JT65 Digital mode

Here is how used JT65-HF to Decode Digital modes.

I was on holiday and was wondering what I could here on my webSDR from my holiday location on 80 meters.

1) Connected to a WEBSDR http://zr6aic.giga.co.za:8901/
2) To my surprise I herd the tones of JT65 digital mode and started my JT65 application.

Here is where I did the same on a webSDR on 20m wit JT65

Building my first SDR (Software Defined Radio)

Wow my SDR on 40m is up and running. 

(Softrock  receiver) Where can I get a receiver kit http://www.giga.co.za
Here is the details
Here is the link to to the webSDR server http://zr6aic.giga.co.za:8901/

Add caption

I am starting to build a SoftRock Lite II SDR receiver for 40m Band and will publish my experiences with the construction and testing.
I will use my default Ubuntu sound card that could only sample 96Khz but will be looking for a internal or external sound card that would be able to sample 192khz/24 to replace the 96Khz card to give me bettor bandwidth on 40m.
Here is some pictures during the construction and testing process.

Sort all your components and measure and label them before you start assembly

Check the numbers on the Capacitors carefully

I used Solder paste to put on the surface mount components before I placed them on the board

Her is the PCB with solder paste on IC Pads

Transformer wound

Softrock lite II testing the local oscillator divider on 40m.

28,22 Mhz (40m) Mixer I and Q input signals on scope.

Testing your Local oscillator as in assembly document

Testing the Oscillator

Wounding the inductors. (Keeping track of the amount of wounding is important)

Following the test on the assembly instructions

And some more test

I am still waiting for some toroid rings to complete the Softrock kit but decided to expose my Funcube on the satellite part of the 2M band in the mean time.
I now have two softrock receivers on webSDR receiver (80,40,30,20M bands)
Here is the link http://zr6aic.giga.co.za:8901/

Botswana DX expedition

I am planning to go to Botswana from 25 April to 2 Mei and planning to do some DX from there.
I will try and operate on the following frequencies and times.(FT857D) (call sign A25-ZR6AIC)

1. During the day I will be mobile with vertical on 20m.(On my Hilux)
   
2. At night at 20:00 (SA time GMT + 2) I will be operating on PSK and PSKmail 10.148Mhz (Dipole). I will try and send APRS details via PSKmail so you could see my position.
3. At about 20:30 I will be listening on 40m 7.07Mhz (Dipole)
4. If PSKmail works you will be able to mail me in Botswana on zr6aic[AT]gmail.com

If I have Internet I will update this post.
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=682099895127146822#editor/target=post;postID=1489050289151511270
(Just waiting for final Approval from Botswana)
Got Approval from Botswana and everything is good, tested my 20M dipole last night and made some small adjustments. 
All went well and I did some contacts in the evening on 20M but had a problem with my audio cable and could not do any digital modes (psk, PSKmail).

Setting Up PSKmail on FT857

Configuration for FT857 and PSKmail on 10.148Mhz on Ubuntu 10.1

1) Set all digital offsets to zero on ft857
2) Set digital mode to LSB on ft857
3) Will add wiring diagram later Everything gets controlled via external port and cat interface from fldigi to ft857.
4) set rigcat config in fldigi to your serial port connected to ft857 back port
(4800 2stop and cat command for PTT)
5) Fldidg should now display the frequency selected on ft857
6) Set mode on fldidgi to PSK500R if you don't see this option in fldigi you have the old fldidgi version then upgrade to latest version.
7) Start the latest version of PSKmail
8) configure frequency and add server details on PSKmail. (10.148 and zs0mee in my case)
9) Listen for beacon of server and then tune your transceiver to middle of waterfall (on fldigi) my radio frequency for 10.148Mhz LSB was set to 10.146.50 for indicated middle of waterfall.(sweet spot)

There is a local PSKmail server monitoring page managed by ZS6RO

Goto PSKmail for more information

Configuring my Kenwood TK-80 for digital modes

Kenwoold TK-80

Mic details

Pin 1 MIC
Pin 2 PTT (pull to ground for PTT) Make shore you use pin 8 GND for PTT
Pin 3 DOWN
Pin 4 UP
Pin 5 + 8VOLT Some models ( 10 Ma )
Pin 6 (N/C Some models )
Pin 7 MIC GROUND.
Pin 8 GROUND ( STBY )

I use the interface board from Giga Technology here is the link

More details on a possible interface to your computer

http://zr6aic.blogspot.com/2012/02/packet-radio-on-ubuntu-using-soundmodem.html