Benefits of digital communications:
Digital communications requires less power, transmits farther and is reliable even in poor conditions. Another benefit is, digital communication can only be “decoded” by others set up for digital communications. It just sounds like a ‘humming or buzzing’ noise while transmitting to anyone monitoring the frequency without the digital equipment.
Digital communications does require a computer since it uses software such as fldigi. However, it does not require an internet connection for transmitting and receiving—it uses radio waves. Digital communications Send or receive text messages over radio using your computer’s sound card or using a Signalink.
Note: No Ham Radio License required to receive digital communications. This comes in to your computer through your sound card, so you can decode these signals into text from a Shortwave Radio Receiver or even a recorded audio file.
Click HERE to learn more about digital communications.
[…] Digital Communications […]
[…] Digital Communications […]
[…] Digital Communications […]
Just purchased the Uniden BCD436HP and BCD536HP. Manual difficult to understand. Anything on line as a “cheat sheet” that we can pull up to get this baby up and running?
thanks
VM
I am beginning to set up a digital network for like minded persons to check in to once a week, to check out their radios and exchange information amongst each other.
Contact me at LByer1@yahoo.com
L E E
Im doing some vhf fldigi/winmore P2P etc.. Yet to get my cable for the Hf rig.
Let me know what your planing.
kd4stt@gmail.com
I am a licensed Tech but all this code and acronym speak is killing me.
I have a handheld Baofeng BF-F8HP, programing cable, Apple PowerBook.
What additional equipment exactly do I need to be able to work the digital network?
Exactly what you need is:
1. Other operators in your area also willing to do 2m digital (or, upgrade to General and expand into HF)
2. A Signalink external soundcard (from Ham Radio Outlet or Gigaparts, etc.), and be sure to also get the signalink cable for YOUR radio when you order your Signalink
3. Free software (FLDIGI), and then begin watching the tutorial videos on digital mode communications using the fldigi suite. Those videos are all embedded in a posting
on AmRRON.com, and you can find it, and other postings, by typing ‘Digital’ or ‘FLDIGI’ in the search box on the website.
4. A little patience and tenacity. It feels overwhelming and like a huge learning curve at first. But just keep plugging away at it. None of us got it all up and running overnight.
Tim,
Agreed. Lots of code and acronym speak, so it’s helpful to use DuckDuckGo to find NBEMS tutorials.
You can also practice with just the radio, a Baofengtech APRS cable and an Android tablet/phone. (no iOS version available at the moment)
You’ll need to sideload AndFlmsg on the tablet. This is a combination of Fldigi and Flmsg, but doesn’t have all the features/modes.
If you use the default MT63_2000_LG mode, do can even skip the cable.
We have a TON of information posted on the website. In the upper right-hand corner (the search box), type ‘Digital’ and/or ‘FLDIGI’. There are postings with videos and other tutorials that walk you through step-by-step. One foot in front of the other. It’s a journey. Be patient and before you know it you’ll be there.
I have watched all the fldigi videos. I think I can now fumble my way through fldigi and flmsg. I have also started a winlink acct. now to use it. I have a d710ga that does packet. If im not mistaken I can use that for winlink. I have also found that the cable for the Baofeng the connects to your phone for aprs will also plug into laptop and run fldigi. I have been playing with it all weekend and was told is working good. Thank you for all the videos it sure helped a lot. As soon as I get more familiar with it I will attempt a 2m net here.
Rick, Weiser Idaho. after Months of fighting windows & my FT-991A, got sick of driver issues, PC constantly removing functioning drivers & ports, so I loaded Linux UBUNTU. Best thing I ever did. Works great from day 1 no issues. Went back to fldigi & dropped Ham Radio Deluxe.