[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Digital Guard Mode (Page 1 of 5)
Posted: 1/22/2020 8:44:15 PM EDT
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(This topic may have been brought up before and I missed it)
While historically I have not been super active on our ARFCOM Guard channels, I would like to change that moving forward. Has any consideration been given to moving the Digital Guard mode to JS8Call? Olivia 16/500 is about 20wpm @ -13db where as JS8Call Fast mode is about 24wpm @ -20db. A lot of guys are using it already for directed calling, forwarding, messaging, etc so it could potentially consolidate the programs we're all using and simplify things? The net could normally be run on Fast Mode, but if someone is having a hard time getting through to Net Control they could drop down to Slow Mode and be able to get through down to -28db. JS8Call automatically decodes all modes simultaneously, so you wouldn't have to worry about people using different speeds and calls getting dropped because of that. Any thoughts? |
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I second this. It’s where everyone seems to be at now. Also has the added benefits of auto reply message forwarding etc... I have had the pleasure of have a JS8CALL conversation with a fellow member and was something like 800mi away on 15w with a ocfd. I think it has its place for sure. |
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Quoted:
A good time to give it a try would be following the Arfcom digital net on Wednesday. Maybe 0030z/1930et. Use the same 40m 7114khz USB at 1500 on the waterfall. Something else that occurred to me is that since JS8Call uses significantly less bandwidth we could easily operate near the band edge of the normal JS8Call frequency and not cause any interference with other stations, and still be able to leave our radios parked there to receive messages when we're not actively monitoring. One of the main reason I don't monitor any of the Guard frequencies now is because I want to leave my station up and running in the normal JS8Call/FT8 areas so I can get a feel for propagation, receive messages, etc, instead of sitting on the Guard frequency listening to nothing. For example, the typical 40m JS8Call center frequency is 7.078mhz - we could potentially conduct our Arfcom net at 7.080 and not step on any toes and still be able to monitor both frequencies simultaneously (set your radio center frequency at 7.079 so that 7.078 & 7.080 are still within your passband). Another distinct advantage JS8Call could possibly have is that if everybody spreads out in frequency a little bit, multiple people can check in at the same time, and could possibly lead to less doubling? It could also make a cluttered mess, but that's yet to be seen... Still, the first logical step would be to test it out following the normal digital net on Wednesday. Thanks for all the feedback everybody! |
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Wednesday is fine and not sure how I feel about moving off the 7.078. The major selling point of JS8 is the whole networking features around it. Having other stations on the same freq as us is not a determent but a advantage. If the other stations have all the appropriate boxes check (most do) it gives us the advantage of checking PSK reporter and seeing where we are getting out too and who can hear us. It also gives us the possibility of relaying messages thru a non arfcom station to another arfcom member which is the big selling point of JS8. I think it would be advantageous to stay on the 7.078. Just my 2 cents... also be sure to add the @arfcom to your watched callsigns list. |
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Also here is a link to the original JS8call thread. Link
Also im on JS8 now and hopefully tonight (8pm-10pm EST) if anyone wants to play radio. Throw out the @arfcom and should get a reply to me if your east of the Mississippi river. |
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I responded to a JS8 ARFCOM SNR? message last night...not sure if it was received...KK4 callsign Also keep in mind the Arfcoms DMR TG as a way to still play with radio and coordinate HF operations. We have done that a few times on the DMR side and tried to make some HF phone contacts. It was kinda neat. Just a small example of why I think it would be advantageous to stay on 7.078 the below is me at this very moment. None of this would be reported to PSKreporter if I was on a different freq unless heard by one of you who has that feature turned on and happens to be parked at the other freq. We would be severely decreasing the likelihood of being plotted by doing that. Which there is a time in a place for that but as of now would be best to stay on the main freq. Stations I am hearing. Attached File Stations that can hear me @ 25 watts with a OCFD @ 30' in a tree. Attached File Also keep in mind every station that can hear me can be used to communicate with a station that they can possible hear buy using the directed message feature HEARING?. It will yield there top 4 results. |
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Quoted: Wasnt me. Old call sign was a kk4 new is a W4 in NE GA. Also keep in mind the Arfcoms DMR TG as a way to still play with radio and coordinate HF operations. We have done that a few times on the DMR side and tried to make some HF phone contacts. It was kinda neat. Just a small example of why I think it would be advantageous to stay on 7.078 the below is me at this very moment. Stations I am hearing. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/424008/hearing_jpg-1246116.JPG Stations that can hear me @ 25 watts with a OCFD @ 30' in a tree. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/424008/seeing_jpg-1246118.JPG Also keep in mind every station that can hear me can be used to communicate with a station that they can possible hear buy using the directed message feature HEARING?. It will yeld there top 4 results. |
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40m doesn't really work for the E coast from here (Oregon):
Attached File 20m looks better (as you would expect in daytime), but hard to tell with only 9 station monitoring on 20m. |
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40m doesn't really work for the E coast from here (Oregon): https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/58599/Capture_PNG-1246278.JPG 20m looks better (as you would expect in daytime), but hard to tell with only 9 station monitoring on 20m. With that said I am on 20m now and just threw out a HB @ 25W on slow mode. So we will see. Attached File And remember the strength of JS8 is its networking type ability. If no one is on then there is no network. |
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FWIW, I've wondered if there might be an advantage to doing some things on 30m. Less QRM and the band would probably tend to be open a larger percentage of the time - but that's another topic.
40m from dusk to dawn has been rocking for me lately, this was JS8 last night: 
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Quoted:
FWIW, I've wondered if there might be an advantage to doing some things on 30m. Less QRM and the band would probably tend to be open a larger percentage of the time - but that's another topic. 40m from dusk to dawn has been rocking for me lately, this was JS8 last night: https://i.ibb.co/m8sB12j/Capture.jpg You being centralized in the USA would be the bridge for passing alot of info from East coast to west coast. The below represents 20M, 30M and 40M. No one was on 30m so no reports. Attached File |
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Forgot to mention that is using 10 watts and an AlexLoop sitting on a tripod in my office. If I got some wire up in my backyard I could probably do quite a bit better. Currently having a qso on 40m with a guy 992Mi away in Maine on 25W. Attached File |
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If you gents try a JS8Call net, I wonder if Jordan has fully implemented group calls in a way that would make this easy?
For instance, as long as every station endeavors to be on a separate frequency within the waterfall passband, if net control issued a call @ARFCOM SNR?, and he got back an SNR ack from every station with @ARFCOM as a group call, well that would take care of check-in's in one shot, wouldn't it! However, I'm not sure that group calls work like that, although by rights they should. If everyone remained on that separate frequency, then traffic passed to @ARFCOM should go to everyone with that group call. Again, not sure if that really works, but it ought to. Just a few thoughts to ponder, anyway... |
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Well, later in the day (3pm West coast), things are looking much better on 40m:
Attached File Not quite touching the East coast yet.This is slow mode. |
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Quoted:
For instance, as long as every station endeavors to be on a separate frequency within the waterfall passband, if net control issued a call @ARFCOM SNR?, and he got back an SNR ack from every station with @ARFCOM as a group call, well that would take care of check-in's in one shot, wouldn't it! However, I'm not sure that group calls work like that. I asked Jordan if a Group like @ares (@arfcom) could have a message directed and stored to all who have assigned to that group and he said that is coming in a future update. Also if you are on the correct freq anything you see in your passband (3000hz) is all decoded simultaneously. No need in being on the same exact freq. so multiple conversations all at the same time on the same channel. |
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Also a idea would do separate @arfcoms for various regions. Like me in Ga could be @arfcoms4 that way if a station wanted to specifically target the SE USA it could be used instead of alerting the entire arfcomms community. Just a thought. Or just have a @GA , @FL, @TX etc... It’s truly a different animal. Almost have to look at it like DMR TGs. |
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I'm running JS8 on 40m with AUTO enabled tonight if anyone wants to try and ping my station. I probably won't reply until the kids are in bed...look for my station in north central Colorado Edit: just threw out a @arfcom on slow. Not hearing response but it’s not saying that anyone didn’t receive it. |
| Just got back to the computer and saw a couple stations calling @ARFCOM GRID? and SNR? I think I responded to SNR. I set up the program like an hour ago and that was my first JS8 transmission lol. Seems like a bit of an adjustment from WSJT. Got a bit to learn but looks pretty cool. |
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Just got back to the computer and saw a couple stations calling @ARFCOM GRID? and SNR? I think I responded to SNR. I set up the program like an hour ago and that was my first JS8 transmission lol. Seems like a bit of an adjustment from WSJT. Got a bit to learn but looks pretty cool. Was doing pretty good tonight. EU to Cali. Just wish my receive was better. Attached File |
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18:27 for Oregon. Tried both slow and fast: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/58599/Capture_PNG-1246770.JPG Quoted:
Ok cool. Don't mind me polluting the band with random messages as I try to figure this out. I guess I should learn how to use it first 
Last message I tried to send crashed the COM port for some reason... Still have some grounding issues to work out. Also make sure your audio levels are all good. Thought I had mine right but realized I was wrong after this video. I had been running my ALC at half way when it didn’t need to be.  Ham Radio Audio Interface | Raspberry Pi Audio Interface |
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KG4USK - I'm hearing you, and you're hearing me. Band seems to be not in the best shape tonight. I was getting out much better yesterday and earlier this evening |
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Swampfox: I'm hearing you on both normal and slow mode, but I'm not making it to you. ETA: You're -11db on Slow mode My rig auto replied to your "@ARFCOM SNR?" So I'm glad to see that functionality is working correctly If your a K5 call I did get a decode about 40min ago. |
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Ok. Never mind then. Just sent out a Red Dawn radio reference. Hope someone gets a laugh out of it. Attached File |
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Quoted: That’s strange should have a call sign: @arfcom Do you have auto response on? And what wattage are you running? Running about 20 watts at the moment. All I'm seeing is... 03:10:28 - (1498) - @ARFCOM SNR? ? 03:23:56 - (1165) - @ARFCOM SNR? ? 03:31:26 - (1164) - @ARFCOM THE CHAIR IS AGINST THE WALL ? |
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Quoted: Had auto response off while I was messing with the COM connections. Back on now. Running about 20 watts at the moment. All I'm seeing is... 03:10:28 - (1498) - @ARFCOM SNR? ? 03:23:56 - (1165) - @ARFCOM SNR? ? 03:31:26 - (1164) - @ARFCOM THE CHAIR IS AGINST THE WALL ? What’s your time delta at? You will need to zero your clock. It maybe cutting off the first portion of your RX. Will need to do that thru the PC settings. Pretty easy. Also just tried the Relay @arfcom feature not sure exactly what that does. Think it should make a pop up show on your screen with some text in it. |
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Quoted: That’s weird. Should be seeing my call sign I think. What’s your time delta at? You will need to zero your clock. It maybe cutting off the first portion of your RX. Will need to do that thru the PC settings. Pretty easy. Also just tried the Relay @arfcom feature not sure exactly what that does. Think it should make a pop up show on your screen with some text in it. PC clock is synced. Every other station I'm receiving is coming through normal. I saw the relay come through and my station auto-responded with "[callsign] ACK?" . That's all I saw from that. |
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Quoted: Ok, so when I click on the received message on the left window, it selects your callsign on the right window. Also shows a star next to your call indicating that you're hearing me. Maybe the program thinks we are still in QSO and omitted your call? PC clock is synced. Every other station I'm receiving is coming through normal. I saw the relay come through and my station auto-responded with "[callsign] ACK?" . That's all I saw from that. Should be under. Mode (top left) Decoder sensitivity 1x 2x 3x 4x I have mine set to 4x. |