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Digital Data Modes

Overview

fldigi_20100228.pngA great number of exciting new digital operating modes have developed, largely because of the availability of personal computers, soundcards, and advanced software.  But amateur digital communication began in earnest in the late 1940's (if you don't count Morse as a digital mode!) when hams worked out techniques of connecting mechanical Teletype keyboard/printers to amateur gear using FSK and AFSK modulation.  There are too many different modes to list individually, but here are some of the major ones:

  •  FT8 - In 2018 it is by far the most popular digital mode for award chasing and working DX. It is described in this news story.  The WSJT-X software can be downloaded from Joe Taylor's web site.  Gary ZL2iFB has written an FT8 Operating Guide.
  •  Packet - One of the first "modern" digital modes, packet radio transmits data in groups or "packets" of 10s or 100s of bytes. This allows improved throughput and error control.  The basic protocol for packet radio is AX.25.  Transmission speeds typically range from 300 bps on the HF bands to 1200 and 9600 bps on VHF or UHF.
  • PSK31 (or BPSK31, Binary Phase Shift Keying 31.25 Hz) Probably the most popular keyboard to keyboard digital mode today, PSK31 is normally generated and decoded using PC soundcards with one of many available software packages.  PSK31 occupies very small bandwidths (approximately 100 Hz) and offers effective communication at low power.
  • RTTY (radio teletype) is the original keyboard to keyboard mode, based on the 5-bit Baudot code, began with mechanical Teletypes as mentioned above.  It is still a popular communications mode, but now uses PCs for coding and decoding, using 170 Hz frequency shift keying at a 45.45 baud rate -- 60 words per minute.
  • Other Modes Many other data modes are available for experimentation, including Pactor and Clover that enhance packet operation, and MFSK, Olivia, Throb, DominoEX, MT63, and Thor which are other modes mainly for PC/soundcard operation. AMTOR is a special form of RTTY that provides error detection and correction.

Books and Publications

General

Legacy Mode Articles


Getting Started in Digital Communications (series)
Introduction, QST March 1992, pp. 33-37
Packet, QST April 1992, pp. 44-49
RTTY, QST May 1992, pp. 41-47
AMTOR, QST June 1992. pp. 34-45
Feedback, QST October 1992, p. 66

The HF Digital "Tower of Babel" 
QST January 2001, pp. 50-53
A thumbnail of ten digital modes.

PSK31

MFSK

  • MFSK for the New Millennium
    QST January 2001, pp. 33-36
    Just like RTTY and PSK31...only different. A computer, a sound card and a free download and you're in!

Web Links

General

Packet

MFSK

Operating Digital Modes

FT8 is by far the most popular digital mode.  The FT8 watering holes are constantly filled with activity. Gary ZL2iFB has written an excellent FT8 operating guide.

JS8call has replaced PSK31 as the keyboard to keyboard mode, though 20M PSK31 can still be found.  Hamspots.net can be used to set up PSK31 contacts on the other bands.  It can be surprisingly difficult to find 40M PSK31 activity.

RTTY is popular mode for contesting.  Don AA5AU runs a great RTTY contesting web site.

JT65 and JT65 are legacy modes that are supported by WSJT-X, the program that runs FT8. Hamspots.net has a chat that can be used to set up contacts.  FLdigi supports a lot of other modes besides FT8.

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