This is the most popular Digital Mode on HF. One reason for this is that it requires no handshaking with another station and a multi station round robin QSO can be enjoyed.

It is a very interesting mode, one that once you start you will be a permanent convert. I use the Kantronics KAM, although other manufacturers including MFJ make fine TNC's.  The new computer sound card versions are really fantastic. The following chart is a list of currently available sound card software programs.

Home URL	Software Writer	Detailed Tutorial
TrueTTY	by Sergei, UA9OSV	TrueTTY
RCKRTTY	by Walter, DL4RCK
MMTTY	by Makoto, JE3HHT
Blaster TeLetype	by Rob, ZL2AKM
TERMPSA	by Tom, HB9JNX
MIXW	by Nick, UT2UZ

Although, I believe, sound card versions will soon replace the 'normal' tnc decoding, there are still many tnc users out there. You can use a basic terminal program similar to Pacterm to operate Rtty through the KAM, it is a lot easier and enjoyable to use a program like Hostmaster , a dos based program from Kantronics or KaWin which is Windows based software.

These 'smart' programs make the TNC operate in it's Host Mode. What this actually does is strip the TNC of it's smarts and allows the computer to be the brains and control all operations. This paves the way for some very clever and innovative software.

The Terminal programs mentioned above are a prime example. This software switches the TNC into Host Mode and reverts it back to Terminal Mode when the program is closed. This leaves the TNC ready for other Software programs such as APRS which uses the TNC in Terminal Mode. If you think you are too slow a typist to operate Rtty well think again! These programs all allow buffering of information such that pre-typed messages can be transmitted with the push of one key. Logging, spooling message and Printing are just a few of the many features.

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