FYI: For those of you who are not online with FLDIGI/NBEMS here is a great opportunity:

N3FLL, Frank and K3EUI, Barry, and NY3J Ron are sponsoring a 

     “FLDIGI (otherwise known as NBEMS) Class for BEGINNERS”

That is, for someone who would like to learn how to do the various digital modes on HF SSB or on 2m/70cm FM using the  FREE application FLDIGI by W1HKJ and group.

The class will start on Monday night Feb 21st at 7 pm by Zoom.

There are already a number of videos made recently by N3FLL, who is also the NBEMS training officer of Chester County ARES/RACES.

We anticipate the class will begin on Zoom with instructions for downloading and installing FLDIGI, and getting the CONFIGURATION to your radio completed. 

Now - some background.

There are many “digital” sound card modes. You may already be familiar with some of them like CW, PSK31, RTTY, and host of others like FT8, Olivia, Thor, etc. What these all share in common is that they can be created with a computer and an ordinary “sound card” or usb sound device. The SOUND CARD may even be inside your laptop or desktop, but it is often more convenient to use a separate sound card for connecting to your radio (avoid “you’ve got mail” going out over your radio).

The first challenge is to get the software installed, including FLDIGI, FLMSG, and FLAMP. 

To do that you go to w1hkj.com and follow the download instructions.

N3FLL already has a video on how to do just that (we’ll send the link after your register)

The next challenge is to get your particular “sound card” working with your specific radio. There are many options here. You can even (as a last resort) connect your transmit audio from the sound card OUT to the MIC jack on your radio,and connect your receive audio on the sound card to the external speaker or headphone jack of your radio. In fact, the “Rigblasters” are designed to do just that. We even have some CONFIG experience with HT’s and SignaLinks.

There are other options on most HF SSB and VHF/UHF FM radios -  DATA ports.

Different manufacturers have different DIN sockets - but a common one is the 6 pin MINI DIN where you connect your radio’s RX audio, TX audio, a PTT or SEND line, and a common ground to the sound card hardware. Very popular sound cards are the SignaLink and the newer DRA (Masters Communications) as well as MFJ, Rig Expert and others. Simple ones known as EASY DIGI are around as well.

Our hope is that after the first Zoom session you will have the software (FLDIGI) talking with your radio and able to receive and transmit a few of the easy FLDIGI modes.

Again, this is a class to learn how to use the app FLDIGI for ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS.

This is not a class to learn how to use the JT modes (WSJT-X software) like FT8.

And this is not a class in how to use Winlink (VARA) for EMCOMM purposes.

If interested please contact N3FLL@arrl.net and k3euibarry@gmail.com

There is no cost.

But you do have to “register” with us by Sunday Feb 20th so that we can plan ahead.

By week #2 we hope to be able to practice using FLDIGI to QSO with one another using one or two of the local (Phila suburbs) 2m repeaters (with the owner’s permission, of course) or, for HF ops, via 80m SSB where around 7 pm you can start to hear stations from hundreds of miles away.