Non voice modes

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w5cyc

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OK...this is probably going to aggravate some people, and yes, I've done some archive reading already, but I'm not really finding what I'm looking for.

I have an Eton E-1. Not my first shortwave radio by any means, but probably the best I've had since the FRG-7 I used to have. Traditionally, I've been a voice mode listener -- hams in SSB and SW programming.

I'm curious about some of the other modes out there and what else the E-1 has to offer in that regard, but I don't want to drop a lot of money on a decoder, etc., until I know if it's something I really want to spend time on.

So the question I guess is this: I know there are some shareware decoding programs out there, but I have no idea which ones are good. And can any of them be used with a simple connection from the line out on the radio to the line in on a computer sound card? What are your recommendations for someone who is literally doing this for the first time?
 

ka3jjz

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Take a look at our Utility monitoring wiki (anything in blue - or in the wiki, underlined- is a link) for most everything I'm about to mention...

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Utility_Monitoring

In all truth, I haven't heard of many using an E1 for utes, but given its selectivity and relative stability, I see no real reason why it wouldn't work. The software section on the utility monitoring central website has numerous such packages, and most all of the current crop need only a line in connection to your soundcard. Nothing more - of course, for transmitting, you'll need a few things...

Anyway, just to get your feet wet for a minimum of expense, MultiPSK is very good indeed, and PC-ALE is freeware that copies the numerous ALE networks that have been popping up all over the place. Be aware that MultiPSK is really geared toward us hams - for a more comprehensive coverage of non-ham modes, I've heard that SkySweeper is excellent. You can get that for under USD100 for the basic package, and it's upgradable.

You should be aware that there are a lot of modes out there (like Link11) which us hobby folks (yes, that includes us hams in the eyes of the big boys...) will never decode. The wiki lists a few sites that have audio samples of common, and not so common, modes. Learn to listen - eventually, just by ear, you will be able to discern some of the modes just by hearing them.

The UDXF (Utility DXers Forum) on Yahoo is a worldwide utility-only mailing list, and digital logs are quite prevalent. In addition, some of these packages have Yahoo based support groups; these are listed, to some degree, on the UMC website on another page. Most will also tell you that the Klingenfuss guides are very good, although a bit expensive, and somewhat slanted in its coverage (it's pretty much an open secret that there are many American organizations and individuals Jorge doesn't list - he's German, and very much so...) however, that's a fair place to start.

Just remember, not everything is decodable - choose a package that will allow you to view the audio spectrum of a signal. That too is an even more accurate way to tell one signal from another - more accurate than your ear, which can, as we all know, be fooled.

One thing to do right now would be to insure you have a clean audio feed from the E1 to the PC. Keep in mind sometimes distributors deliberately disable inputs on a soundcard, so you may need to do a little hunting to make sure you don't have a muted input. Insure you have no noise, hum or other junk. Tune in a FM station, and try feeding the E1 audio into the PC. You get audio, you're already half way home.

73 Mike
 
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lurking

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Nov 1, 2005
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My kids gave me an Eton E1 for xmas.

I use a Donner's "receive only" isolation interface hooked to my computer.

I run a variety of programs and have decoded just about everything meant to be decoded by the average guy looking for fun, outside the ham bands.

I really enjoy the faxes and NAVTEX from around the world. Eton, with a decent external antenna, has my part of the world fairly well covered.

There is truly a whole new world out there beyond voice.
 

w5cyc

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Dec 22, 2007
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Edmond, OK
Thanks for the pointers. I just ordered one of them Donner interfaces. When it arrives, I'll find some freeware and give it a go.

Who knows, maybe I'll find a use for that extra PC I have sitting in the closet now!
 

edmondcops

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May 27, 2002
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Edmond, OK
OK...so I got my interface today and was playing around with HamScope. Was able to decode a guy calling CQ on 40 meters, but then again, I can decode "CQ" on CW without a program. (catch it, catch it. pay day today)

But as far as the other modes go, I'm pretty much lost. Guess I've got a lot of reading to do and practice learning what modes I'm hearing.

Is HamScope pretty good, or is there a more user-friendly program out there?
 
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