Chip64 v1.2 Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum by IZ8BLY
The signal sounds like
uninterrupted noise. Waterfall is a variable bandwidth.
Spread
spectrum (SS) is a family of modulation techniques in which the transmitted
signal occupies a
transmission
“hidden”; to take advantage of the Spread Spectrum techniques even on the HF
channels,
making the
communication possible under conditions where traditional narrow band modes fail.
Hardware:
A RIGblaster (1ea), Soundcard speaker
cables: Radio Shack-42 2387 (3ea)
RIGblaster:
Strap P1 to match your radio's
Microphone. (i.e. RJ45 IC706 page 9). Set Audio Level
Control full clockwise. Switch VOX/AUTO
to AUTO, apply power. Cable RIGblaster to
radio and
computer, as shown in RIGblaster manual’s hookup diagram PC Speaker Out to Rigblaster In);
Aux. In to Rigblaster Out). The RIGblaster interface will allow computer speakers to
continue to operate
for music etc.
Note: Don't use low impedance un-amplified
speakers.
Computer Downloads: http://xoomer.virgilio.it/aporcino/
Install to Chip64 folder:
Chip64 Setup:
Click on IZ8BLY Chip64 Icon
Click on FILE – PREFRENCES
GENERAL: type in: Callsign – Name – QTH
– Locator – E-mail –
Decoding options:
change Squelch level from 5% to 40%
Waterfall: Select Logarithmic
Tools: default SNDVOL32
Click OK
Click on MODE
Select: Chip-64
Select: Clocked decoder (for Spread Spectrum mode, activates Chip shape Window)
Note: some stations prefer to
start a QSO in
Un Clocked decoder
Click VIEW defaults
Set Input volume/Set output volume:
Recording Controls: Line In SELECT -
Volume to 1/3 of the way up - Balance slider to the center
Volume Controls: Volume: Volume to 1/3 of the way up - Balance slider
to the center
Wave Volume to 1/3 of the way up - Balance slider to the
center
Line In
Volume to 2/3 of the way up - Balance slider to the center
Microphone Volume to 1/3 of the way up
PC Speaker Volume to 2/3
of the way up
Note: Turn the computer speaker volume control
knob most of the way, but not all of the way down.
Click LOG window (activates QSO/Log windows)
Right Click on Waterfall to set TX/RX
Frequency to 1500 (in the middle of filters cutoffs)
Recommended frequencies:
3.584 3.582.75
7.090
7.077
10.134 10.137 10.140 10.187
14.077 14.079 14.100 14.107.5
14.108.5 14.109.5 14.110
18.100 18.103
Radio setup:
Set all IF Filters to OFF (or as wide as
possible)
Set Audio RF to MAX
Set VFO to: 7.090
Set Transmitter output power to ¼ manufacturer’s
rated RF power output, 30 watts or
less is a good operating setup to provide
linear performance.
Set Mode to USB (convention is USB for all Bands)
Set Processor to OFF and SWR ON
Adjust Tuner for 1:1
Set ALC to ON and SWR OFF
Speak into the Mic.
Adjusting Mic gain so that ALC doesn’t occur above
the ALC Zone
Indicator.
Adjust Tuner for 1:1
ALC can remain (on) to control drive
limit.
Click on Chip64 CQ button (transmission
starts).
adjust
RIGblaster Audio Level Control, stopping as transmitter output power reaches
MAX
(ie. 30 watts) keep an eye on your ALC so
that ALC does not occur; run with NO ALC
indicating occurring; any ALC indicating,
results in your TX Signal being distorted,
and causing harmonics.
Note: The RIGblaster Audio Level Control is
the most precise way to adjust the
Soundcard output voltage into the
radio. The Microsoft Volume controls were
designed to vary the voltage, through a
range of reasonable outputs for Speakers;
They were not designed to be adjusted
so precisely as to be reliable set to
5 millivolts.
To Operate Chip64:
Transmit:
(prepare to TX)
Click Ctrl + C (Clears Transmit buffer)
Transmit from Transmit window:
Click a MACRO ie. BTU and follow with
your message and end with F12 to end transmission and return to Receive mode.
Transmit: (this option allows you to
type, whole receiving text from the other Station)
To type ahead:
type: *
followed by your message – To TX press Ctrl + T
To
Transmit:
To TX a File: press
TRANSMIT – Select Send File – Select File – Click OPEN
File is transmitted
(waterfall stops) (Buffer will count down to Empty)
To
MUF Charts: http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/
DX Spots: http://hamcall.net/dxspots
DX Summit: http://oh2aq.kolumbus.com/dxs/
DX Spot Cluster http://data.w6fk.com
DX-Telnet http://www.golist.net
Reflector: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chip64/
DX Summit: http://oh2aq.kolumbus.com/dxs/
Searches:
Click Spot Database Search
Search string: type: Chip-64
Click Any Column
Click Search
DX-Spots:
Click Frequency or
Click Custom Spots – Digital
Send your own Announcement:
Click Send your own
Your
Callsign (type): AA3EU
DX Call (type): AA3EU
Freq. (type): 3583.5
Info.
(type): Chip-64 unclock, up 1500Hz
CQ CQ
Click Submit
Spread
spectrum (SS) is a family of modulation techniques in which the transmitted
signal occupies a
are
several reasons for doing this, ranging from exploiting maximum available
bandwidth to making
transmission
“hidden”.Among the different possible implementations
of SS, Chip64 uses the so
called Direct
Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS). In a DSSS transmission, the low speed
signal containing
the data
bits to be transmitted is mixed (multiplied) with a greatly higher speed signal
called code. The
result of
this mixing operation, named spreading, is a high-speed bit stream which
is then transmitted as
a normal
D-BPSK. Indeed, a DSSS signal looks like nothing else than a wideband BPSK.
Considering
the fact that data can be get back by the inverse operation, the mix of the
data with the code
The
design of this new digital mode served to introduce the Spread Spectrum
technology among radio
even on the HF
channels, making the communication possible under conditions where traditional
narrow band modes fail.
References:
http://arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/techchar/chip64.htm
Test equipment software:
Audio Signal Analyser:
SpectrumLab v204b29 (speclab24b29.zip) www.xs4all.nl/~nl9222/software.htm
Oscilloscope, Dual-trace: WinScope 2.51 ( osc251.zip) www.electronicsaustralia.com.au/cgi-bin/downloads.pl?area=5
Spectrogram v5.0.8 (gram517.zip) http://neasmn.org/ben/software/software.htm
Spectrogram v4.2.6 (gram426.zip)
Analyzer 2000 v5.04 (Pay for) www.dxzone.com
Spectrogram setup:
Click on GRAM4264 Icon (spectrogram
window is activated)
Click FILE
Click F4 Scan Input (set Scan Input
parameters)
Click OK (view signals on frequency) set
VFO that receive signal to start at 400Hz
To Exit: Click STOP - FILE - EXIT
Joe Mettle sends: