Oakland Digital Modes Net

Wednesdays 19:30 local time, 442.4 Mhz, positive offset, PL tone of 77.0 hz.

Any digital mode is welcome, however the primary mode, and a good starting place, is Slow Scan TV (SSTV). Currently, there are 3 ways in which you can participate in the SSTV Net:

1. Checking in voice only.

You'll just be hearing a bunch of SSTV noise during the Net, but anyone is welcome to check in.

2. Reception only.

All you need is a radio, a computer with SSTV software and a means of getting the sound from the radio into a computer.

The software I highly recommend is the free MMSSTV available from http://mmhamsoft.amateur-radio.ca/

If you are one of the fortunate folks who have a Macintosh, http://www.machamradio.com/ has a list of digital modes software, as well as links to other resourses for Mac users. Available on the site is MacRobotSSTV, which supports the SSTV modes in use during the net, and it is also free. I have not used the software myself.

The key thing for the best results on MMSSTV is to change one setting from the default. Once you have installed and launched the program, under the Option menu, select Setup MMSSTV(O). On the RX tab, on the far right, check "Auto Slant" and click OK. As far as the software is concerned, you are done to start receiving, though there are other things you can do to improve reception, and we would be happy to help you with this during the net.

Getting the sound into your computer can be as simple as holding the computer mic up to the speaker of your radio. (One member has even used an airline headset as a microphone.) However, the quality of the image will suffer and be subject to disruption from ambient audio. You will get better results if you connect a cable from the audio output of your rig (speaker jack or some other port) to the Mic or Line In jack of your computer. Depending on your computer, you might need to change which audio input is selected. We can help you with that during the net as well.

3. Sending and Receiving.

Send an image or three to the rest of the group. Although this can be done by holding the radio mic up to the speaker of your computer, again much better results will be achieved if you have a direct audio connection between your computer and radio.

There are a number of home built and commercially available devices to let you do just that. BuxComm at http://www.packetradio.com/ has the Rascal (both USB and Com Port versions available) and HRO has a few, the EZ-PSK Interface from Saratoga Ham and Rig Blaster from West Mountain Radio (also available directly from West Mountain at http://www.westmountainradio.com/ ).

Another mode that has been tried successfully during the net is PSK31. The software I recommend for this mode is the PSK31 Deluxe, which is part of the excellent, free rig control software Ham Radio Deluxe. PSK31 Deluxe can be used separately, but you do need to install the whole software package, available at http://hrd.ham-radio.ch/.

Another program that is used by some of the participants in the net is HamScope, which suports a wide range of modes and is available from http://www.qsl.net/hamscope/ . If you need help with any of this, please feel free to contact me via radio, email kg6derNoSpam@arrl.net (remove the NoSpam) or at a club meeting.

Use of the WB6NDJ repeater is courtesy of the Oakland Radio Communications Association (ORCA). The WB6NDJ repeater is an open repeater: no dues are required for normal Amateur Radio use. However, you must be a member to make use of special features such as the telephone patch, when enabled.