Tom: Exceptional series of videos. Excellent voice audio, no "ums, errs or other fills". Speech speed & articulation is superb. Your technical content does not suppose that your viewers are electrical engineers & your historical data explaining the background for the RTTY jargon is greatly appreciated. Your work sir is excelled by none of which I am aware. Thank You !
Hi Brian. Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate it. I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos. I do spend some time trying to make sure the videos are clear and understandable. I always feel that I can make them better, but it’s nice to hear that they aren’t too bad as they are. 73, Tom
I've used them often for RTTY contests where the exchanges are pretty standard. There are enough memories to cover most of what you would need. It is nice to have in the radio so you don't have to have a whole computer setup to participate in a RTTY contest.
@@HamRadioA2Z You don't really have to if you are replying to a CQ (I think). I just program in the exchange (usually 599 and a serial number or state) and a DE mycall. Then I do have to go back and increment the serial number for the next contact but that isn't too onerous. Perhaps I am not following exact protocol, but it seem to work and no complaints yet.
See the comment from James B and my reply. I'll agree that you can make it work in some limited situations, but as I replied to James, if anything even slightly out of the ordinary comes up or band conditions get bad and require repeats of one thing, etc. then you're going to be scrambling to edit a memory or the contact will just go south.
@@HamRadioA2Z Agreed. I have one memory for AGN AGN in case I couldn't hear his response, and one for more repeats of my call and response in case he didn't hear me. So far, in the contests, I haven't needed more. For any other purposes, agreed, not much use. Except, of course, for repeatedly calling CQ or whatever after which you switch to the computer.
In shack (where IC-7300 often sits), most people would use a PC rather. However, with IC-705 on portable, this might be a great feature -- SOTA/POTA/WWFF activations or even the contests. Just a bit is missing: 1) A QSO counter, which is already implemented for CW, so I believe it wouldn't be a big problem for Icom to hack it in for RTTY too. 2) Picking up a callsign from decoded text. This is not implemented, but simple two-click solution might be used -- first click shows a zoom window, the same as you got when clicking on a waterfall), second picks the callsign. The callsign would have to be shown somehow, but in the top bar of the decoder window, there is some space. Then you would just add a placeholder (e.g. character %) into the macros and it would be replaced by selected call when transmitting. This is a quite simple idea, that is doable and would bring this built-in RTTY feature to different level! I have suggested it to Icom, hoping they might implement it in IC-705's firmware update. Not happened yet. But if you guys encourage Icom too, we might get it finally! If you like my suggestion, please write to Icom!
I have always found it hard to believe that Icom didn't put in a keyboard jack. Or, for that matter, haven't had a software update that would allow a keyboard to plug into the USB port for those occasions when that's all that required. Thank you for the video series.
The last contest you showed, you can use these rtty memories. You do not need to send the running stations callsign, you just send you callsign and the exchange. As long as the contest does not need a serial number exchange just a standard exchange, then you are good to go. Then you go back thru your recorded log and you can copy paste that log into a cabrillo file converter if you need to send a log in. You will have the other stations call in your log. Again the CQ worldwide contest was a prime example. Looks like this: CQ CQ TEST W2XYZ. (run station calling cq) K0UA K0UA (pounce station calling him. No callsign needed) K0UA 599 NY (run station replying to K0UA's call and giving him the report) 599 599 MO. TU (pounce station gives the report) TU CQ TEST W2XYZ (run station says thank you and calls CQ again)
Ok- I'll grant you that could work by just using the memories as long as you only want to be a pounce station. It won't work if you ever want to call CQ in a contest. It also becomes problematic if anything other than a perfect, ordinary contact happens. In your example, if the run station comes back with K0UA R U on 40M? Would like to work you there too- or something similar, your kind of done at that point. I suppose you could program one memory with SORRY. NO SPEAK ENGLISH. 73 DE K0UA QRT as a catch all. :-)
I am new to your channel and was thinking of buying me a HF rig and was wanting a rig that might be the best RTTY set up. Do they make a RTTY HF set up that does have usb keyboard connection ? I like as simple as I can get but I also like multi use as well. Great video ! W4ZTX
Hi. Thank you for the kind words. The IC-7610 has 2 input USB connectors that you can plug a USB mouse and keyboard into. It supports transmitting RTTY directly from the keyboard. Of course, the 7610 is a much more expensive option than the 7300, 7100 or 705. The Yaesu FT-DX101D or MP may have this capability. I’m not sure. It is in the same price class as the 7610 though.
Thanks and congratulations for your videos. I would disagree however concerning the utility of the IC7300 RTTY memories. I happened to rank 1st Europe of a CQ WW RTTY contest in a "single band" category just with these memories. Of course, this is not optimum, as you can't call CQ but nonetheless, it works well. "DE XX0YY XX0YY", "XX0YY XX0YY XX0YY" and "RR 599 01 01 TU" are enough to respond to a CQ call or a contest call. If you are chasing a rare DX and/or if you really want to make it clean, you can manually add their callsign in one of your memories. It only takes some 30 seconds... 73!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching. I’m glad it works for you. I agree you can make it work for specific cases. I’m just not comfortable with no ability to handle any hiccup in the QSO, like the other station asking something outside the canned response.
Hi Lee. I have thought about it. I don't currently have Icom's remote software, but I have thought about getting it. If I do, I'm sure I'll do a video on it.
Very nice walk through of RTTY. It is noticed that you use F1 in you example video. How do you increase the amount of bandwidth to cover the the whole waterfall window? Rafael / NN3RP
Hi Rafael. Sorry for the delayed reply. I'm not sure what you mean about covering the whole waterfall. If you are talking about the RTTY decoder window, the small waveform display it shows in the little box is fixed, as far as I know. You just have to keep tuning until a signal shows up in the window and then try to align the peaks with the vertical lines. I believe Icom's intent is that you tune the signal in the regular receive view and then use the little window in the RTTY decoder display just to fine tune the signal.
Just exploring the scary digital HF radio world with stand alone IC7300. Thank You for a friendly, professional video. Has anyone figured out how to plug a keyboard into the IC7300?
@@HamRadioA2Z Thank You Thomas. I am standing on the cliff like a leming, about to jump into digital. Had a contact on rtty this morning thanks to your video. Did it by replying to a CQ with 599 and my call. The caller came back with his my call and his and "?" Question is: what i a good way to get into JS8call, ?FT8call the full tapestry scares me with all the problems i see on FB groups.
Hi Kelvin. I don't know of any way to do that with the RTTY transmit memories. That is another reason why I don't see the built in RTTY memories being practical for much of anything. There is a way to program a serial # that increments into the CW transmit memories. That is covered in video #35.
Tom: Exceptional series of videos. Excellent voice audio, no "ums, errs or other fills". Speech speed & articulation is superb. Your
technical content does not suppose that your viewers are electrical engineers & your historical data explaining the background for the RTTY jargon is greatly appreciated. Your work sir is excelled by none of which I am aware. Thank You !
Hi Brian. Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate it. I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos. I do spend some time trying to make sure the videos are clear and understandable. I always feel that I can make them better, but it’s nice to hear that they aren’t too bad as they are. 73, Tom
I've used them often for RTTY contests where the exchanges are pretty standard. There are enough memories to cover most of what you would need. It is nice to have in the radio so you don't have to have a whole computer setup to participate in a RTTY contest.
Hi David. Thanks for the comment- But, how do you put in the call sign of the station that you're contacting?
@@HamRadioA2Z You don't really have to if you are replying to a CQ (I think). I just program in the exchange (usually 599 and a serial number or state) and a DE mycall. Then I do have to go back and increment the serial number for the next contact but that isn't too onerous. Perhaps I am not following exact protocol, but it seem to work and no complaints yet.
See the comment from James B and my reply. I'll agree that you can make it work in some limited situations, but as I replied to James, if anything even slightly out of the ordinary comes up or band conditions get bad and require repeats of one thing, etc. then you're going to be scrambling to edit a memory or the contact will just go south.
@@HamRadioA2Z Agreed. I have one memory for AGN AGN in case I couldn't hear his response, and one for more repeats of my call and response in case he didn't hear me. So far, in the contests, I haven't needed more. For any other purposes, agreed, not much use. Except, of course, for repeatedly calling CQ or whatever after which you switch to the computer.
In shack (where IC-7300 often sits), most people would use a PC rather. However, with IC-705 on portable, this might be a great feature -- SOTA/POTA/WWFF activations or even the contests. Just a bit is missing:
1) A QSO counter, which is already implemented for CW, so I believe it wouldn't be a big problem for Icom to hack it in for RTTY too.
2) Picking up a callsign from decoded text. This is not implemented, but simple two-click solution might be used -- first click shows a zoom window, the same as you got when clicking on a waterfall), second picks the callsign. The callsign would have to be shown somehow, but in the top bar of the decoder window, there is some space. Then you would just add a placeholder (e.g. character %) into the macros and it would be replaced by selected call when transmitting.
This is a quite simple idea, that is doable and would bring this built-in RTTY feature to different level! I have suggested it to Icom, hoping they might implement it in IC-705's firmware update. Not happened yet. But if you guys encourage Icom too, we might get it finally! If you like my suggestion, please write to Icom!
I have always found it hard to believe that Icom didn't put in a keyboard jack. Or, for that matter, haven't had a software update that would allow a keyboard to plug into the USB port for those occasions when that's all that required.
Thank you for the video series.
IC-7610 can do that I believe.
The last contest you showed, you can use these rtty memories. You do not need to send the running stations callsign, you just send you callsign and the exchange. As long as the contest does not need a serial number exchange just a standard exchange, then you are good to go. Then you go back thru your recorded log and you can copy paste that log into a cabrillo file converter if you need to send a log in. You will have the other stations call in your log. Again the CQ worldwide contest was a prime example.
Looks like this:
CQ CQ TEST W2XYZ. (run station calling cq)
K0UA K0UA (pounce station calling him. No callsign needed)
K0UA 599 NY (run station replying to K0UA's call and giving him the report)
599 599 MO. TU (pounce station gives the report)
TU CQ TEST W2XYZ (run station says thank you and calls CQ again)
Ok- I'll grant you that could work by just using the memories as long as you only want to be a pounce station. It won't work if you ever want to call CQ in a contest. It also becomes problematic if anything other than a perfect, ordinary contact happens. In your example, if the run station comes back with K0UA R U on 40M? Would like to work you there too- or something similar, your kind of done at that point. I suppose you could program one memory with SORRY. NO SPEAK ENGLISH. 73 DE K0UA QRT as a catch all. :-)
I am new to your channel and was thinking of buying me a HF rig and was wanting a rig that might be the best RTTY set up. Do they make a RTTY HF set up that does have usb keyboard connection ? I like as simple as I can get but I also like multi use as well. Great video ! W4ZTX
Hi. Thank you for the kind words. The IC-7610 has 2 input USB connectors that you can plug a USB mouse and keyboard into. It supports transmitting RTTY directly from the keyboard. Of course, the 7610 is a much more expensive option than the 7300, 7100 or 705. The Yaesu FT-DX101D or MP may have this capability. I’m not sure. It is in the same price class as the 7610 though.
@@HamRadioA2Z thanks for the info !
Thanks and congratulations for your videos. I would disagree however concerning the utility of the IC7300 RTTY memories. I happened to rank 1st Europe of a CQ WW RTTY contest in a "single band" category just with these memories. Of course, this is not optimum, as you can't call CQ but nonetheless, it works well.
"DE XX0YY XX0YY", "XX0YY XX0YY XX0YY" and "RR 599 01 01 TU" are enough to respond to a CQ call or a contest call. If you are chasing a rare DX and/or if you really want to make it clean, you can manually add their callsign in one of your memories. It only takes some 30 seconds...
73!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching. I’m glad it works for you. I agree you can make it work for specific cases. I’m just not comfortable with no ability to handle any hiccup in the QSO, like the other station asking something outside the canned response.
Many thanks, always clear to the point. 73 from LU8DEH
Another great tutorial Any chance you'll do one on installing and use of the RS-BA1 remote software?
Hi Lee. I have thought about it. I don't currently have Icom's remote software, but I have thought about getting it. If I do, I'm sure I'll do a video on it.
Very nice walk through of RTTY. It is noticed that you use F1 in you example video. How do you increase the amount of bandwidth to cover the the whole waterfall window?
Rafael / NN3RP
Hi Rafael. Sorry for the delayed reply. I'm not sure what you mean about covering the whole waterfall. If you are talking about the RTTY decoder window, the small waveform display it shows in the little box is fixed, as far as I know. You just have to keep tuning until a signal shows up in the window and then try to align the peaks with the vertical lines. I believe Icom's intent is that you tune the signal in the regular receive view and then use the little window in the RTTY decoder display just to fine tune the signal.
Just exploring the scary digital HF radio world with stand alone IC7300. Thank You for a friendly, professional video.
Has anyone figured out how to plug a keyboard into the IC7300?
Hi Armin. I don’t know of any way to connect one. If anyone has figured out how, I’d love to see a comment about it.
@@HamRadioA2Z Thank You Thomas. I am standing on the cliff like a leming, about to jump into digital. Had a contact on rtty this morning thanks to your video. Did it by replying to a CQ with 599 and my call. The caller came back with his my call and his and "?"
Question is: what i a good way to get into JS8call, ?FT8call the full tapestry scares me with all the problems i see on FB groups.
How do you add a serial number to the QSO if required in the contest.
Hi Kelvin. I don't know of any way to do that with the RTTY transmit memories. That is another reason why I don't see the built in RTTY memories being practical for much of anything. There is a way to program a serial # that increments into the CW transmit memories. That is covered in video #35.
What cable do I need to connect to my computer for rtty?
A good quality USB cable with ferrite chokes will allow you to work RTTY and any other digital modes.
Tom I believe this not useful. Most ham use a computer
tnxs 73 KQ4CD