FLDIGI Installation and Configuration HOW TO First things first. You must have a COMM PORT RS232 available on your PC/Laptop, if you are using an older PC with a 9 pin comm port these have been known to cause problems. I therefore strongly recommend you use a USB to serial comm. Port adaptor, these can be bought from EBAY for around 5.00 to 10.00. Please DO NOT buy the cheap Blue plastic transparent type, they do not work. At the time of writing this document the following item is recommended. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/pl-2303-usb-to-serial-rs232-com-port-adapter-cable-rs-232-db-9- Prolific-Chipset-/290863919825?pt=UK_Computing_Parallel_Serial_PS_2&hash=item43b8d732d1 Ebay Item number 290863919825 Please connect this to your computer before you download and install FLDIGI. If you require a comm. Port device driver this can be obtained from:-serialgear http://www.serialgear.com/usb-serial-adapter-drivers-windows-maclinux.cfm Download the first one on the web page. When you have your comm port installed you will need to know the comm. Port number that windows has assigned, this can be found under DEVICE
MANAGER in windows, look for COMMPORT AND LPT Settings, click on this to show the comm. Number. You will need this shortly. FLDIGI Download FLDIGI from the following web site... http://www.w1hkj.com/download.html From the TOP line of the web page Click on the download option from that line that matches your operating system. For example Linux Binary is for Linux systems only Windows setup for windows systems only Once downloaded install the file, it should place an icon on your desktop. 1. Launch FLDIGI, you should see the setup wizard box, click NEXT. 2. You should now see the OPERATOR INFORMATION WINDOW, fill in all of your personal information, call sign, name, qth, locator and antenna. When done click NEXT. 3. You should now see the AUDIO DEVICES screen, under the DEVICES TAB click on PORT AUDIO, your sound card options will appear on the right side of the configuration box, make sure you correctly select both options. You can leave the other 3 tabs on this setup page alone for now, click NEXT. 4. You should now see TRANSCEIVER CONTROL window, click on HARDWARE PTT tab, the following procedure is VITAL!!, failure here will result in your interface not putting your radio into PTT
TX mode. Under HARDWARE PTT tab, click on USE SEPERATE PTT PORT select and enter your comport number, if you are lucky by hovering your mouse over the drop arrow on the device box might reveal the comm. Number for you, enter this in the device box, click on USE RTS, the box marked INITIALISE should be RED, click on it, it should then turn black, this should have now setup your comm. Port. The other 3 tabs relate to CAT control, I do not use this function and cannot assist, you will have to discover how to set this up yourself. Click on NEXT. 5. You might see TABULAR DATA SOURCES, I am unsure what this does, so for now click FINISH. 6. FLDIGI MAIN SCREEN SHOULD NOW LAUNCH. The following information deals with setting up the MACROS, generally when using digi modes we tend not to type anything, all text that we want to send is dealt with by using pre defined text stored in a MACRO. Just above the WATERFALL is a line of MACROS. This is the line of Macros
7. Place your mouse pointer over the first macro named CQ and RIGHT CLICK, this should launch a text editor window, in here you will find the CQ information CQ MACRO CQ CQ CQ de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> <MYCALL> CQ CQ CQ de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> <MYCALL> pse k The above in RED are the CQ contents held within this MACRO, the manner in which they are entered is vital for their operation. Firstly TO SEND THE macro it needs to know to go into TX, this is handled by the first line TX must be in UPPER CASE and enclosed in left and right chevrons, the next lines transmit the CQ, <MYCALL> which is your call sign which gets picked up from the earlier configuration, and gets transmitted, when the MACRO ends it needs to know to put the radio back into receive mode RX enclosed between chevrons will tell the software to go into receive mode.
The above is used in ALL MACROS, you can make any changes to this macro that are required. Click on APPLY AND CLOSE. Answer the CQ call Macro Just like voice contact, if you hear a CQ call you will want to respond to it, we do just the same in DIGI MODES, this macro handles this. As previously place your mouse over the second MACRO, and right click. <CALL> <CALL> de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> <CALL> <CALL> de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> pse k The above is how I have set my response up, remember this is a basic text editor so go ahead and make your changes. Every macro has an identification name, this can be changed, you need to change the macro button label, I changed mine to ANS CQ, this makes it clearer for me. When you are happy click on APPLY AND CLOSE.
Start of QSO MACRO The third MACRO handles the start of your over. <CALL> <CALL> de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> hello my friend <NAME> <NAME> vy nice to work you in digi mode my name is <MYNAME> <MYNAME> your report next transmission <CALL> <CALL> de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> pse k The above are the contents of my macro, you can put whatever you want in here. When done change the macro label, mine says START QSO. Click APPLY AND CLOSE.
Personal information Macro The Fourth Macro is dealing with your personal information, signal reports etc. <CALL> <CALL> de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> hello my friend <NAME> <NAME> your signal report is 599 599 my name is <MYNAME> <MYNAME> my age is 59 years young my location is <MYLOC> my locator is JO03BI JO03BI how cpi my friend <NAME> <CALL> <CALL> de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> pse k The above are my MACRO contents, again you can put in whatever you like. My Macro name is PERSONAL INFO, when done click APPLY AND SAVE.
Equipment toys Macro The Seventh Macro <CALL> <CALL> de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> my friend <NAME> <NAME> here are my toys Transceiver is Icom IC7100 all band all mode including D-Star Power this mode 30 watts computer Lenovo laptop operating system windows 8 Antenna is <ANTENNA> digi mode software <VER> interface by M0AQC M0AQC how cpi my friend <NAME> <CALL> <CALL> de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> pse k
This Macro deals with sending out your equipment information, some guys like to send this and some don t, the above are my Macro contents. I have named the Macro label as TOYS The final 73 s Macro The Sixth Macro handles the end of QSO, the final 73 s <CALL> <CALL> de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> my friend <NAME> <NAME> many thanks for this enjoyable qso in digi modes i look forward to another qso with you working different mode i will qsl via buro buro only, please no eqsl no eqsl best 73's my friend, all the very best and good DX <CALL> <CALL> de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> SK The above represents my final 73 s macro, I have labelled this macro as 73 s.
There are other macros that can be used for other things, for now I have gone through mine and made the labels blank, this makes it less confusing on the eye. When you have finished the Macro setup if you now place your mouse over each one and left click it should send the contents, and you should hear the audio, if you have your interface connected you should see the RED led illuminated. Now to save everything. Click on configure, and then click on save config. Save the macro file, click on File, Macros and save, give the file name as your call sign. Now to tell FLDIGI to use your macros on startup. Click on configure then user interface, put a tick in the last used macro file on startup Click save and close. Now a quick look at operating. You click on a trace in the waterfall and you see a station you want to talk to. At the top of the screen are areas that you need to fill in. These areas are... FREQUENCY YOU ARE USING. THE CALL SIGN OF THE STATION YOU WANT TO WORK HIS QTH HIS NAME OP FIELD HIS SIGNAL REPORT (IN), OUT IS YOUR REPORT FROM HIM, MOST SAY 599 Now you can work the contact, using your macros.
When you have finished the QSO click on the SAVE button the blue arrow icon. This is as far as I can go, FLDIGI handles lots more, it s now down to you to learn for yourself. Happy DXING. REGARDS ALAN M0AQC