Digital Modes - AMTOR, Packet, RTTY, TCP/IP
Introduction
If you've spent time exploring the Amateur Radio HF bands, you've probably heard some mysterious sounds -- especially the odd noises that you'll find just above the CW portions of the bands. These are the sounds of Baudot radioteletype (RTTY -- pronounced "ritty"), AMTOR, PACTOR, G-TOR, CLOVER, and the unmistakable sounds of HF Packet. On this page we cover the digital modes popular on both HF and VHF bands.
A four part introduction to digital communication is a great place to begin learning about the "digital modes"
Additional resources
The ARRL has an extensive catalog of books and materials related to Amateur Radio.
Also see the Tucson Amateur Packet Radio reference in the Web Links section of this page.
Articles
Note: Some of the following articles are in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. To view and print these files, you'll need a copy of Adobe's Acrobat Reader program. (Version 3.0 or later required). More information here.
A four part introduction to digital communication:
- Getting Started in Digital Communications - Introduction (1,703,936 bytes, PDF file)
QST March 1992, pp. 33-37
- Getting Started in Digital Communications - Packet (1,474,560 bytes, PDF file)
QST April 1992, pp. 44-49
- Getting Started in Digital Communications - RTTY (2,686,976 bytes, PDF file)
QST May 1992, pp. 41-47
- Getting Started in Digital Communications - AMTOR (2,525,364 bytes, PDF file)
QST June 1992. pp. 34-45
Feedback: QST October 1992, p. 66
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- The HF Digital "Tower of Babel" (143,706 bytes, PDF file)
QST January 2001, pp. 50-53
A thumbnail of ten digital modes.
- TCP/IP: Pings, POPs and KISSes - TCP/IP
If you're an active packeteer, sooner or later someone will bring up the subject of TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Of all the packet networking alternatives used on the air today, TCP/IP is the most popular.
- Packet Radio Frequency Recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on Amateur Radio Digital Communication (929,835 bytes, PDF file)
QST September 1987, p. 54
- Packet Radio Frequency Recommendations of the Committee on Amateur Radio Digital Communication (158,549 bytes, PDF file)
QST March 1988 p. 51
- "9600-Ready" Radios: Ready or Not? (147,562 bytes, PDF file)
QST May 1995, pp. 24-29
What the ARRL Lab says you should know before buying a VHF/UHF FM transceiver with 9600 baud capability.
- An Inexpensive KISS-Mode TNC (302,458 bytes, PDF file)
QST November 2000, pp. 53-56
This little four IC TNC isn't full-featured, but one designed to operate in KISS mode including TCP/IP and APRS.
- WinLink 2000: A Worldwide HF BBS (98,566 bytes, PDF file)
QST March 2000, p. 90
Software allows messages to pass between an amateur radio station and the Internet.
- Introduction to Winlink 2000 (67,237 bytes, PDF File)
QST June 2002, pp, 31-32
One integrated digital system links the VHF/UHF packet networks, ham-to-ham radio messages and Internet e-mail -- worldwide
Note:
Contact information for suppliers mentioned in the above articles should first be confirmed using TIS Address Database Search.
Bibliography (Members Only)
ARRL Periodicals Index Search - This database contains the QST index from 1915 to the present and the QEX index from 1981 to the present. For QST issues from 1970 to the present, and some selected articles back to 1922 (when construction articles featuring tubes began in earnest), identifying keywords have been added to the technical articles. By entering keywords (ANTENNA) or combinations of keywords (CONSTRUCTION ANTENNA VERTICAL HF) into the Title words: field, you may create dynamic bibliographies.
Technical article KEYWORD list. Hints for more successful searching
Suggested keywords for more articles like the ones on this page are:
AMTOR; APRS; PACKET; RTTY
Web Links
General
- §97.309(a)(4) Technical Descriptions
Published descriptions of technical characteristics of digital modes.
- TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio)
An international organization of over 2000 members with interests in the areas of packet and digital communications. TAPR is a membership-supported, non-profit organization dedicated to amateur research and development. This page has links to a number of project web pages, special-interest email reflectors and membership information. (How to become a member of TAPR)
- USPacket
Dedicated to supporting the implementation of amateur packet radio network in the U.S.
- N3TUK's CyberHome
Hi and welcome to MY WEB SITE, the place where you will find many interesting links about: hamradio,wefax, satellites, radio,satellite tracking software Like: Winorbit,shorwave radio,aprs software,freeware,Packet software,Hamradio newsgroups and many more..
- The N2QLQ Amateur Radio Digital Modes Page!
While most hams are familiar with such modes as CW, RTTY, AMTOR, and Pactor, there are a number of others.
- Site devoted to WinLink© SYSOPs
Welcome to the WinLink© Internet Site.
(For those requiring packet to e-mail service)
- VHF/UHF/Microwave Radio Propagation: A Primer for Digital Experimenters
This paper attempts to provide some insight into the nature of radio propagation in that part of the spectrum (upper VHF to microwave) used by experimenters for high-speed digital transmission
- Link to the Radio Amateurs of Canada Digital Modes Page
- The British Amateur Radio Teledata Group's Library of MP3 sound files Click on a digital mode to hear a brief sample of the sound these modes make.
- PCsat, A Naval Academy Amateur Radio Satellite
- Digital Modes Samples
Click on a digital mode to hear a brief (most <100 kilobytes) sample of the sound these modes make.
- Green Bay Professional Packet Radio
- T.E.A.R.A. Digitial Resources
A variety of digital links maintained by the Triangle East Amateur Radio Association
Hardware
Software
- AX.25 Amateur Packet-Radio Link-Layer Protocol
- Automatic Position Reporting System - APRS
DOS, Windows and Mac
- Easyterm for Windows
Easyterm for Windows(3.xx and above) is a sophisticated application written for the amateur operator who wants to utilize all of the features of the AEA, HAL or Kantronics modems from Packet to AMtor, PACTOr, GTor(Kam+) or Clover(HAL). $49.95(US)
- Software from SRHuntting
KaWin is for Kantronics® TNCs in Host Mode. SA Watch with Internet DGPS is for GPS users. PicturePacket is packet radio Freeware with a big Plus! BeaconClock is Freeware for DXers!
- Multimode for the Mac
Multimode allows you to decode and transmit Morse code, RTTY, FAX, SSTV, PSK31, and many other modes on your Mac, without and extra hardware!
- Amateur Radio Soundblaster Software Collection
On this page you can find a good choice of programs that do ham related tasks using the sound card, e. g. RTTY, fax, but also DSP or audio frequency analyzing.
- MMTTY for Windows
Free program for RTTY on a PC with sound card.
Product Review
QST December 2000, p. 60
- RadioCom 4.0
Product Review
QST January 2000, p. 66
- RITTY 4.0 k6sti@n2.net
Product Review
QST November 2000, p. 58
- Sound Card Packet
Here's a way to send and receive packet using the sound card on your PC using AGWPE -- no TNC required!
Article Reprints:
You can get a photocopy of any ARRL published article for $3 ($5 for nonmembers) for each article requested. Contact the ARRL Technical Department (reprints@arrl.org ), 1-860-594-0390) if you wish to get photocopies.
This information was prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay League, Inc., Technical Information Service, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 (860) 594-0214. Email: tis@arrl.org (Internet). ARRL HQ is glad to provide this information on the Web free of charge as a service to League members and affiliated clubs.
If you have any questions concerning the reproduction or distribution of this material, please contact:
TIS Coordinator
American Radio Relay League
225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111
Tel: 860-594-0214 Fax: 860-594-0259
(email: tis@arrl.org)
Page last modified: 11:46 AM, 15 Aug 2007 ET
Page author: tis@arrl.org
Copyright © 2007, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
