Ham radio QRP station build - FLDIGI to Yaesu FT817

[jcrubin]

This is a series ive recently started to answer questions i'm often asked about both setting up the QRP stations for maximum performance (or minimum loss) as well as the configuration for FLDIGI. Its sort of an evolving thing right now, so Ill post as I have new material. Ill point out that I am ahead of this, and hope to post one new video per week.

Station consists of:
Linux laptop running Ubuntu along with fldigi
Yaesu FT-817
Buddipole antenna - vertical , single counterpoise
MFJ 259b swr analyzer
associated cables


Part 1 - The CAT connection

[jcrubin]

The next video in the series deals with the configuration of the audio between the Yaesu FT-817 and the computer using the simplest possible configuration to achieve the task to include a Y adapter as an auto monitor to forego the need for a software monitor in pulse audio.

As shown, there is no need for expensive 3rd party hardware or complicated configurations to achieve this goal. just:

A cable that goes from the Yaesu FT 817 data jack to the computer
A Y connector
An external speaker


Part 2 - Sound Configuration

[jcrubin]

The next video in the series deals with the setting up FLDIG and the YAESU FT817 to operate a QRP station, get to the core of station construction, real antenna tuning, and FLDIGI power setup.


Part 3 - Station Construction

[peppper]

I wish Yaesu would release a new version of the FT817, with a slightly bigger screen. That's the only thing (well and the menu's) that lets that great radio down.
But bigger screen would mean bigger radio.... Then it would not be so useful for SOTA... soooooo hmm.
FLDigi works well and is easy to operate. I also used a http://www.nue-psk.com/ nue-psk modem. Which was good but suffered from the same small screen issue.

[jcrubin]

In this episode we set up PSK reporter to analyze a manual beacon that will be sent out by the Yaesu FT817 HF ham radio transceiver.  FLDIGI is set up so that a button can conveniently be pressed to allow this beacon to be transmitted.  VOACAP is also discussed to see what the propagation possibilities are in your particular geographical location. 

Note that If your callsign is populated in FLDIGI, there is a pskreporter button in the dropdown menu in Fldigi that will take you to the website.


73 DE KJ4TLB

PSKREPORTER---
https://www.pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

VOACAP COVERAGE MAP---
http://www.voacap.com/area/index.html


Part 4 - Transmission Testing

[jcrubin]

In this episode we look at some useful tools that can be used to determine the probability of a signal reaching its destination such as end to end voacap as well as listening to the transmitted signal by means of a web based SDR. Further discussion as it related to FLDIGI includes the signal to noise radio as well is the IMD , inter modulation distortion.

Voacap point to point predictions - http://www.voacap.com/p2p/index.html

PSKREPORTER - http://pskreporter.info

WEBSDR - http://websdr.org/


Part 5 - Signal Analysis from the Distant End