FD 2019 SSTV CHALLANGE

During FD on Saturday June 22nd we will transmit an SSTV beacon sending out 10 different images captured during FD setup. Images will e transmitted on 145.5100 MHz. One image every 15 minutes. Here is an extract of a tutorial by K8JTK describing how to setup the software required to capture SSTV images. If you already have setup your radio with a computer for digital modes this should be pretty easy. Get the images and come to collect a prize during Field Day June 22nd-23rd at La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve (Sears Ranch Road Parking lot). For practice I will activate the beacon on Sunday June 16 from 9:00am until 12:00pm Good luck to you all. 73 N6QAD Full versions of the tutorials are available at: https://www.jeffreykopcak.com/2015/04/16/radio-interface-setup-for-getting-started-with-ham-radio-sound-card-digital-modes/ https://www.jeffreykopcak.com/2015/04/16/getting-started-with-mmsstv/

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RADIO INTERFACE SETUP – FOR GETTING STARTED WITH HAM RADIO SOUND CARD DIGITAL MODES APRIL 16, 2015 JEFFREY KOPCAK K8JTK

Table of Contents Introduction Configuration -Playback settings -Recording settings

Introduction This document will demonstrate basic setup of a radio interface device in the Windows Sound Control Panel to use with Ham Radio Sound Card digital modes. Programs include: Ham Radio Deluxe DM780, MMSSTV, Fldigi, wsjtx, FreeDV, Easypal. In addition, it will demonstrate how to record digital transmissions and play them back. This is written with the beginner in mind and many concepts outlined step-by-step. It will provide direction for further experimentation on your own or on the net and direction for troubleshooting. The SignaLink USB was used but these instructions can be adopted for similar devices. Those using other methods may find the settings and techniques useful. SignaLink and many other external interfaces have external volume controls. Set these controls at half to start. Adjust these controls first as they are the easiest to adjust and fine tune while operating. If a situation occurs where you have too much/little audio with the volume controls set low/high, then adjust the Windows audio levels second. It is important to point out: Plugging the same device into a different USB port will be recognized as a new device by the

system. This means the audio settings will need to be re-configured. In addition, the audio device settings in the digital mode program may need to be re-configured as well.

The process of setting audio levels is not exact. Each system is different, drivers are programmed differently, hardware interacts differently with the operating system. It will take some time to fine tune audio levels.

Resources

https://www.jeffreykopcak.com/2015/04/16/radio-interface-setup-for-getting-started-with-ham-radio-sound-card-digital-modes/https://www.jeffreykopcak.com/author/jeffrey-kopcak/

Still having trouble after using this tutorial? Read through the product manual and support documentation. Below are links for popular devices. Specific instructions can be found online typically by searching: [name of application] [radio interface device]. Example: Fldigi SignaLink USB.

SignaLink Homepage: http://www.tigertronics.com/ General support, operating tips, manuals, and modifications (all models): http://www.tigertronics.com/sl_suprt.htm SL USB troubleshooting: http://www.tigertronics.com/slusbts.htm

Rigblaster Homepage: http://www.westmountainradio.com/ Knowledge base: http://www.westmountainradio.com/knowledge_base.php Drivers and manuals: http://www.westmountainradio.com/content.php?page=wmr-downloads

Configuration

Playback settings This will adjust the audio path from the computer to the radio. Begin by setting any external volume controls on the interface at half, if applicable. Click the Start button. Click Control Panel. If Control Panel is in Category mode, first click Hardware and Sound. Click Sound.

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If the radio interface device (USB Audio CODEC for SignaLink) has a green check next to it, this indicates it is the default audio device. DO NOT use the radio interface as the default Windows audio device. Any sounds generated by the computer will be transmitted including system sounds, music, and screensaver noises. The radio interface will be selected in the settings of the digital application. When traveling once, some station had the radio interface set as the default audio device. The aquarium screensaver was not only transmitting bubbles but tying up a local repeater. Don’t be that guy. Set the sound card as the default audio device.

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Click the main sound card device. Click Set Default. Notes: Clicking Set Default will set the selected device as the Default (sound) Device and Default

Communication Device. Clicking the down arrow will display the options set as default.

Click the radio interface device. Click Properties.

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Click the Levels tab. Set the Speakers level to 50. Notes: Setting the audio level half-way will prevent distortion and clipping of the audio signal.

Further audio level adjustments should be made using the level controls on the interface device.

A range up to 75 appears to be acceptable in Windows, however change this setting last.

Click the Enhancements tab. Check Disable all enhancements. Notes: Disabling enhancements eliminates a possible source of distortion in the audio signal.

Distortions will result in undesired or no decoding of the data.

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Click the Advanced tab. Under Default Format, select 16 bit, 48000 Hz. Click OK. Notes: 41000 Hz is fine for many applications. Some digital modulation requires more bandwidth.

Recording settings This will adjust the audio path from the radio to the computer. Begin by setting any external volume controls on the interface at half, if applicable. If not in the Sound control panel, click the Start button. Click Control Panel. If Control Panel is in Category mode, first click Hardware and Sound. Click Sound.

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Click the Recording tab. If the radio interface device (USB Audio CODEC for SignaLink) has a green check next to it, this indicates it is the default audio device. DO NOT use the radio interface as the default Windows audio device. The radio interface will be selected in the settings of the digital application. Set the sound card as the default audio device.

Click the main sound card device. Click Set Default. Notes:

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Clicking Set Default will set the selected device as the Default (sound) Device and Default Communication Device. Clicking the down arrow will display the options set as default.

Click the radio interface device. Click Properties.

Click the Levels tab. Set the Microphone level to 50. Notes:

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Setting the audio level half-way will prevent distortion and clipping of the audio signal. Further audio level adjustments should be made using the level controls on the interface device.

A range up to 75 appears to be acceptable in Windows, however change this setting as last resort.

Click the Advanced tab. Under Default Format, select 1 channel, 16 bit, 48000 Hz. Click OK. Notes: 41000 Hz is fine for many applications. Some digital modulation requires more bandwidth.

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GETTING STARTED WITH MMSSTV APRIL 16, 2015 JEFFREY KOPCAK K8JTK

Table of Contents Introduction Download and installation Configuration RX History -Saving images

Introduction This document will demonstrate installation, setup, and basic use of MMSSTV. MMSSTV stands for Makoto Mori (JE3HHT, creator) Slow Scan TV. It has been the defacto standard SSTV application for many years. This is written with the beginner in mind and many concepts outlined step-by-step. It will provide direction for further experimentation on your own or on the net and direction for troubleshooting.

Resources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow-scan_television – Wikipedia, history and current systems. http://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.php – MMSSTV homepage, sample audio files (to route through the Windows audio system), and help files. http://www.wb9kmw.com/WB9KMW/sstv_files/tutorial/SSTV_tutorial.pdf – SSTV for beginners. WB9KMW answered some questions with MMSSTV. I’ll plug his introduction. His website has a collection of HF SSTV receivers that can be used to check reception and propagation.

Download and installation Download MMSSTV (free, Windows only): http://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.php. Save it in your Downloads folder. You will need the administrator password to install if you are running as a standard user.

https://www.jeffreykopcak.com/2015/04/16/getting-started-with-mmsstv/https://www.jeffreykopcak.com/author/jeffrey-kopcak/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow-scan_televisionhttp://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.phphttp://www.wb9kmw.com/WB9KMW/sstv_files/tutorial/SSTV_tutorial.pdfhttp://www.wb9kmw.com/WB9KMW/live_SSTV.htmlhttp://www.wb9kmw.com/WB9KMW/live_SSTV.htmlhttp://www.wb9kmw.com/WB9KMW/live_SSTV.htmlhttp://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.php

Click Next.

Select I accept. Click Next.

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Click Next.

Click Next.

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Click Next.

To create a desktop icon for MMSSTV, check Create a desktop icon. Click Next.

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Click Install.

Installation will begin.

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Click Next.

Click Finish.

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Configuration Configuration and setup of MMSSTV.

When MMSSTV is started the first time, you will be prompted to enter your call sign. Click OK.

Click Option. Click Setup MMSSTV.

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On the RX tab, check Auto stop. Check Auto slant. Check Decode FSKID. The remaining settings are the default settings. Notes: All 5 check boxes should now be checked in that box. Auto stop automatically stops receiving when the synchronization signal is lost. Auto restart restarts receiving form the beginning when it detects an SSTV synchronization

signal. Auto resync attempts to re-synchronize the image after the synchronization signal has been

lost. Auto slant automatically adjusts the image slant by measuring the synchronization signal.

See notes for the “Misc” tab. Decode FSKID decodes the call sign of the transmitting station and populates the logging

window. The transmitting station must have “Encode FSKID” checked on the TX tab.

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Click the TX tab. Check Encode FSKID. Under CWID, select CW. The remaining settings are the default settings. Notes: Your call sign should appear in the Template box from when MMSSTV was first started. Encode FSKID populates your callsign for the receiving station in the Log should they choose

to use the logging functionality of MMSSTV. The receiving station must have “Decode FSKID” checked on the RX tab.

Some radio interfaces use a serial COM port to key the transmitter. This is set in the PTT box.

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Click the Misc tab. In the Sound Card box, select the receive audio interface (In) and transmit audio interface (Out). If the TX offset of the sound card is known, enter it in TX offset. History max sets the number of images saved in the History tab before they are overwritten. JPEG Quality is the quality when saving images to the computer. Click OK. Notes: SignaLink USB is labeled USB Audio CODEC in Sound Card. SSTV operators on the HF bands will not run with “Auto Slant” enabled. They want

transmitting stations to calibrate their sound card. To calibrate, click the ADJ button under Clock. See the “Calibration” section at the beginning of this document for methods to calibrate MMSSTV.

JPEG Quality, the higher percentages use less compression but takes more space. If a user is having issues with running MMSSTV with other programs, under Priority

select higher.

RX In the RX tab, images will appear as they are received.

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Click the RX tab .

In the center for RX Mode, click Auto.

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MMSSTV receiving an image. While receiving:

RX Mode will automatically change to the mode the sending station is transmitting. If the mode is not one of the options displayed, it will change out one of the modes.

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The level meter next to RX Mode will turn green when decoding an SSTV signal. The level should be about half way. Adjust the audio level on your radio interface, not in the Windows Sound Control Panel. A gray level meter means no SSTV signal is detected. Redlevel meter (and Overflow in the orange box) means the audio level is too high! Turn down the audio level on the radio interface. Red is OK when not receiving an image.

The orange box next to the level meter is the spectrum analyzer. This will settle when receiving an image. A pulse or sync tone at 1200 Hz (green line) tells MMSSTV when the next line of the image is being transmitted. Between 1500 and 2300 are tones for the color information of each line. The RX window displays the colors until it incurs the sync tone and begins displaying the next line of the image. Darker colors are tones near 1500 and brighter colors near 2300.

The waterfall is the black and white box below the spectrum analyzer. The spectrum analyzer and waterfall will be similar to the screenshot above during a clean reception of an SSTV image. Noise will show up as other frequencies on the spectrum. Colors of the spectrum and waterfall can be changed in the “Misc” tab options.

History The History tab stores the last 32 received images. The number can be changed in the options “Misc” tab.

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Click the History tab .

The < and > arrows advance through the received images. Mode, resolution, picture number, and time received are displayed below the image.

Saving images Right-click the image. There are two options to save the image to your computer: Save to file and Save to file with Time Stamp. The latter option overlays a time stamp in the lower right (examples below). The image can be copied directly to the clipboard with the Copy icon and pasted in another program. Quality of the saved image is set in the options “Misc” tab.

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Saved image without time stamp.

Saved image with received time stamp in the lower right.

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