Introduction to PropNET

Bell Ringers Group1Introduction to PropNETPresented to the Bell Ringers GroupPresented by Jorge Luis JL de la Torre ki4SGUOn behave of the PropNET Users Group

Bell Ringers Group2Who is ki4SGUOriginally kb5YZMAvid 10m Enthusiast and QRPerOriginally from Cuba, raised in New Orleans, I now live in Atlanta with my wife and 8 childrenI work as a IT & Communication engineerhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/peak-2-peak/

QSL QSL QSL QSL QSLBell Ringers Group3What will covered PSK31 History & BasicsPropNet History & BasicsPropagation PrognosticationsThe Sack-Donnelly EffectThe Sack-Donnelly in GA?Resources

3Bell Ringers Group4What is PropNET? PropNET is an ad-hoc PSK31 wireless network of digital Amateur Radio enthusiasts that provides a mechanism for real-time propagation discovery and keyboard-to-keyboard messaging with an Internet component that displays worldwide data on demand!

4Bell Ringers Group5PSK31A ^ Brief IntroductionVeryBell Ringers Group6PSK31 HistoryDeveloped by Peter Martinez, G3PLXThe fastest growing digital mode Keyboard to Keyboard QSOsBit rate & bandwidth 31.25 HzSuited to sound-card sampling.Bell Ringers Group7Why Operate PSK31?Allow for live keyboard-to-keyboard chat (think wireless Instant Messaging)Allows for experimentation and the software is FREE!!Computer soundcard provides the necessary digital signal processing for decoding these modes. Modern soundcards are more than adequate to operate the different modesHardware to interface the radio to the computer is very inexpensive (if purchased complete) or easy to build (kit or individual parts)Good for emergency communications in marginal conditionsAllows multi languages QSOs -- It is FUN!Bell Ringers Group8PSK31 Concepts Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) used in RTTY where the mark (1) and space (0) are different frequenciesSpaceMarkBell Ringers Group9PSK31 ConceptsPhase Shift Keying (PSK) defines a zero (space) as a 180 phase reversal and a one (mark) as in phase with a reference frequencyBell Ringers Group10Why the Excitement Over PSK31?Well suited to low power, simple antenna operation Works well for DX contacts during weak part of sun spot cycleInexpensive, straightforward integration of computer and transceiverFree or low cost software available for Windows PC, MAC, LinuxBell Ringers Group11Sound Card Digital ModesBandwidth Comparison

CW PSK-31 HF PACKET (300 bd) RTTY OLIVIA

11HamScope is a digital mode software package that available for free on the Internet. In this one package you have software that provides CW, RTTY, PSK31, QPSK, MFSK and PACKET Modes. It requires supplemental software GetCW, MTTY and AGWPE, but they are also available for free on the Internet.

HamScope: http://www.qsl.net/hamscopeCWget: http:/ua9osv.da.ru MMTTY:http://www.qsl.net/mmhamsoft/mmtty/index.html AGWPE: http://www.raag.org/sv2agw/agwpe.htm

Bell Ringers Group12Sound Card PSK31 InterfacesCWPSK31RTTYPACKETAPRSFSK411JT44EME

Bell Ringers Group13What is the Waterfall Display

DigiPAN - Skip Teller KH6TY Bell Ringers Group14Waterfall Display, More Details #1

Bell Ringers Group15Waterfall Display, More Details #2

Bell Ringers Group16Where to Operate PSK31?The Predominant USA HF Digital Frequencies Are:

10 Meter Band: 28.110 - 28.125 Mhz12 Meter Band: 24.920 - 24.930 Mhz15 Meter Band: 21.060 - 21.080 Mhz17 Meter Band: 18.100 - 18.110 Mhz20 Meter Band: 14.060 - 14.080 Mhz30 Meter Band: 10.130 - 10.145 Mhz40 Meter Band: 7.060 - 7.080 Mhz80 Meter Band: 3.620 - 3.640 Mhz

* All frequencies are USB & transceiver-based.

Bell Ringers Group17Basic PSK31 StationHF TransceiverComputerSound CardCOM PortPSK31 Application

Speaker OutLine InLine OutMic InputDTR or RTS of COM nAntenna

Bell Ringers Group18Learn about PSK31 - k7AGE

Randy Hall k7AGEBell Ringers Group19find out more about PSK31The Official PSK31 WWW Homepagehttp://aintel.bi.ehu.es/psk31.html

PSK31 DigiPan Download Pagehttp://www.digipan.net/

Digital Radio Yahoo Grouphttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/

30m Spots Pagehttp://www.projectsandparts.com/30m/Bell Ringers Group20PropNETPropNET - the ad-hoc digital communication networkBell Ringers Group21PropNET HistoryIntroduced In 1998 by Ev Tupis, w2EV At The TAPR/ARRL Confab

QST May 2001, & June 2002

In Continuous Operation Since Its Origination.

21Bell Ringers Group22How does it work?

Bell Ringers Group23On what frequencies is PropNET activity found? Some PropNET Frequencies Are:80 Meter Band: 3.5982 Mhz40 Meter Band: 7.1032 Mhz 30 Meter Band: 10.1389 Mhz20 Meter Band: 14.097 Mhz17 Meter Band: 18.105 Mhz15 Meter Band: 21.098 Mhz12 Meter Band: 24.924 Mhz 10 Meter Band: 28.131 Mhz 06 Meter Band: 50.291 Mhz 02 Meter Band: 144.288 Mhz

* All frequencies are USB & transceiver-based.Bell Ringers Group24Typical PropNET StationMost Stations Same as PSK31Vertical AntennasUse hy:[em73ox]PHG211066/^D644 < Payload

Bell Ringers Group35PropNET transmissionsThe preamble exists to give decoding software time to scan and lock on to the PSK31 stream.

The payload includes much of the same information that voice or CW operators exchange in a typical contact, but in a shortened form to minimize on-air frequency use.

The call sign of the transmitting station (ki4SGU in the example);

A two-letter band code (hy, which refers to 10 meters);

The stations location, expressed as its 6-character Maidenhead locator (em73ox);

The stations Power/Height/Antenna Gain (PHG) code (211066);A checksum of the payload (the four characters after ^).

Bell Ringers Group36How often do PropNET participants ID themselves? On HF frequencies, it is recommended that participants ID no more than six times per hour; however ID rates of up to 15 times per hour are allowed. -- The station owner is responsible for setting this parameter to a reasonable value.

Bell Ringers Group37Are IDs time slotted? No time slotting takes place by design. Each participant is stand-alone and autonomous in its operation. Normal differences in computer clock time and time keeping will cause participants to wander into and out of sync with others over time. -- This is a good thing as it offers some natural randomization.

Bell Ringers Group3816. What rules govern the PropNET service? PropNET is considered an international service. However, radio licensing regulations differ from country to country, so it is important for PropNET participants to know and abide by the rules of their own licensing authority.

In practice, PropNET operates in a very similar way to APRS (http://www.aprs.net). Like APRS, PropNET stations form a network for sharing information, just like people in an SSB roundtable. This means that the rules governing PropNET are essentially the same as those governing APRS in your country.

Bell Ringers Group39What does 97.3(6) define? 97.3(6) defines automatic control as The use of devices for control of a station when it is transmitting so that compliance with the FCC rules is achieved without the control operator being present at a control point. (italics added)

97.221(b) says that A station may be automatically controlled while transmitting a RTTY or data emission on the 6m or shorter wavelength bands, and on segments.

Bell Ringers Group40I cant operate as an Auto-Station. What other options do I have? That's easy. Consider transmitting only when you are present at your station. When you are not, stay active but enter Lurker mode. That will make you receive-only, yet your station will still report anything that it catches to the Internet hub.

Bell Ringers Group41Predicted ?

VOAProp - Julian Moss g4ILOBell Ringers Group42Predicted - Zoomed

VOAProp - Julian Moss g4ILOBell Ringers Group43Verified!

Bell Ringers Group44The Sack-Donnelly EffectThe San Diego ExperimentData Collection Began In 2001Using PSK31 Mode on 28.131 Mhzkf6XA Is Located In Murrieta, CAw3NRG Is Located In Coronado, CABell Ringers Group45

The Sack-Donnelly EffectFeatured in QST 06/02

Ed Sackw3NRG

* PropNET used to be called BEACONet, before they added features to make it an automatically controlled digital system.Bell Ringers Group46The Sack-Donnelly Effectkf6XA - Murrieta, CA

w3NRG Coronado, CA

Bell Ringers Group47The Sack-Donnelly EffectQST Article: Elevations Between Stations

Bell Ringers Group48The Sack-Donnelly EffectBoth Stations Use Radio Shack HTX-10 Transceivers At