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Automatic Link Establishment for Amateur Radio Status Report

Automatic Link Establishment for Amateur Radio Status Report. Ken Heitner WB4AKK 2011 ARRL / TAPR DCC. Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) for Amateurs - Overview. What Does It Do? How Does It Work? Different Approaches Personal Computer Software Approach On The Air Operations

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Automatic Link Establishment for Amateur Radio Status Report

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  1. Automatic Link Establishmentfor Amateur RadioStatus Report Ken Heitner WB4AKK 2011 ARRL / TAPR DCC

  2. Automatic Link Establishment(ALE) for Amateurs - Overview • What Does It Do? • How Does It Work? • Different Approaches • Personal Computer Software Approach • On The Air Operations • Getting Started

  3. How Does Automatic Link Establishment Work? • ALE is based on a network of HF radios using the same channels across the spectrum • Amateurs are establishing a network of pilot channels in the amateur bands • Each station in the network has a unique address (callsign) • Each station monitors the channels listening for its (or other) callsigns

  4. How Does Automatic Link Establishment Work? • In order to establish communications, ALE stations must LINK • A LINK is established in 3 steps: • Operator or ALE controller initiates a call (Nominally on the best available channel) • The call is acknowledged by the called station • The calling station acknowledges that response. • An established LINK can also provide Internet connectivity (Digital Connectivity)

  5. How to Do Automatic Link Establishment • Dedicated Radios • External ALE Controllers • Personal Computer Software Systems – PC-ALE or MultiPSK • Key idea is free and open software • Discussion will now focus on PC-ALE Software and How it Works.

  6. Software ALE Computer Requirements • Software ALE Recommendations • 133 MHz Pentium • Win 98 SE Soundcard • Current Recommendations • Pentium 4 Processor • Win XP Professional SP 3 • PCI Soundcard or USB Soundcard Interface

  7. Software – ALE Radio Requirements • Supports Computer Aided Transceiver (CAT) Protocol with RS-232 or USB Interface • Additional Desired Radio Features • Supports Silent Scanning and Sounding • Supports Variable Output Power Levels via CAT • Can run 24/7 without other problems

  8. Software ALEInterface Recommendations • Sound Device • Internal or External Soundcard with wide dynamic range (16 or 24 bits) • State-of-the-art External Sound Devices connect via Universal Serial Bus port • Control Lines • Serial Port for Computer Aided Transceiver • USB for CAT

  9. Software ALEAntenna & Coupler Requirements • ALE operation covers a wide frequency range • Optimal communications could involve use of multiple antennas or automatic antenna couplers (switching type) • Inherently broad band antennas, such as B&W folded dipoles work well

  10. Software ALEWhere and What • PC – ALE at URL: hflink.com • Site contains links to almost everything you could imagine would be needed for this type of operation • Join the HFLink Users Group • Monitor operations and send messages

  11. Software ALE / HFLinkerFrequencies Available • Global – 8 channels for data • North America – 10 voice channels • Worldwide – 30 channels • See URL: hflink.net for more details on all aspects of amateur ALE operation

  12. Software ALE / HFLinkerDeployment at This Time

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