FLDIGI MARS Usage FLDIGI MARS Use.docx - 19-Nov :08 Terry G. Glagowski, Ph.D / W1TR / AFA1DI

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1 FLDIGI MARS Usage FLDIGI MARS Use.docx - 19-Nov :08 Terry G. Glagowski, Ph.D / W1TR / AFA1DI INTRODUCTION This document describes how to download, install, setup, and use FLDIGI for MARS purposes, specifically MT-63. DOWNLOAD Although W1HK, the author of FLDIGI has a WEB page at the FLDIGI downloads are on SourceForge at: Download the latest version and install. Documentation is also available here INSTALLATION Double click on the download *.EXE file. It is recommended that you choose an installation folder that is NOT in Program Files or Program Files (86) For example use: C:\Apps Depending on the version, the actual installation folder might be something like: C:\Apps\Fldigi

2 CONFIGURATION FLDIGI can be used WITH or WITHOUT Computer Assisted Transceiver (CAT) Control. However, the Soundcard Audio and Push-To-Talk (PTT) control must be configured. Radio to Computer Interface Hardware The hardware in a digital communications radio system consists of a transceiver, a computer, and an interface. RS-232 or TTL Open Collector Open Collector Transceiver Open Collector Fixed Level Audio Output Fixed Level Audio Input CAT Interface PTT Interface CW Key Interface FSK Interface Audio Output Audio Input Level Converter TxD RxD Level Converter RTS Level Converter Interface Level Converter Isolator Isolator DTR TxD CAT COM6 PTT/CW/FSK COM7 Audio Input Audio Output Serial Port or USB to Serial Cable Serial Port or USB to Serial Cable Computer Microphone or Line In Speaker or Headphone Out The radio to computer interface must provide connections for the audio input, audio output, and push to talk (PTT). Optionally it may provide CW Key Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), and Computer Assisted Transceiver Control (CAT). FLDIGI does not use the CW Key and FSK unless an external circuit that generates them from the computer audio output is used, but other software does make use of them. 1) It is desirable to provide isolation for audio input and output (typically a 1:1 small audio transformer) to avoid RF feedback or ground loop problems in the audio input and output. 2) Push to talk (PTT), CW Key, and FSK output from the computer are typically at RS-232 levels (+12v or -12V) and must be converted to TTL level or Open Collector pull down by a level converter. Open collector means the control signal is plus voltage, and must be pulled to ground to activate it. 3) CAT control can be RS-232 (Kenwood and Yaesu rigs), or TTL combined RX and TX buss (ICOM C-IV interface). Commercial products that provide these capabilities are: 1) West Mountain Radio RigBlaster series 2) TigerTronics - SignaLink series 3) MicroHam series 4) MFJ series It is possible to make a homebrew interface with a couple of 600 ohm 1:1 audio transformers for the audio isolation, and some NPN (2n2222) transistors and resistors to perform the level conversion. Creation of a buss transceiver for the TX/RX ICOM buss is a little more complicated but circuits are available for that as well. 1. A list is available at

3 Audio Configuration The soundcard interface hardware may have audio level controls for input and output. See the user manual for configuration of these settings. The computer operating system (Windows XP, 7, 8, 10) has configuration settings for the audio input and output that may need to be configured depending on the audio hardware and software installed. Selection of the default input and output devices are done here. Most time this can be bypassed and the sound card configuration in FLDIGI can be used. FLDIGI has a configuration GUI to select the audio input (capture) and audio output (playback) devices. These must be selected. Computer Audio Input Configuration Computer audio input is usually via a sound card on the motherboard of the CPU, or an add-on PCI sound card in the chassis. These typically tale a line-input of about 1 volt and a more sensitive microphone input. External USB sound cards about the size of a thumb drive can provide microphone input and headphone output as well. Input selection and sensitivity to the computer are controlled by an input device mixer which is part of Windows (Windows 10 shown here) Right click on the Speaker Icon in the lower right of the screen to access this. This is a dialog in the RealTek HD Audio Manager used to select and adjust audio devices. Microphone Input is shown below, the default device and recording volume can be set here. 3

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5 This is a Windows generic device control dialog that can be used to select and configure the default audio input device. 5

6 Computer Audio Output Configuration Computer audio output is usually via a sound card on the motherboard of the CPU, or an add-on PCI sound card. These are typically at the level of a watt or so for speakers, and possibly a headphone jack as well. The audio input (playback) device will show up in the Audio Devices dialog of the FLDIGI configuration menus. Output selection and level are controlled by an input device mixer which is part of Windows (Windows 10 shown here) Right click on the Speaker Icon in the lower right of the screen to access this. This is a dialog in the RealTek HD Audio Manager used to select and adjust audio devices. Speakers / Headphones output is shown below, the default device and playback volume can be set here. 6

7 This is a Windows generic device control dialog that can be used to select and configure the default audio output device. This is a Windows Dialog that shows the audio levels for the speaker overall, and the audio levels for various applications that are currently open. It is recommended to MUTE any applications that are NOT related to the digital communications, such as system sounds, windows gadgets, or MS Edge / Internet Explorer. 7

8 FLDIGI Sound Card Configuration The following is a screen shot of the menu to configure FLDIGI sound card options. Choose the Capture and Playback Devices This display is shown when the soundcard option of the FLDIGI configure menu is selected. 8

9 Select the Capture Device The Capture Device is the audio input from the transceiver to the computer. Several devices may be shown, choose the correct one for your installation. As shown, the capture device is for an Apache Labs Anan 100d SDR radio, using Virtual Audio Cable (VAC). For the TS-2000x or other conventional transceiver it will likely be Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio). Some sound cards have both a microphone and line-input jack, choose the appropriate one. Select the Playback Device The Playback Device is the audio output from the computer to the transceiver. Several devices may be shown, choose the correct one for your installation. As shown, the playback device is for an Apache Labs Anan 100d SDR radio, using Virtual Audio Cable (VAC). For the TS-2000x or other conventional transceiver it will likely be Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio). 9

10 PTT, CW, FSK Control Signals The usual way to control the Push to Talk (PTT) on a radio is to use an RS-232, or USB to RS-232 signal. FLDIGI does not make use of the CW Key or FSK control signals but other software does. Standard conventions for RS-232 control signals: 1) RTS signal is usually used for PTT. 2) DTR signal is usually used for CW Key 3) TxD signal is always used for FSK RTTY. RigBlasterPro Interface units such as the West Mountain Radio RigBlasterPro have a DB-9 jack on the back of the unit. Internal jumpers route the RS-232 signals to level converters and the PTT, CW, and FSK outputs. FLDIGI does not make use of the CW Key or FSK control signals but other software does. The following are excerpts from the RigBlasterPro manual. 10

11 Homebrew Circuit for PTT, CW, FSK It is also possible to build your own circuit using NPN transistors and resistors to convert the RS V and -12V signal to an open collector pull down circuit for TTL level typical on most transceivers. The base input resistor value is set to drive the transistor into saturation but not overload it. FLDIGI does not make use of the CW KEY or FSK signals. 11

12 FLDIGI PTT Configuration Using RS-232 To configure the PTT for FLDIGI, select Rig Control from the Configure Menu. 12

13 Configure PTT Control using Hardware (RS-232) 1. Use the Rig Tab 2. Use the Hardware PTT Tab 3. Use Device ComboBox select the appropriate COM port 4. Use RTS CheckBox Check ON (DTR may be used, but this is NOT the convention) 5. Use RTS +V CheckBox Check OFF, this is the polarity when RTS is NOT asserted, +V will activate current in the base of the transistor and cause the open collector to pull down the PTT line asserting it. 6. Use the Initialize Button, the font will turn RED. 7. Use the Save Button to save the configuration 8. Use the Close Button to exit the Configure GUI. FLDIGI PTT Configuration Using CAT Control To use CAT control for PTT instead of RS-232 handshake line, use the PTT via Hamlib Command CheckBox shown below. 13

14 Computer Assisted Transceiver Control (CAT) When FLDIGI is run stand-alone (without being controlled by the N1MM logger) it can provide rig control. This requires a separate Serial Port, RS-232 or USB to RS-232, and possibly an ICOM C-IV level converter, depending on the particular radio. In any case, the CAT control appears as a COM port in the FLDIGI configuration GUI. Select Rig Control from the Configure Menu 14

15 Configure CAT Control using HAMLIB Use the following controls: 1) Use the Rig Tab 2) Use the Hamlib Tab (RigCAT may also work) 3) Select the Transceiver Type 4) Select the COM port 5) Select the Baud Rate, it must match the Transceiver Baud Rate 6) Click the Initialize Button to Initialize the COM port 7) Click the Save Button to save the Configuration 8) Click the Close Button to exit the Configure GUI 9) If you want to use CAT control for PTT instead of RS-232 check the PTT via Hamlib Command CheckBox YES, otherwise NO 15

16 Configure CAT Control using HAMLIB Use the following controls: 1) Use the Rig Tab 2) Use the RigCAT Tab (HamLib may also work, and is what I personally use) 3) Select the Transceiver Type 4) Select the COM port 5) Select the Baud Rate, it must match the Transceiver Baud Rate 6) Click the Initialize Button to Initialize the COM port 7) Click the Save Button to save the Configuration 8) Click the Close Button to exit the Configure GUI 9) If you want to use CAT control for PTT instead of RS-232 check the CAT Command for PTT CheckBox YES, otherwise NO 16

17 BASIC USE Set the Mode and Mode Options 1) Select the Mode (MT63) 2) Select the Mode Options (MT L) 3) Set the RxID ON (unless directed otherwise by NCS) This enables automatic mode selection on receive if sending station uses TxID 4) Set the TxID ON (unless directed otherwise by NCS) This enables automatic mode notification to enable receiving station to automatically identify mode if using RxID 5) Set Squelch ON (unless receive signal is really weak) 6) Set Squelch Level (as low as possible without receiving garbage) 7) Center the RED BAR to 1500 Hz, it should be 2000 Hz wide indicating the bandwidth of the receive mode 17

18 Receiving 1) By default, the software is in RECEIVE MODE 2) The waterfall display should show a mixture or yellow and blue (colors are configurable) 3) HEAVY BLUE means the audio level is too low 4) HEAVY YELLOW means the audio level is too high 5) The spectrum of the received signal will move downward with time 6) Received data appears in the top RECEIVE WINDOW 7) If CAT control is used, the Dial Frequency and Emission Mode of the radio will appear Sending 8) Transmit data should be typed or pasted into the bottom TRANSMIT WINDOW 9) Before sending, make sure the cursor is at the END of the data 10) Use the T/R button to send 11) The ^r at the end of data signals FLDIGI to stop, this is NOT transmitted over the air 12) Use the T/R button to stop sending if necessary 13) It is recommended to use a BLANK LINE before your message This will separate your message from noise garbage at the receive station display 14) It is recommended to use a BLANK LINE after your message This will separate your message from noise garbage at the receive station display 15) Transmit data is echoed in the RECEIVE WINDOW in RED color text 18

19 ADVANCED USE Macro buttons can be defined to automate FLDIGI functions. For example the TX/RX Macro is defined and activated by the TX/RX Button. RIGHT CLICK on a Macro Button to create or edit its definition. Here, the TX/RX button uses <TX> Macro Command to start sending, and the <RX> Macro Command to stop sending after all data has been sent. More detailed information on Macros can be found in the FLDIGI help display and documentation. 19

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21 USE WITH AMT Detailed instructions on the use of AMT / Automated Message Terminal appear in another document, but a brief description of how to use FLDIGI with AMT are described here. Configure AMT to work with FLDIGI 1) Make sure Modem is disconnected button displays Connect Modem Connect Status is RED 2) Select FLDIGI as the AMT Modem 3) Browse for the FLDIGI installation path (see INSTALLATION section above) Or Enter the path by typing or pasting 4) Browse for the Message Save path Or Enter the path by typing or pasting 21

22 Use Automated Message Terminal (AMT) to Receive or Send using FLDIGI as the Modem 1) Use the Modem Connect/Disconnect button to connect button display changes from Connect to Disconnect Modem Connection Status changes from RED to GREEN 2) Receive data appears in RECEIVE WINDOW ACP-126/ACP-127 format messages will be automatically be saved if successfully received 3) Enter or paste transmit date in TRANSMIT WINDOW 4) Use Text button to send message as one complete transmission burst. 5) Use Blocks button to send message as a series of block bursts. SUMMARY This document has described how to download, install, setup, and use FLDIGI for MARS purposes, specifically MT-63. Details for configuring Macros can be found in the FLDIGI documentation. Details for using AMT can be found is the AMT User Manual. 22