Automatic Link Establishment ALE Questions

[BOBRR]

Hi,

Have never played with ALE, but thought I'd give it a try now.

Have read the Wiki on it, and will download PC-ALE by Charles Brain later today or tomorrow.

One really basic question, though.

All the HF USB ALE frequencies that one sees listed for the Coast Guard, COTHEN, and DoD, am I right that these are the digital frequencies used to set up the voice link, and therefore with a regular HF receiver, I would not hear any voice at all on them ?

That to hear voice conversations, I need a program like what I mentioned above ?
- (Would these be 2 way USB conversations I would, hopefully, pick up, or... ?)

Any simpler for a beginner program than what I mentioned ?

Much thanks,
Bob

 

[ka3jjz]

Bob, before you do anything, be aware that PC ALE is not Vista compatible - and Charles has already said he won't be updating it. You will need a program such as MultiPSK or Skysweeper for this mode.

That being said, the little I've tinkered with ALE, typically stations send out test signals and check to see if the returned signal strength is any good. If it is at both ends, then something else may ensue. Frequently it's voice, but I've also seen some sporadic reports that other digital modes may also follow.

73 Mike

 

[prcguy]

I have several radios with built in ALE and its interesting to play with but quickly gets boring. Some ALE users rely on it for simplifying radio operation by letting the radios select the best frequency or band, then completing the link for voice operation. Voice will be SSB and easy to hear unless they employ encryption. Some users do mostly short text messages and you may never hear voice mode. There is a large ham radio group that plays with ALE and you might check out the Yahoo "hflink" group to get frequencies and schedules. I believe the first week or so of November there will be an ALE event and lots of activity.
prcguy

 

[ka3jjz]

Watch the UDXF Yahoo group (Utility DXers Forum) for somewhat more up-to-date ALE logs. Lots of other users out there besides the military these days - and the number is slowly growing.

By the way, ALE can either be found on USB or LSB. USB is much more common but some users use LSB

73 Mike