Setup guide

Even when I am using AFSK I operate FSK−style, i.e. doing all my tuning with the radio, never with
the mouse − I just watch MMTTY's crossed ellipses and turn the tuning knob to fine−tune. That
makes it feasible for me to open the second DI window as an alternate decoder. I have it set to use
MMVARI instead of MMTTY, set its decoding frequency on my centre frequency, and use it to give
me a second opinion. You can single−click on call signs and exchanges in the second DI window
provided you remember to click again in the DI1 window before clicking on a macro button,
right−clicking or hitting Enter. I often even run a third receive−only decoder (MixW) off the same
sound card. You can't click on info in this window; you have to type the info in the Entry window if this
is the only window that copied it. Mostly I use this window as a check when the other two windows
disagree. It's a bit surprising how often that happens.
This "use the mouse for everything" style is very different from CW, where you normally try to set
things up so the mouse is never needed. It seems paradoxical that you try to operate RTTY (a
keyboard mode) using the keyboard as little as possible, and CW (a manual mode) using only the
keyboard − well, not quite − in CW I use a paddle for the kind of thing I program into the DI window
macro buttons in RTTY.
Oh yes, function keys − I almost forgot:
F1 CQ,{TX} CQ TEST DE * * CQ {RX}{CLEARRIT}
F2 Exch,{TX} 599 04 ON ! {RX}
F3 TU,{TX} ! TU * CQ {RX}{CLEARRIT}
F4 {MYCALL},{TX} * {RX}
F5 His Call,{TX}{ENTER} ! {RX}
F6 B4,{TX} B4 DE * CQ{RX}{CLEARRIT}
F7 Rpt Exch,{TX} 04 04 ON ON {RX}
F8 Agn,{TX}{ENTER} AGN? {RX}
F9 ZN?,{TX}{ENTER} ZONE? {RX}
F10 ST?,{TX}{ENTER} STATE? {RX}
F11 Wipe,{WIPE}
F12 Stack,{TX}{ENTER} {CALL} {LOGTHENGRAB} TU NW {F5}{F2}{RX}
F1 CQ,{TX} CQ TEST * * CQ {RX}{CLEARRIT}
F2 Exch,{TX}{ENTER} ! TU 599 04 04 ON ON * {RX}
F3 TU,{TX} {CALL} TU {RX}
F4 Call Him,{TX} DE * * {RX}
F5 His Call,{TX} ! {RX}
F6 0x1,{TX} * {RX}
F7 Rpt Exch,{TX}{ENTER} 04 04 04 ON ON ON {RX}
F8 Agn,{TX}{ENTER} AGN? {RX}
F9 ZN,{TX}{ENTER} 04 04 04 {RX}
F10 ST,{TX}{ENTER} ON ON ON {RX}
F11 Wipe,{WIPE}
F12 Grab,{GRAB}
73, Rich VE3KI
3.6 Best exchange format
The best format is 599 001,with a space separating the two parts of the exchange and without any
hyphens.
The reason is a bit technical, but basically RTTY as used by hams has a built in function called
UnShift On Space, or USOS. USOS provides a means for resetting the state of the FIGS or LTRS
shift if they should get messed up due to QRM, QRN, QSB or whatever. When USOS is on, every
time the transmitter sends a space, it resets itself to the LTRS state, and every time the receiver
receives a space, it does the same. I won't bore you with the details (unless you ask), but that greatly
increases your chance of copying correctly. Using a hyphen, such as 599−001 defeats USOS
because there is no space. Some contesters use the hyphen intentionally because it does speed up
the transmission, but most experienced contesters have decided to trade the speedup for more
reliable copy.
In any event, please don't run things together like 599001. That causes the receiving station to have
13−2−2009 3 N1MM − RTTY operation / settings 49