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Consider this:

Consider this:. There are only 10 kinds of people in this world. Those who understand binary and those who don’t. RTTY Contesting Basics. Doug Haft KY4F. Introduction. How RTTY contesting differs for other modes My background – KY4F Employing the information covered here today should:

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  1. Consider this: There are only 10 kinds of people in this world. Those who understand binary and those who don’t.

  2. RTTY Contesting Basics Doug Haft KY4F

  3. Introduction • How RTTY contesting differs for other modes • My background – KY4F • Employing the information covered here today should: • Entice you to try RTTY Contesting, or • If already in the RTTY Contests…. Improve your score

  4. Topics: • A Brief History of RTTY • Hopefully this will clear up some of the strange things you see printed on your screen. • Garbled Print • The RTTY Operators Enemy • Parsing • What it is and Why its critical to understand • Macro’s • What is the most efficient way to format your message buffers?

  5. Topics: • Running vs. Search and Pounce • Summary • Credit to Dan Murphy, K7IA who’s eBook Contesting and RTTY--The Basics, was the inspiration and primary source for this presentation.

  6. Topic 1: A Brief History of RTTY • Most of us think of RTTY based on WWII movies etc. • Uses a five bit code for each character. The Baudot code. Pat. 1874 • No computers in those days. Teletype (TTY) machines were electro mechanical devices. Guam: Late 1960’s bottom row - AN/UGC-25 printermiddle row - TT-176/UG keyboard/printertop row - TT-187A/UG tape reader plus TT-192A/UG tape punchwall - KWX-7 sync switch for crypto gear

  7. Topic 1: A Brief History of RTTY • Being only five bits, a maximum of 32 characters possible. • 26 letters • 10 digits • Various Control Characters • The 32 limit is exceeded! • What to do?? • Shift the carriage. LTRS & FIGS. The Baudot Code • Letters mode • Figures mode • Control characters

  8. Topic 1: A Brief History of RTTY • Originally, TTY was carried out over landlines using a DC circuit. • A mark (1) was interpreted when the circuit was closed and space (0) when the circuit was open. • In RTTY we create the mark and space by sending on two frequencies. • Mark on one frequency space on the other • These frequencies are 170Hz apart. • Hence 170Hz shift • Marks and Spaces

  9. Topic 2: Garbled Print • Your decoding software is constantly trying to interpret what it “hears” into marks and spaces. • Results in garbled characters. • Ltrs when not desired • Figs when not desired For Example Sent Text: “KY4F KY4F First “4” hit by static and interpreted as Figs RX Text: “KY! (64!” With USOS: “KY! KY4F”

  10. Topic 3: Parsing & Phantoms • Parsing is not a new concept • If you’re reading this easily, you’re parsing. • Ifyoufindthisalittlemoredifficulttoreaditsbecausetheparsingelementshavebeenremoved • Let’s make copy at the distant end as easy as possible by using parsing elements. • Phantom characters appear because the transition from sending to receiving is not a smooth one. Almost ALWAYS 1 or 2 characters will appear on the screen when the distant end transitions. • When you transition from Tx to Rx, locally generated phantoms will appear on your screen as well.

  11. Topic 4: Macro’s/Message Buffers • Run Macro’s • F1 CQ Message • F2 Exchange • F3 TU & QRZ {tx}{enter} CQ CQ SARTG {MyCall} {MyCall} {enter}{rx}{tx}{enter} {HisCall} TU 599-#-# {MyCall} {enter}{rx}{tx}{enter} {HisCall} TU QRZ SARTG {MyCall} {enter}{tx} **These examples are from K7IA’s ebook Understanding RTTY Contesting SARTG Examples

  12. Topic 4: Macro’s/Message Buffers • An example: • Always put a Space before and after your call sign. • Always remember there WILL BE phantoms and garbles • Build your message buffers to minimize the impact • CQ CQ SARTG K4TD K4TD • V --a phatom V appears on TD’s screen • Answered by K6ABC • VK6ABC K6ABCYQ -K6ABC is not using parsing elements. If he/she were, the print would be: • V K6ABC K6ABC YQ

  13. Topic 4: Macro’s/Message Buffers • Run Macro’s • F1 CQ Message • F2 Exchange • F3 TU & QRZ {tx}{enter} CQ CQNA {MyCall} {MyCall} {enter}{rx}{tx}{enter} {HisCall} TU DOUG AL AL{MyCall} {enter}{rx}{tx}{enter} {HisCall} TU QRZ NA {MyCall} {enter}{tx} **These examples credit to K7IA’s ebook Understanding RTTY Contesting NAQP Examples

  14. Topic 4: Macro’s/Message Buffers • S & P Macro’s • F2 Exchange • F3 TU • F4 My Call x 2 • And NOTHING else {tx}{enter} {HisCall} TU 599-#-# {MyCall} {enter}{rx}{tx}{enter} {HisCall} TU {MyCall} {enter}{tx}{tx}{enter} {MyCall} {MyCall} {enter}{rx} **These examples credit to K7IA’s ebook Understanding RTTY Contesting SARTG Examples

  15. Topic 5: Running vs. S&P • Running • Turn on AFC • Turn on USOS • Construct Message Buffers with parsing elements • S & P • Turn off AFC • Turn on USOS • Never send the running station’s call sign when answering his CQ!! • Do not use “de” ever • Construct Message buffers with parsing elements.

  16. Summary • RTTY uses the 5 bit Baudot code • Requires LTRS and FIGS • Phantoms and Garbles WILL occur • Construct your message buffers to minimize the ill effect of Phantoms and Garbles • Never send 5NN • Never send the running station’s call sign when responding to the CQ

  17. Summary • Most of this information is from Contesting and RTTY – The Basics by Dan Murphy K7IA • Dan asks that you email him to request a copy* • Available for ACG members in the file download area of our web site. • Visit www.alabamacontestgroup.org • Questions or comments? Feel free to email me at KY4F@arrl.net *Dan’s email address is available on qrz.com

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