Howard,
With PSK all the activity is concentrated in a small segment of the band that we can monitor on the waterfall. If someone calls CQ outside that segment there is a very low probability that someone else will happen to be tuning there, hear the CQ and respond. I think the concept that Andy was suggesting is that we have one common mode and frequency for calling CQ. After a response to the CQ is received the two parties select a different mode and frequency for carrying on the QSO. This is the idea of ALE. It is intended for establishing a link. I tried ALE a couple years ago but it didn't fit my operating style. Being able to monitor two different frequencies (dual watch) or a wide bandwidth - 48KHz or 96KHz (as in SDR receivers) - would facilitate this type of operation. If we had a common CQ mode, such as ALE, we could decode a CQ anywhere in that bandwidth. Or we could also agree on a common CQ frequency so the software would not have to scan the entire spectrum for CQ calls. Ed WB6YTE --- In [email protected], "W6IDS" <w6...@...> wrote: > > > Hello Ed! > > How would ALE serve well as a CQ Calling Mode? > > Howard W6IDS > Richmond, IN Em79NV > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "ed_hekman" <ehek...@...> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 1:45 PM > Subject: [digitalradio] Re: A new concept in digital mode band plans- > reducing the number of tongues in the tower of Babylon > > > > > > > > Andy, > > > > Some great ideas there. I had also suggested a couple months ago the idea > > of a universal CQ mode that could be an extension of the RSID/CallID that > > Patrick has developed. The software should include S/N measurement that > > can be used to suggest some the possible modes to switch to for a QSO. > > > > In general, good operating practice suggests that we should use the > > minimum bandwidth necessary for the purpose of the contact. PSK31 is the > > best mode in most cases for live keyboard QSOs. It would be nice to be > > able to easily switch between modes to adjust to the band conditions. I > > would like to see PSK31FEC and PSK10 become widely available for > > situations where PSK31 is marginal copy. > > > > I think wider bandwidths should generally be reserved for weak signal > > operation or for situations requiring stored data transfer (email, images, > > documents). Wide modes can be used for QSOs if they include multiple > > access features for frequency sharing. > > > > I agree that ALE would work well as a CQ calling mode but we need to > > develop some skill at finding and QSYing to an open frequency for the QSO. > > A dual receiver would make that much easier. > > > > Ed > > WB6YTE > > >
