I have a NRD-545 radio and I am looking for decoding software that works with a computer soundcard. Something that decodes more than one kind. Something cheaper than HOKA. What does anyone recommend? Thanks
Looking for decoding software
- Thread starter Zeus661
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Depends on what you're trying to decode. Check out www.westmountainradio.com and look for the free samples of software.
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
From our utility monitoring wiki...the packages I will mention are all listed here...
http://www.chace-ortiz.org/umc/software.html
Doing digital tuning on HF takes a bit of patience; not everything is decodable. Hunt and pounce methods (tune into a signal, fool around with it....) is not always the best way to go, particularly for newcomers. You're much better off if you start with things that can be
decoded easily.
Skysweeper is generally considered one of the better sets of packages out there - expensive but it's well supported.. However, for those just getting their feet wet, I generally recommend PC-ALE and PC-HFDL (the free version). So that you can decode NAVTEX, FAX and Sitor-B (all of which can still be found on HF), the inexpensive SeaTTY is a good choice. Apart from a few Aero and weather stns (and hams, of course), there's very little clear RTTY anymore.
For active freqs, pay attention to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/udxf/
I would also drop by our Utility wiki at:
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Utility_Monitoring
and read the HFDL, NOAA HF Sitor Schedules, COTHEN and USAF High Frequency Global Communications Systems articles.
To be successful in this game, you also really need to understand the science of propagation. The Wiki has a few links on that subject, too.
73s Mike
http://www.chace-ortiz.org/umc/software.html
Doing digital tuning on HF takes a bit of patience; not everything is decodable. Hunt and pounce methods (tune into a signal, fool around with it....) is not always the best way to go, particularly for newcomers. You're much better off if you start with things that can be
decoded easily.
Skysweeper is generally considered one of the better sets of packages out there - expensive but it's well supported.. However, for those just getting their feet wet, I generally recommend PC-ALE and PC-HFDL (the free version). So that you can decode NAVTEX, FAX and Sitor-B (all of which can still be found on HF), the inexpensive SeaTTY is a good choice. Apart from a few Aero and weather stns (and hams, of course), there's very little clear RTTY anymore.
For active freqs, pay attention to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/udxf/
I would also drop by our Utility wiki at:
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Utility_Monitoring
and read the HFDL, NOAA HF Sitor Schedules, COTHEN and USAF High Frequency Global Communications Systems articles.
To be successful in this game, you also really need to understand the science of propagation. The Wiki has a few links on that subject, too.
73s Mike
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VernM
Member
An easy program to get going with is Mix.W. See at http://www.nvbb.net/~jaffejim/mixwpage.htm
I've been quite pleased with it.
Good listening!
I've been quite pleased with it.
Good listening!
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
I agree that MixW is very good - it works fine on baudot RTTY (what little there is anymore), Sitor B (and I understand it works OK for FAX, too), but everything else, is generally confined to modes used by hams.
A shame, too - it's a very flexible package. The basic version of Skysweeper is probably a good entry point - it's a bit expensive but way less than the Hoka or Wavecom units. There really isn't a good package in between, sadly. 73s Mike
A shame, too - it's a very flexible package. The basic version of Skysweeper is probably a good entry point - it's a bit expensive but way less than the Hoka or Wavecom units. There really isn't a good package in between, sadly. 73s Mike
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