Transcript Digital Comms for ECA

Setting up and using fldigi, flmsg,
RMS Express
Ken Humbertson W0KAH 8/14/2014
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WHY fldigi, flmsg, RMS Express (RMSE) &
itshfbc?
WHERE to get them
HOW to install them
SETUP & TEST the installation
USE them in drills
USE them anytime
SUMMARY
Q&A
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WHY use fldigi & flmsg
The pseudo standard for NBEMS
 Flmsg has excellent forms built in for ICS, ARRL
Radiograms, and custom form capability
 They are free!
 Windows XP, 7 or 8.1, & Mac (XP with VMware
Fusion, Parallels Desktop or Apple Boot Camp)
 Support for most common modes built-in
 Works well with most soundcards
 Works well with SignaLink USB
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WHERE do I get fldigi & flmsg
http://www.w1hkj.com/downloads.html
 HOW to install it
 Choose your OS
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 Linux Binary, Windows Setup, OS X dmg (Mac)
o Click appropriate file from above column:
o Fldigi/Flarq: (v3.81.23)
o Flmsg: (v2.04)
o Either Run or download/save then Run
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SETUP & TEST the installation of fldigi
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NEW install, start fldigi
• Fldigi configuration wizard will start
o Operator info
o Audio devices, click PortAudio & select device
o Transceiver control (not required but nice)
o Click OpMode & select PSK125RC10, type some characters
in the blue transmit box and click Tx>>, hear sound
o Tell fldigi where to find flmsg
 Click Config, Misc, NBEMS, Locate flmsg
 C:/Program Files (x86)/flmsg-2.04/flmsg.exe, Save &
Close
o Leave fldigi running, next we use flmsg
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SETUP & TEST the installation of flmsg
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NEW install, start flmsg
• Click Form Radiogram & create a test message
• Once the form is completed, click Autosend
• That will pass the message to fldigi and send it on the
current freq/mode you’re using
• You will hear sounds from the speaker
• Any of the other standard forms work in a similar way
• What if a standard form doesn’t fit the need?
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Then custom forms may be the answer
NOT an in the field solution!
Must be distributed to all who will view or
create message using the custom form
Example custom forms that may be of use
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Rapid Damage Assessment Data Input
 RDA_Input_201a
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Resource Request
 RRdaiv1.01
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WHY use RMS Express (RMSE) with itshfbc?
The pseudo standard for NBEMS email
 RMSE is for radio email (HF/VHF/UHF)
 Itshfbc provides band condition quality for RMS
Express
 They are free! (voluntary support RMS Express)
 Windows XP, 7, 8.1 & Mac (XP with VMware
Fusion, Parallels Desktop or Apple Boot Camp)
 Support for Telnet, Packet, Pactor & Winmor
 Works well with most soundcards & SignaLink USB
 Pactor II & III with SCS PTC modem
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WHERE do I get RMSE software
ftp://autoupdate.winlink.org/user%20Programs/
 Download & save
 itshfbc_120722.zip (or newer)
 Rms_express_install_1-2-31-0.zip (or newer)
 Double-click both from where you saved them
 Accept standard locations
 XP needs Microsoft .NET 3.5 SP1
 http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.a
spx?id=22 235MB download
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Setup & Test RMSE
 Double
click the RMS Express icon
 Fill in Callsign, Grid Locator
 Make sure the path to itshfbc.exe is filled in
 Click update (if you have internet access)
 Click Message New, put your email address in To:
 For Subject use test
 In the body of the message type some characters.
 Post to Outbox, Open Session Telnet WL2K
 Click Start, you should see log of message sent
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You MUST send a message by RF to register
yourself!
RMS Express can send a message to anyone in the
world with an email address
They must be “whitelisted” to send to you
To do that, send them an email, from RMSE with
//WL2K at the start of the subject
 Sending someone a message from your account whitelists
them so they can then send you a message
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Can send attachments, keep them small!
Sending custom forms
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Locate in
c:/users/”account”/NBEMS.files/ICS/messages/
USE in Drills & training
 Typically fldigi & RMS Express on HF
 RMS Express on 145.010 1200 Baud Packet to
Rick W0PC’s RMS Server
 Fldigi on VHF using Olivia 8-500, MT63-1000L
simplex on 145.600
 Explore the PSK-R multi-carrier modes on
VHF; they can be very fast
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USE them anytime!
Fldigi supports many modes, BPSK-31 is very
popular; 14.070, 7.070, 21.070, all USB
RMS Express is a radio email program, send
short messages appropriate for delivery by
ham radio to exercise your equipment and
your memory
Puppy Pet is an excellent Go-kit item
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SUMMARY
Where to get fldigi, flmsg, RMS Express
Auxiliary programs – itshfbc, MS .NET 3.5 SP1
Configuring the programs
Testing with speaker/mic audio & Telnet
Use in Drills & Training
Use on the air anytime
Radio Interfacing next month
Q&A
Thanks for your time
de
W0KAH