Epson MFJ-1278B manual Commercial Rtty Reception, Ctrl-T

MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE BASIC OPERATION

To enter the converse mode type:

K

This will take the MFJ-1278B out of the command mode and into converse mode. When the MFJ-1278B enters converse mode, the STA will illuminate. Also after entry into converse mode the MFJ-1278B is in receive mode. You can enter transmit mode by typing CONTROL-T. To re-enter receive mode type a CONTROL-R The command CONTROL- C will return you to the command mode, where you will get the cmd: prompt on your screen. Use lower side band, LSB unless you have an RTTY position on your rig. Tune your radio until the 10th or 11th segments on the tuning indicator light during receive. Ensure that the yellow DCD led is illuminated also during receive. It is possible to tune to the center of the bar graph, and not have the DCD led lit. If the DCD led does not light, then check the setting of the Threshold control on the front panel. The DCD led needs to be lit for reception. Some bouncing of the LED is normal, since any audio other than the signal (QRM/QRN) will also affect how it responds. From the converse mode you should now see text being printed on the screen as it is heard. Contacts usually take place on a one-way at a time basis. So one side will transmit and the other will receive, and then the sides are reversed.

To allow the MFJ-1278B to transmit RTTY or ASCII, type:

CTRL-T

while in converse mode to key the PTT on the radio. The green PTT light should light and you should see power on your wattmeter. All keystrokes are now sent out over the air. Alpha-numeric (numbers and upper/lowercase letters) characters are the only kind of keystrokes accepted. Some punctuation is allowed. When the transmission standards were set up, only mechanical typewriters (tele- type) were used and these were the only keys in use. Most other characters such as Greek and graphics are usually translated wrong, and you'll see the other guy's 'mistakes' when he types one of the characters. To go back to the receive mode, type CTRL-Rin converse mode to unkey the radio, and you will return to the receive mode. This will start the transmit/receive cycle over.

Commercial RTTY Reception

Commercial RTTY presents a special problem for amateurs and short wave listeners. Several conditions must be met before you can get a decent printout. You have to locate the frequency of a particular station, get the schedule right, pick the sideband, set the baud rate, set the frequency shift, and finally, unencrypt the text.

You can receive many of these stations using the 425 shift, 50 baud, and lower sideband during the daylight hours. For this setup use MODE VB,50. Some military frequencies are unencoded, as well as some of the UPI broadcasts. A good source of frequencies is Popular Communications and Monitoring Times magazines.