Consider this There are only 10 kinds of

Consider this: There are only 10 kinds of people in this world. Those who understand binary and those who don’t.

RTTY Contesting Basics Doug Haft KY 4 F

Introduction l l l My background – KY 4 F RTTY contesting: differences and similarities with other modes Employing the information covered here today should: l l Entice you to try RTTY Contesting, or If already in the RTTY Contests…. Improve your score

Topics: l A Brief History of RTTY l l Garbled Print l l Its inevitable. We must live with it. Parsing & Phantoms l l Its been around a long time Why these are critical to understand Macro’s l What is the most efficient way to format your message buffers?

Topics: l l Running vs. Search and Pounce Summary Thank you to Dan Murphy, K 7 IA who’s e. Book, Contesting and RTTY--The Basics, was the inspiration and primary source for this presentation.

Topic 1: A Brief History of RTTY l l l Most of us think of RTTY based on WWII movies etc. Uses a five bit code for each character. The Baudot code was patented in 1874! No computers in those days. Teletype (TTY) machines were electro mechanical devices. Guam: Late 1960’s bottom row - AN/UGC-25 printer middle row - TT-176/UG keyboard/printer top row - TT-187 A/UG tape reader plus TT-192 A/UG tape punch wall - KWX-7 sync switch for crypto gear

Topic 1: A Brief History of RTTY l The Baudot Code Being only five bits, a maximum of 32 discrete combinations. This presents a problem: l l l 26 letters 10 digits Various Control Characters The 32 limit is exceeded! What to do? ? l Shift the carriage. LTRS & FIGS. l l l Letters mode Figures mode Control characters

Topic 1: A Brief History of RTTY l l l Originally, TTY was carried out over landlines using a DC circuit. A mark (1) was interpreted when the circuit was closed and space (0) when the circuit was open. In RTTY we create the mark and space by sending on two frequencies. l l Mark on one frequency space on the other These frequencies are 170 Hz apart. l Hence 170 Hz shift l Marks and Spaces

Topic 2: Garbled Print l Your decoding software is constantly trying to interpret what it “hears” into marks and spaces. l l l Results in garbled characters. Ltrs when not desired Figs when not desired Incorrect characters printed USOS For Example Sent Text: KY 4 F First “ 4” hit by garbled and interpreted as RX Text: “KY! (64!” With USOS: “KY! KY 4 F”

Topic 3: Parsing & Phantoms l l Parsing is not a new concept If you’re reading this easily, you’re parsing. Ifyoufindthisalittlemored ifficulttoreaditsbecauset heparsingelementshave beenremoved Let’s make copy at the distant end as easy as possible by using parsing elements. l l Phantom characters appear because the transition from sending to receiving is not a smooth one. Almost ALWAYS 1 or 2 characters will appear on the screen when the distant end transitions. When you transition from Tx to Rx, locally generated phantoms will appear on your screen as well.

Topic 4: Macro’s/Message Buffers SARTG Examples v Run Macro’s l l l F 1 CQ Message {tx}{enter} CQ CQ SARTG { My. Call} {enter}{rx} F 2 Exchange {tx}{enter} {His. Call} TU 599 -#-# {My. Call} {enter}{rx} F 3 TU & QRZ {tx}{enter} {His. Call} TU QRZ SARTG {My. Call} {enter}{tx} **These examples are from K 7 IA’s ebook Understanding RTTY Contesting

Topic 4: Macro’s/Message Buffers l l l An example: Always put a Space before and after your call sign. Always remember there WILL BE phantoms and garbles l l CQ CQ SARTG K 4 TD l V --a phatom V appears on TD’s screen l Answered by K 6 ABC l VK 6 ABCYQ -K 6 ABC is not using parsing elements. If he/she were, the print would be: l V K 6 ABC YQ Build your message buffers to minimize the impact

Topic 4: Macro’s/Message Buffers NAQP Examples v Run Macro’s l l l F 1 CQ Message {tx}{enter} CQ CQ NA {My. Call} {enter}{rx} F 2 Exchange {tx}{enter} {His. Call} TU DOUG AL AL {My. Call} {enter}{rx} F 3 TU & QRZ {tx}{enter} {His. Call} TU QRZ NA {My. Call} {enter}{tx} **These examples credit to K 7 IA’s ebook Understanding RTTY Contesting

Topic 4: Macro’s/Message Buffers SARTG Examples v S & P Macro’s l F 2 Exchange {tx}{enter} {His. Call} TU 599 -#-# {My. Call} {enter}{rx} l F 3 TU {tx}{enter} {His. Call} TU {My. Call} {enter}{tx} l F 4 My Call x 2 {tx}{enter} {My. Call} {enter}{rx} l And NOTHING else **These examples credit to K 7 IA’s ebook Understanding RTTY Contesting

Topic 5: Running vs. S&P l Running l l l Turn on AFC Turn on USOS Construct Message Buffers with parsing elements l S&P l Turn off AFC l Turn on USOS l Never send the running station’s call sign when answering his CQ!! l Do not use “de” … ever l Construct Message buffers with parsing elements.

Summary l RTTY uses the 5 bit Baudot code l l l Requires LTRS and FIGS Phantoms and Garbles WILL occur Construct your message buffers to minimize the ill effect of Phantoms and Garbles Never send 5 NN Never send the running station’s call sign when responding to the CQ

Summary l Most of this information is from Contesting and RTTY – The Basics by Dan Murphy K 7 IA l l Dan asks that you email him to request a copy* Available for ACG members in the file download area of our web site. Visit www. alabamacontestgroup. org Questions or comments? Feel free to email me at KY 4 F@arrl. net *Dan’s email address is available on qrz. com