RTTY Keys for DX4WIN

     

From: "Dick, N1RCT" 

Subject: Using RTTY Buffers / DX4WIN



    Billy, W4WX asked about RTTY keys ..prehaps others are interested also ...

here are my keys from DX4WIN.INI; the commands are for an AEA TNC:







[RTTYKEYS]

F1=%C X %M CQ CQ DE N1RCT N1RCT%M CQ CQ DE N1RCT N1RCT N1RCT CQ K%M %D



   ..... calls 2-line CQ by itself; %C is the same as ctl-C and tells the TNC

that the next text is a command, not text to be sent, "X" is the AEA command

to turn on the transmitter (activate PTT line from TNC to radio), and the %M

is the CR needed to actually send the "X" to the TNC.







F2=%C X %M %@ DE N1RCT N1RCT N1RCT %M %D



 .... 1x3 to call a CQer by itself





F3=%C X %M



....  Simply turns on transmitter to start transmission .. ready for typing





F4=%@ DE N1RCT



....Normally the first buffer sent; a 1x1





F5=HELLO %n NAME IS DICK DICK . QTH WILTON, MAINE.. WILTON, ME..



.... normally used after pushing F3 and F4 





F6=%fBRAGS%



..... sends brag tape ascii file called BRAGS (for short brag)



  MAIN RIG ..ICOM 756, AL-80B 500W, 599ZX DSP, PK 900, SCOPE  

  ANTENNAS: MONO X BEAMS 20,15,10. VERT LOOP 80, VERT 40, R7 WARC 

  S/W ..  DX4WIN 3.04   





F7=BEST WISHES FROM MAINE AND 73 73 DE DICK



.... standard ending of qso





F8=%D



..... returns to receive AFTER all text is sent





Comments ...  DX4WIN is a so-called "dumb Terminal" for RTTY and packet ..

exactly like your HyperTerminal in WIN95 Acessories.  You must tell the TNC

explicitly what to do at all times, such as transmit, shut off, receive, etc.

The good news is that you can use the terminal for most of the modes your TNC

will support such as CW, AMTOR, PACTOR with some thought and study of the TNC

manual.



   You make up a transmission by stringing together buffer keys and hand typed

text from the keyboard .. for example:



   F3 F4 F5 .. good to hear you .. how print?..  F4 .. kn F8



    The bad news is that only 8 buffer keys is very limiting .. and the

commands for different modes will probably require re-programming your

buffers.  A dedicated Digital program will have 20+ keys, do the overhead

commands automatically, and change buffers depending upon the mode ..

Hopefully, a future consideration for DX4WIN.



    You may prefer to program the 8 keys for things like "Off right now" and

"clear out the TNC buffer" ...  I do those with a Maxi 124 programmable

keyboard which also has things like RTTY/PACTOR/CW and "Reverse Tones" ...  I

have looked into keyboard macro utility TSRs for WIN95 to do that but have not

found a good one yet .. 73 de Dick 

     

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