Re: [digitalradio] Contestia 1K vs MT63?

2008-10-11 Thread Patrick Lindecker
Hello Tony,

According to my measures (under noise only):
* 16-1K: Fast 16 tones, bandwidth=1000 Hz, speed=62.5 bauds, 78.2 wpm, 
lowest S/N =-9 dB,

* MT63 1K: 100 wpm, lowest S/N  - 5 dB for 10 bauds (perhaps -7dB with the 
original program)  but due to the 
Pmean/Ppeak: 0.1, it is only theoritical, except if you prefer QRP 
transmissions. 

I'm not sure if that's an accurate assessment as to why there is a difference, 
but it would seem so. Wonder if anyone can shed some light on this. 
The difference in Selective Fading conditions is perhaps due to the modulation 
speeds which are rather different.
73
Patrick

  - Original Message - 
  From: Tony 
  To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 7:44 AM
  Subject: [digitalradio] Contestia 1K vs MT63?


  All, 

  I was playing with the Contestia mode in an attempt to duplicate the wpm rate 
of MT63. I configured Contestia with 16 tones and a bandwidth of 1K. The 
sensitivity of the two seemed to be the same and the wpm rate appeared to be 
close. 

  I then tested both modes with the HF path simulator dialed-in for selective 
fading with the SNR set a few db above the minimum decode threshold. As you can 
see below, print was better with MT63. 

  The deep fades caused garbled characters with Contestia and it would appear 
the better copy with MT63 is a result of the redundancy built into the mode. 

  I'm not sure if that's an accurate assessment as to why there is a 
difference, but it would seem so. Wonder if anyone can shed some light on this. 

  Tony, K2MO


  Path Simulation : Selective Fading
  SNR :  -3db / -6db


  Contestia 1K / 16 tone 

  SNR -3db

  THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICK BROWN FOS OVER TH- G
  THE BROWN FOXMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICRO,N FOX JUMPS OVELAZY DOG

  SNR -6db

  TE QUCK BROW FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUG2NOWNS YVER THOEG
  THE BROWN FO#UBR OVER TE LAZY DOG
  THE QUIC^_^N FOX JUMPS OVELAZY DOG


  MT63 1K

  SNR -3db

  *DE K2MO*
  THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  *EOT*

  SNR -6db

  *DE K2M
  TH QUICK AOWN FOX JUOP; OVrR THE LAZY ROG
  THE Q%ICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICK BROWNFOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  *EOT*
   

Re: [digitalradio] Contestia 1K vs MT63?

2008-10-11 Thread Tony
Patrick,

I get the same minimum SNR for Contestia but can squeeze -8db out of MT63 when 
using DM780 and IZ8BLY. Some MT63 programs have a higher decode threshold for 
reasons you've mentioned previously. 

The threshold difference shows on-air as well as under controlled conditions 
and so it would seem that the best way to get the most out of MT63 is to use 
software that decodes deeper into the noise. 

The 10-to-1 peak-to-average power ratio is an excellent point and it's obvious 
that Contestia will put more RF into the air on average. There's no doubt in my 
mind that the Contestia 16-1K will do better most of the time. 

On the other hand, it does not seem to recover from the complete drop-outs that 
occur during deep fading or with lightning static the way MT63 does. 

I've tested this theory by removing short 1-to-3 second segments of the signal 
at random intervals and the mode continues to print despite the missing 
'chunks'. As you say, this could be due to the difference in modulation speeds. 
Is there an alternative mode that I can test that might have similar 
characteristics? 

Thanks, 

Tony, K2MO

 
- Original Message - 
From: Patrick Lindecker [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:02 AM
Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Contestia 1K vs MT63?


 Hello Tony,
 
 According to my measures (under noise only):
 * 16-1K: Fast 16 tones, bandwidth=1000 Hz, speed=62.5 bauds, 78.2 wpm, 
 lowest S/N =-9 dB,
 
 * MT63 1K: 100 wpm, lowest S/N  - 5 dB for 10 bauds (perhaps -7dB with the 
 original program)  but due to the 
 Pmean/Ppeak: 0.1, it is only theoritical, except if you prefer QRP 
 transmissions. 
 
I'm not sure if that's an accurate assessment as to why there is a 
difference, but it would seem so. Wonder if anyone can shed some light on 
this. 
 The difference in Selective Fading conditions is perhaps due to the 
 modulation speeds which are rather different.
 73
 Patrick
 
  - Original Message - 
  From: Tony 
  To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 7:44 AM
  Subject: [digitalradio] Contestia 1K vs MT63?
 
 
  All, 
 
  I was playing with the Contestia mode in an attempt to duplicate the wpm 
 rate of MT63. I configured Contestia with 16 tones and a bandwidth of 1K. The 
 sensitivity of the two seemed to be the same and the wpm rate appeared to be 
 close. 
 
  I then tested both modes with the HF path simulator dialed-in for selective 
 fading with the SNR set a few db above the minimum decode threshold. As you 
 can see below, print was better with MT63. 
 
  The deep fades caused garbled characters with Contestia and it would appear 
 the better copy with MT63 is a result of the redundancy built into the mode. 
 
  I'm not sure if that's an accurate assessment as to why there is a 
 difference, but it would seem so. Wonder if anyone can shed some light on 
 this. 
 
  Tony, K2MO
 
 
  Path Simulation : Selective Fading
  SNR :  -3db / -6db
 
 
  Contestia 1K / 16 tone 
 
  SNR -3db
 
  THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICK BROWN FOS OVER TH- G
  THE BROWN FOXMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICRO,N FOX JUMPS OVELAZY DOG
 
  SNR -6db
 
  TE QUCK BROW FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUG2NOWNS YVER THOEG
  THE BROWN FO#UBR OVER TE LAZY DOG
  THE QUIC^_^N FOX JUMPS OVELAZY DOG
 
 
  MT63 1K
 
  SNR -3db
 
  *DE K2MO*
  THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  *EOT*
 
  SNR -6db
 
  *DE K2M
  TH QUICK AOWN FOX JUOP; OVrR THE LAZY ROG
  THE Q%ICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  THE QUICK BROWNFOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
  *EOT*
   



Re: [digitalradio] Contestia 1K vs MT63?

2008-10-11 Thread Patrick Lindecker
TKS Tony for the information,

I've tested this theory by removing short 1-to-3 second segments of the signal 
at random intervals and the mode continues to print despite the missing 
'chunks'. 
Yes MT63 has a good frequency and time diversity. And at 100 wpm, there are no 
many modes...
A Contestia 32 / 1K could be a better alternative than the 16/1K.

73
Patrick

  - Original Message - 
  From: Tony 
  To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 8:40 PM
  Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Contestia 1K vs MT63?


  Patrick,

  I get the same minimum SNR for Contestia but can squeeze -8db out of MT63 
when using DM780 and IZ8BLY. Some MT63 programs have a higher decode threshold 
for reasons you've mentioned previously. 

  The threshold difference shows on-air as well as under controlled conditions 
and so it would seem that the best way to get the most out of MT63 is to use 
software that decodes deeper into the noise. 

  The 10-to-1 peak-to-average power ratio is an excellent point and it's 
obvious that Contestia will put more RF into the air on average. There's no 
doubt in my mind that the Contestia 16-1K will do better most of the time. 

  On the other hand, it does not seem to recover from the complete drop-outs 
that occur during deep fading or with lightning static the way MT63 does. 

  I've tested this theory by removing short 1-to-3 second segments of the 
signal at random intervals and the mode continues to print despite the missing 
'chunks'. As you say, this could be due to the difference in modulation speeds. 
Is there an alternative mode that I can test that might have similar 
characteristics? 

  Thanks, 

  Tony, K2MO


  - Original Message - 
  From: Patrick Lindecker [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:02 AM
  Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Contestia 1K vs MT63?


   Hello Tony,
   
   According to my measures (under noise only):
   * 16-1K: Fast 16 tones, bandwidth=1000 Hz, speed=62.5 bauds, 78.2 wpm, 
lowest S/N =-9 dB,
   
   * MT63 1K: 100 wpm, lowest S/N  - 5 dB for 10 bauds (perhaps -7dB with the 
original program)  but due to the 
   Pmean/Ppeak: 0.1, it is only theoritical, except if you prefer QRP 
transmissions. 
   
  I'm not sure if that's an accurate assessment as to why there is a 
difference, but it would seem so. Wonder if anyone can shed some light on this. 
   The difference in Selective Fading conditions is perhaps due to the 
modulation speeds which are rather different.
   73
   Patrick
   
- Original Message - 
From: Tony 
To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 7:44 AM
Subject: [digitalradio] Contestia 1K vs MT63?
   
   
All, 
   
I was playing with the Contestia mode in an attempt to duplicate the wpm 
rate of MT63. I configured Contestia with 16 tones and a bandwidth of 1K. The 
sensitivity of the two seemed to be the same and the wpm rate appeared to be 
close. 
   
I then tested both modes with the HF path simulator dialed-in for 
selective fading with the SNR set a few db above the minimum decode threshold. 
As you can see below, print was better with MT63. 
   
The deep fades caused garbled characters with Contestia and it would 
appear the better copy with MT63 is a result of the redundancy built into the 
mode. 
   
I'm not sure if that's an accurate assessment as to why there is a 
difference, but it would seem so. Wonder if anyone can shed some light on this. 
   
Tony, K2MO
   
   
Path Simulation : Selective Fading
SNR :  -3db / -6db
   
   
Contestia 1K / 16 tone 
   
SNR -3db
   
THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICK BROWN FOS OVER TH- G
THE BROWN FOXMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICRO,N FOX JUMPS OVELAZY DOG
   
SNR -6db
   
TE QUCK BROW FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUG2NOWNS YVER THOEG
THE BROWN FO#UBR OVER TE LAZY DOG
THE QUIC^_^N FOX JUMPS OVELAZY DOG
   
   
MT63 1K
   
SNR -3db
   
*DE K2MO*
THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
*EOT*
   
SNR -6db
   
*DE K2M
TH QUICK AOWN FOX JUOP; OVrR THE LAZY ROG
THE Q%ICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICK BROWNFOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
*EOT*
 


Re: [digitalradio] Contestia 1K vs MT63?

2008-10-11 Thread Jose A. Amador
Tony wrote:

 Patrick,
  
 I get the same minimum SNR for Contestia but can squeeze -8db out of 
 MT63 when using DM780 and IZ8BLY. 

Yesterday I had no luck with DM780 while monitoring Tony's QSO's on 
14106. Of course, I have not calibrated DM780, so that is no surprise.
Propagation was not good, but MultiPSK did fairly well.

 The threshold difference shows on-air as well as under controlled 
 conditions and so it would seem that the best way to get the most out of 
 MT63 is to use software that decodes deeper into the noise.

No doubt...

 The 10-to-1 peak-to-average power ratio is an excellent point and 
 it's obvious that Contestia will put more RF into the air on average. 
 There's no doubt in my mind that the Contestia 16-1K will do better most 
 of the time.

I have doubts on this department. If the peak amplitudes are the same, 
as may be happening with the audio tests, the decoding on those 
conditions should be equally valid. Of course, Vojtech points out that 
MT63 is more sensitive to distortions which are pretty common with some 
not so careful operators. Fast attack slow decay ALC could have a chance 
of correcting some of the overloads after the transmit IF, but the rest 
of the chain, from the audio input to the IF should receive proper audio 
levels. I have seen rebel cases of distorted PSK-31 when people closes 
the mic gain and distortion remains... because the early  stages of the 
transceiver are already overloaded, and I had a real bad luck when 
explaining that to the other operator. People should know their way 
around...

 On the other hand, it does not seem to recover from the complete 
 drop-outs that occur during deep fading or with lightning static the way 
 MT63 does.

I was browsing my references this afternoon (local) and I I decided not 
to send a reply, since it seemed that Vojtech had a good point and was 
not worth arguing about it. Nevertheless, I wonder how the degradating 
effect of -30 to -20 dB IMD, the usually accepted values when adding 
that to the channel noise.

Even more when I read that Contestia was devised with a flat envelope on 
mind (nonlinearity does not affect it) and uses about the same 
Walsh-Hadamard code.

But it _might_ mean, conversely, that Contestia is more power greedy, an 
important consideration for emergency operation.

 I've tested this theory by removing short 1-to-3 second segments of the 
 signal at random intervals and the mode continues to print despite the 
 missing 'chunks'. As you say, this could be due to the difference in 
 modulation speeds. Is there an alternative mode that I can test that 
 might have similar characteristics?

I did not find any details on my references, but seemingly interleaving 
is done both in the time and frequency domains, so there is more chance 
for MT63 to get the message thru, specially with long interleave. On the 
other hand, if someone pulls the carpet (heavy doppler) there is a 
risk that MT63 will fail strepitously with bits falling on the wrong 
bins while a mode with less, wider frequency bins (like Contestia or 
Olivia) will really shine.

I had really a low esteem for MT-63, but it had been hard to make a 
MT-63 QSO before Tony started the present tests campaign. It just 
happens that each mode should be used according to its most promiment 
strengths.

I still have low steem for Chip-64... 8-)

73,

Jose, CO2JA






[digitalradio] Contestia 1K vs MT63?

2008-10-10 Thread Tony
All, 

I was playing with the Contestia mode in an attempt to duplicate the wpm rate 
of MT63. I configured Contestia with 16 tones and a bandwidth of 1K. The 
sensitivity of the two seemed to be the same and the wpm rate appeared to be 
close. 

I then tested both modes with the HF path simulator dialed-in for selective 
fading with the SNR set a few db above the minimum decode threshold. As you can 
see below, print was better with MT63. 

The deep fades caused garbled characters with Contestia and it would appear the 
better copy with MT63 is a result of the redundancy built into the mode. 

I'm not sure if that's an accurate assessment as to why there is a difference, 
but it would seem so. Wonder if anyone can shed some light on this. 

Tony, K2MO


Path Simulation : Selective Fading
SNR :  -3db / -6db


Contestia 1K / 16 tone 

SNR -3db

THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICK BROWN FOS OVER TH- G
THE BROWN FOXMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICRO,N FOX JUMPS OVELAZY DOG

SNR -6db

TE QUCK BROW FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUG2NOWNS YVER THOEG
THE BROWN FO#UBR OVER TE LAZY DOG
THE QUIC^_^N FOX JUMPS OVELAZY DOG


MT63 1K

SNR -3db

*DE K2MO*
THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
*EOT*

SNR -6db

*DE K2M
TH QUICK AOWN FOX JUOP; OVrR THE LAZY ROG
THE Q%ICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
THE QUICK BROWNFOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
*EOT*