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AR15.COM
12/9/2015 12:29:43 AM EDT
Does anybody have a simple/learner software recommendation for PSK31 (I am using Linux)? I downloaded LinPSK, but it does not seem to have much support and I can't get it to work.

On all the programs I researched they appear to want you to define a Tx and Rx frequency in the software. I am confused, shouldn't these programs just play a PSK31 protocol through the sound card and let the radio be in charge of the frequencies?
12/9/2015 1:05:22 AM EDT
[#1]
The programs I have dealt (HRD and FLDigi) with allow both, either control of the radio, or not.  If not controlling the radio, audio-only connections, then
the program will simply show marks on the waterfall and perhaps have the intervals marked.  I have run the programs like that.

Personally, I don't want my computer "controlling" the radio other than for digital, the controller needs to switch the radio from Receive to Transmit and
back.  There are already knobs, buttons, switches to control the radio right there on the radio.  I really don't understand the need and desire of computer
control.
12/9/2015 4:42:46 AM EDT
[#2]
The software you want is fldigi. You should be able to install it via the package manager or
sudo apt-get install fldigi
If you're running Ubuntu/mint/debian like system

Fldigi has the ability to control the rig but you do not have to use it.
12/9/2015 10:13:45 AM EDT
[#3]
Quote History
Quoted:

Fldigi has the ability to control the rig but you do not have to use it.
View Quote


I absolutely love rig control from fldigi...even more so now that I am using rigcat as I can make custom macros to control things in the radio.

But even just changing frequency in SSB I love just scrolling the mouse rather than leaning in to spin the dial.  Band changes just means spinning a different digit.

I have stopped touching the radio except for split setups and to change modes.
12/9/2015 10:19:16 AM EDT
[#4]
FLdigi is what you seek.
12/9/2015 11:01:15 AM EDT
[#5]
What they said...fldigi
12/9/2015 5:20:24 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
Shouldn't these programs just play a PSK31 protocol through the sound card and let the radio be in charge of the frequencies?
View Quote


As others have mentioned, rig control is an optional feature in FLDigi. I quite enjoy it, as it reduces the number of actions required to send a message.

I'm assuming you're on HF (PSK31 itself is a poor choice of mode for VHF/UHF): what rig are you using? We can point you towards a rig control cable. Simple, easy, some can be homebrewed on the super cheap.
12/9/2015 6:04:50 PM EDT
[#7]
I have been using Digipan, with mixed success. I find the interface difficult to work with. I will be switching to Fidigi.
12/9/2015 11:05:42 PM EDT
[#8]
Thanks for the tip, FLDIGI works great! One more question (didn't see this in the manual). Can I transmit and receive through USB with a Yaesu programming cable on my FT60r?
12/10/2015 12:57:57 PM EDT
[#9]

Plug it in and

dmesg | grep tty

If you get one when connected and don't when not, then point fldigi to that and try it.  But I don't see the FT-60 on the hamlib support list.
12/10/2015 4:13:14 PM EDT
[#10]
Yeah, FLDIGI is definitely the only way to go in my opinion.

It can be simple, and then you can dig deeper into it do more cool shit as you become familiar with it.

It has the ability to control your radio and if you do this it will display the rig's frequency if you have this hooked up through your radio com port and you have the software correctly configured.
BUT, you don't have to use that. If you don't use that, it will just transmit the audio signal to and from your radio and you can dial the frequency into the radio yourself.

I think you will find that you will want to make the effort to connect the com port and have the software control the radio. It makes things a lot easier for a number of reasons all of which are nice to have including automatically putting that frequency into your logging program.
12/10/2015 8:35:54 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote History
Quoted:...Can I transmit and receive through USB with a Yaesu programming cable on my FT60r?
View Quote


I don't think so.

Also, I'm not sure how much luck you're gonna have trying to QSO PSK with a VHF/UHF HT

I used ubuntu,....FLDIGI and CQRLOG with a Kenwood TS480, and signalink,  years ago,  it worked great.

12/10/2015 11:28:45 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote History
Quoted:
I have been using Digipan, with mixed success. I find the interface difficult to work with. I will be switching to Fidigi.
View Quote



I tried at least half a dozen digital programs when I first got into it, and liked Digipan for being a lean, mean, fighting machine.  
It was the ultimate in KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid!).  But it has not been supported in 10 years.  Development just stopped.

Check out also FLMsg to use with FLDigi.  Read up, you'll be impressed.
12/11/2015 11:29:54 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote History
Quoted:
Thanks for the tip, FLDIGI works great! One more question (didn't see this in the manual). Can I transmit and receive through USB with a Yaesu programming cable on my FT60r?
View Quote


Not sure.
I know that my Kenwood TH-D72 HT has a USB cable and I can use it to operate packet. BUT, the Kenwood HT has a built in TNC so you can use that data port for several things like running packet, or for APRS using software, or for outputting the APRS objects to a GPS.............
If nothing else, you can try it. In FLDIGI you configure it as to where it is getting the audio from as well as what com port it uses for CAT control if you are using that feature. So I would plug the cable in and see if the radio shows up in your sound devices under Device Manager in Windows. This usually appears as a USB Audio Codec. Or, possibly you could go to FLDIGI and look under the configuration tab, then look at the available selections for audio devices. If you don't see a USB Audio Codec, you can try selecting your sound card and see what happens. However, in this case you would probably have to run audio in/out from the speaker/mic connector on your HT into your computer soundcard and you probably should be using a audio interface like a Signalink.

I would be interested in hearing what you are doing with PSK31 using an HT. Are there other guys in your area you are working ?
Our local ARES group is playing around with using various digital modes over 2 meters with FLDIGI.