Practical Notes on FLDigi over Handheld Radios

One of the primary training goals of the RTO Course is teaching the students to use off-the-shelf commo equipment, and often the cheapest equipment they can source, in unconventional ways. The best thing about that is providing the spark that lights a fire. The students really learn think outside the box and in the process, open up whole new means of communicating they didn’t even know was possible; digital communications with a cheap dual band handheld being one of them.

The biggest reward in all that is getting feedback from the students after they’ve experimented and perfected the process. To me, creating little monsters going out and getting the work done means they’re spreading that knowledge. Here’s what one student of both the RTO and Advanced RTO sent in after experimenting with various modes using his team’s UV-5Rs:

Here is something I found that might be interesting for the Digital Radio Modes.

https://groups.io/g/nbems/message/15299

My summary of what he said (plus other comments):

  • Good – MT63-2KL
  • Better – QPSK500
  • Best – 8PSK1000F and 8PSK1200F(need good signal) on simplex (non-acoustical coupling)
  • Best – 8PSK500F on repeater (non-acoustical coupling)
    • Note: One big thing we (he) found for higher 8PSK modes (not non-8PSK) is to use a pilot tone and set to 1800 and not the normal 1500 on the waterfall (this waterfall setting may be valid for their specific repeater)

I think substituting BPSK500 and 8PSK500 (both on AndFlmsg) would be ok. I’ll do some real world testing with Tank and report back. There were also other modes used in this thread that I want to test as well.

Also I have a start on the Advanced Reports for AndFlmsg, but they are not loading correctly. I’m going to check with the NBEMS group and see whats the trick.

As my SIGINT students have learned, after mapping an enemy’s communications plan, the next step is to record their voices while mapping the electronic order of battle. Sending bursts of data, absent any voice (in the event DMR or other voice digital protocols are demodulated) makes exploitation much, much harder while also mitigating the DF threat. In addition, following the other operating techniques we cover, clandestine communications over a local area are absolutely possible with very little money invested using equipment you probably already have.

Its a modernization of the same techniques of old- bargain basement warfare. It worked then, it works now.

We’re training. What are you doing with your time?

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6 Comments

  1. Anonymous December 10, 2019 at 08:53

    5

  2. Homer December 10, 2019 at 09:51

    Would it be possible to have an article on all the different modes with their specific uses and advantages/disadvantages to each one? Plus the reasons for using or not using the variations within each mode. Thanks

  3. Homer December 10, 2019 at 10:12

    That should read each digital mode.

  4. Capt. D December 10, 2019 at 11:33

    I cannot emphasize enough the need for you to get this training. I happened to take the whole suite of courses in order: RTO Basic, RTO Advanced, and SIG/INT (this past weekend). You have no idea what this sequence can do for you and your Team (you do have a Team, right?). I will summarize by saying that you will learn how to ensure that your comms works. Regarding the Bad People’s comms you will just have to attend to find out. I just got my SDR system working last night and am beginning to map my AO. FLDigi is next. Hear the truth: Without comms training you are going to die. The food was great, the fellowship was great, and the content great. What more can you ask for? Thank you NCScout and all of your Team. God Bless.

  5. Sue Themall December 10, 2019 at 12:04

    Wow! After 50 years of ham radio, I have barely a clue as to what y’all are talking about.

  6. AZBD December 11, 2019 at 16:13

    I’ve run several tests and found 8PSK500 to be the fastest with still being reliable. All of my tests were with UV-5R’s and android phones/tablets. Most of the time on 70cm as that seems to work best around here and always simplex. One tablet has had some issues with not saving the message (most of it still shows in the modem screen) but it is an older/slower tablet. Samsung S7’s and faster all work great. I still want to do more tests but so far 8PSK500 works the best.

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