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Overview |
The digital mode PSK31 is a method of transmitting information using a very small portion of bandwidth, typically 31 Hertz.
Using such a small portion of band width allows a vast number of simultaneous communications
to occur. Furthermore, as very little power is needed to get a signal out (and copyable), it is
applicable for
QRP.
PSK31 is typically considered a "digital" mode, one that typically involves using a personal
computer to generate tones that are then fed into a ham radio to make this mode possible. Most
of these pieces of software make use of the digital sound cards (found in many desktop and laptop
computers by default these days) to make the very specifically shaped wave forms necessary for
this mode of communicaitons.
Additionally, this mode is considered a "live" mode. This refers to the fact that there is
a live human at the keyboard typing the text to be transmitted. There are other digital modes
that require no human interaction while messages are being transmitted.
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PSK Software/Sites |
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Singal Reporting |
As described on
http://www.rsq-info.net/,
RSQ signal reporting has developed from the CW RST reporting. Standing for
Readability, Strength and Quality, PSK31 users use this system to report to
each other their respective radio reception of the other party in the conversation.
| READABILITY |
| R5 |
95%+ Perfectly readable |
| R4 |
80% Practically no difficulty, occasional missed characters |
| R3 |
40% Considerable difficulty, many missed characters |
| R2 |
20% Occasional words distinguishable |
| R1 |
0% Undecipherable
|
| STRENGTH |
| S9 |
Very Strong trace |
| S7 |
Strong trace |
| S5 |
Moderate trace |
| S3 |
Weak trace |
| S1 |
Barely perceptible trace
|
| QUALITY |
| Q9 |
Clean signal - no visible unwanted sidebar pairs |
| Q7 |
One barely visible pair |
| Q5 |
One easily visible pair |
| Q3 |
Multiple visible pairs |
| Q1 |
Splatter over much of the spectrum
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Common Abreviations |
Many of the abreviations used during PSK31 traffic originated in the CW arena.
Some of the more popular ones you are likely to run across are dented here:
-
BTU
-
Back To You
-
U
-
You
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Member Found Links For This Area |
- http://www.qrparci.org/content/view/4521/118/lang,en/ [ found by 'kc5unl' ]
- Here is a good YouTube introduction to PSK31 from the QRP Amateur Radio Club International's web site.
- http://myweb.cableone.net/bobfro/ [ found by 'aa5iw' ]
- AA5iw's with a few links to ham radio tech. information.
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