Narrow Band ALE announced

Credit QRZ.com


Patrick F6CTE has announced that a narrow band version of the popular Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) software is now available.

On the HFLink Yahoo group he writes:

For those interested in doing ALE and ARQ FAE using a narrow bandwidth (400 Hz), I have derived from the standard ALE a new ALE with a bandwidth of 400 Hz (instead of 2000 Hz) and which is called 'ALE400'.

This ALE system has exactly the same functions as the standard ALE (in Multipsk) except that the:
• bandwidth is 400 Hz (so ALE400 can be used where 500 Hz modes are permitted)
• the speed (and consequently the text throughput) is 2.5 slower,
• no fix frequency (it is as MFSK16, Olivia or DominoEX modes)
• the S/N is 5 dB better:
- 9 dB for AMD messages and Unproto
- 11.5 dB (- 13.5 dB with many repetitions) for ARQ FAE

For ARQ FAE, it has been added a compression system using a modified IZ8BLY (Nino) MFSK Varicode. So the text throughput (in ALE400) is typically 60 wpm (up to 107 mpm in bilateral and 63 characters frames).

This test version in a ZIP test package is available in my site
http://f6cte.free.fr/MULTIPSK_TEST_28_10_2007.ZIP
(copy and paste this address in Internet Explorer (or equivalent) Net address field). It contains the Multipsk test version, the help files (in English and French) and the specifications (in English) of the ARQ FAE mode (version 1.4).

Create a temporary folder (C:\TEST, for example), unzip the files in it and start C:\TEST\TEST\Multipsk.exe (the auxiliary files will be created automatically).

For the contextual help, click on the right button of the mouse, with the focus over the mode button "ALE400". Use also the button hints (wait a fraction of second over a button).

Hints:
• if you are the "Master" (initiator of the CQ): confirm the RS ID transmission in "Options" (to permit an automatic tuning for other Hams), check "Master" on the Mode panel and, afterwards, push the button "CQ"
• if you are the "Slave" (the Ham who answers): push the button "RS ID detection" (to permit your automatic tuning on CQ), check "Slave" on the Mode panel and, afterwards, push the button "Answer".
Both will push on the "AFC" button.

Note: it rings on successful connexion (on both sides).

73
Patrick

Related URL’s

HFLink Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HFLink

HFLink
http://www.hflink.org/

MultiPSK Website
http://f6cte.free.fr/

ALE400 Software - A Test version has been available at
http://f6cte.free.fr/MULTIPSK_TEST_28_10_2007.ZIP
but like all test software it could be frequently updated.

ALE

As you tune the ham bands you may be hearing some strange sounding signals. Chances are some of those signals are ALE or Automatic Link Establishment.

According to the website hflink.com, Automatic Link Establishment is the de-facto worldwide standard for initiating and sustaining communications using High Frequency radio. HF radio conveys signals via ionospheric propagation, which is a constantly changing medium.

To find ALE you can look on http://hflink.com/channels/ and look at the ALE frequency list.

If you are interested in trying out ALE you can download one of 2 software packages here

PC-ALE is ALE Software for PC by Charles Brain G4GUO
Full Mil-Standard Automatic Link Establishment operation using HF SSB or ham radio transceivers. Advanced features include Scanning, Sounding, Channel Groups, Calling, Netcalls, Allcalls, AMD, DBM, DTM, LQA, and many many other fuctions. Use with a PC sound device and CAT control interface. High speed PSK ARQ HF modem included. User supported by HFLINK Group. Free for ham radio use.

MULTIPSK by Patrick F6CTE
Multimode Ham Radio Software (with ALE) for PC
Includes basic ALE functions for calling and operating using ham radio ALE methods, for individual calls and Netcalls. AMD, FAE-ARQ, Unproto modes for texting. Many different modes and features. Use with a PC sound device and CAT control interface. Free to try and use. More features such as scanning and alerting with user license.

Once you download the software, you can read the configuration instructions here