Controlling an External Modem

WinWarbler can decode and generate CW, RTTY, and other digital modes via an External Modem connected to a serial port. WinWarbler interacts with a connected External Modem by sending it individual commands, e.g. Initialize or begin transmitting or switch to RTTY. The individual commands required for a particular model of External Modem are obtained from an External Modem Command File. WinWarbler includes External Modem Command Files for the KAM 98, MFJ 464, PK232, TinyFSK, PK900, and PTC-IIe; you can create an External Modem Control File for other devices. An External Modem File names External containing no commands is provided for use with external RTTY decoders that convey their output via RS-232, including RTTY decoders in Elecraft K3 models, and in recent Icom transceivers.

Required Connections

To control an External Modem, you will need

Each of the above connections should be described in detail in your External Modem's user guide.

Configuring WinWarbler

On the Configuration window's External Modem tab

              InitCmd = <3>TC<13>echo off<13>eas on<13>

On the Configuration panel's CW tab,

Operating in RTTY

To operate in RTTY, click the RTTY button in the Main window's Operating Mode panel. As you tune your transceiver to a RTTY signal, decoded characters should appear in the Main window's Receive panes.

To transmit RTTY,

Your transceiver should switch from reception to transmission, transmitted characters should appear in the Main window's Receive pane, and your transceiver should switch from transmission to reception after all characters have been sent. You can also transmit by constructing and invoking macros.

http:///www.dxlabsuite.com/Wiki/Graphics/WinWarbler/SX2panes.jpg

Note that Soundcard RTTY can be enabled and used as a tuning indicator for reception with your External Modem. As shown in the above screen shot, decoded characters received via Soundcard RTTY will appear in Receive pane 0 (marked with an S in its left border) on the Main window, whereas decoded characters received via your External Modem will appear in receive pane 1 (marked with an X in its left border). If 2-Tone is enabled, characters it decodes will appear in receive pane 2, (marked with an 2 in its left border).

With both soundcard and external modem receive panes active, you can decode the same signal simultaneously (diversity decoding), or simultaneously monitor nearby signals -- such as a DX station and her pileup. Clicking the soundcard RTTY or external modem receive pane selects it; the currently selected pane is distinguished by a red channel label on its left-hand border. In the Main window, the RTTY transmit & receive panel's QSO selector lets you specify whether transmission is accomplished via soundcard RTTY or via the external modem:

QSO selector

Transmission

via selected pane

S

via soundcard RTTY

X

via external modem

With the QSO selector set to S or X, the QSO Info panel merges the information captured from the soundcard RTTY and external modem receive panes; otherwise, the information captured from each pane is separately maintained.

Operating in CW

To operate in CW, click the CW button in the Main window's Operating Mode panel. As you tune your transceiver to a CW signal, decoded characters should appear in the Main window's Receive pane.

To transmit CW,

Your transceiver should switch from reception to transmission, transmitted characters should appear in the Main window's Receive pane, and your transceiver should switch from transmission to reception after all characters have been sent. You can also transmit by constructing and invoking macros.

Additional Topics


Setting up CW, Phone, PSK, and RTTY Operation

Getting Started with CW, Phone, PSK, and RTTY Operation

Getting Started with DXLab

ExternalModemControl (last edited 2020-01-27 07:19:33 by AA6YQ)