What Is Digital Radio?

Digital radio is using amateur radio digitally. This typically is utilizing a computer of some sort to send and receive digital signals and is generally done in SSB voice mode. Digital signals have distinct sounds which may be recognized if one listens carefully. Examples of digital modes are sometimes well known like RTTY (Radio TeleTYpe) and SSTV (Slow Scan TeleVision). These modes are explained later as are other modes such as BPSK (Bit Phase Shift Keying), DSSTV (Digital Slow Scan TeleVision), and there are many others used today. You will find each mode's sample sound bite on this page as well as a screen capture of the waterfall used in various software programs used to send and receive the associated mode.

Purpose of This Site

It is my hope to have one of the best sources for a digital website on the World Wide Web and to be used as a resource for the software demonstrated herein. Did you know you can even use Packet Radio simply with your computer soundcard and without the need for a TNC (Terminal Node Controller)? Also, higher baud rates are available without expensive TNC devices by simply using your computer and sounndcard as the modem.

multipsk

This is MultiPSK - one of the best all around digital programs out there. It offers the most modes with some of the best functions available.

mmsstv

This is the BEST SSTV software out there to date. MMSSTV will amaze you with it's ability to copy very nice pictures even with noisy background. It will autostart when the sender begins and will even select the mode of transfer automatically for you! If the station is sending ID, it will receive this FSK ID signal and put it into the built-in SSTV logbook!

I belong to a few various digital mode clubs as well. I belong to the FeldHell Club and to the 30 Meter Digital Group. I recently joined the Ham Radio Network. I am currently a member of Facebook as well.

Names of the Modes

Some of the modes we will talk about are:

Each of those modes can be clicked to obtain more information. On each associated page, you'll hear the sound of the mode calling CQ as well as a screen shot of the waterfall which will make up that mode. There are two main software programs which we will use and both are available for download here. The software will be MMSSTV, MixW, Multipsk, EasyPal, and finally FDMDV. These will allow for all modes described herein to be received and/or transmitted on any radio of your choosing. Be sure to refrain from operating these modes outside of the band allocation and bandplan for this type of operation. Digital voice and image types are allowed on any voice band. Most of the other modes are restricted to the digital sub-bands allocated to your license class. And lets no forget that CW is also a form of digital communications. Computer software for CW operation has never been perfected for a general QSO, however. CW is best done by ear.

All above modes with the exception of SSTV, DSSTV, and DV can be worked with MultiPSK. Some of them will work on MixW. SSTV is recommended to be operated using MMSSTV and DSSTV needs EasyPal (most used program), DV is done currently with FDMDV software. Note: You should use the version here for download as the newer version is not compatible with what they are using on the air currently.

FDMDV

This is FDMDV for digital voice on any ham band in the voice subband.