39 40 23 Overall 67/70

Ergonomics user interface propagation forecast and band plan hourly targets l l Comfortable heights, reaches, layout Right-sized keyboard l l Right & left trackballs Bose QC 2 phones l left trackball Right-sized keyboards right l trackball 68/70 Fn keys template Label re-mapped keys Minimal volume Stereo

Ergonomics keyboard or mouse? Keyboard – minimal typing in RTTY l l Either: l F 1, Insert and + … or, l Enter, Insert and Enter (ESM – Enter Sends Message) l Plus Fn keys or re-mapped Fn keys l Mouse click received exchange, if not pre-filled Mouse/trackball l 100% (N 1 MM Logger) 80% (Write. Log and Win-Test) 69/70

Resources l www. rttycontesting. com l l l rtty@contesting. com l l Email reflector RTTY contester networking Q&A Software web sites l l l Tutorials and resources (beginner to expert) Write. Log, N 1 MM Logger+ and MMTTY mmhamsoft. amateur-radio. ca/ (MMTTY) n 1 mm. hamdocs. com/tiki-index. php (N 1 MM Logger+) www. writelog. com (Write. Log) www. wintest. com (Win-Test) Software Reflectors l l l mmtty@yahoogroups. com (MMTTY) N 1 MMLoggerplus@yahoogroups. com (N 1 MM Logger+) N 1 MMLogger-Digital@yahoogroups. com (N 1 MM Logger+ RTTY & PSK) writelog@contesting. com (Write. Log) support@win-test. com (Win-Test) 70/70