Digital Skills for ECom

The following are the recommended digital skills for ECom operators. If you do not have a General or higher license, please contact a general or higher licensee in your area for assistance with those for HF.

Please note, many of the operational details listed here will be greatly facilitated by using the WinPack software package. HOWEVER, if you have a terminal software package that you are more comfortable with AND it will perform the functions needed, use what you are most comfortable with.

Latest update: 02/01/08

HF Basic Operations

1. Given the "Mark" frequency, set-up your equipment and tune to copy RTTY, AMTOR, and PACTOR transmissions.
2. "Zero-beat" your station with an NCS station.
3. Distinguish RTTY, AMTOR and PACTOR by ear and adjust your TNC to handle the mode.
4. If your TNC requires multiple commands to change modes and you are using WinPack, build the WinPack scripts to handle rapid TNC mode changes. NOTE: Winpack scripts have a "HOTKEY" command that allow you to assign multiple commands to any one of 8 function keys and you can then press a single key to make the mode change.
5. Conduct keyboard to keyboard contact using RTTY, AMTOR and PACTOR modes.

6. Capture text from a contact and save it as a text file.
7. Learn how to update that text file if you do not already know how.
8. Send a text file to another station.
9. Learn the "Q" codes used most often in digital nets.

V/UHF Basic Operations

1. Setup your station to operate on several of the standard VHF packet frequencies.
2. Make "keyboard to keyboard" contacts using Packet.
3. Learn how to connect to a BBS and send/retrieve messages.
4. If your area uses a cluster, learn the unique cluster commands and any special cluster requirements.
5. Setup your station to operate RTTY. AMTOR and PACTOR on a VHF frequency.
   1. "Zero-beat" your station with an NCS station.
   2. Distinguish RTTY, AMTOR and PACTOR by ear and adjust your TNC to handle the mode.
   3. If your TNC requires multiple commands to change modes and you are using WinPack, build the WinPack scripts to handle rapid TNC mode changes. NOTE: Winpack scripts have a "HOTKEY" command that allow you to assign multiple commands to any one of 8 function keys and you can then press a single key to make the mode change.
   4. Conduct keyboard to keyboard contact using RTTY, AMTOR and PACTOR modes.

6. Capture text from a contact and save it as a text file.
7. Learn how to update that text file if you do not already know how.
8. Send a text file to another station.
9. Learn the "Q" codes used most often in digital nets.

Mailbox/BBS/PBBS Operations

1. Set up your Maildrop/mail-box to accept messages.
2. Connect to another station's mailbox and use the L(ist), R(ead), and K(ill) commands.
3. Compose and send an ICS213 formatted message to another station's mailbox.
4. Be able to put that message in your own mailbox.

HF Gateway Operation

1. Connect to a VHF station through an HF Gateway station.
2. Conduct a keyboard to keyboard contact via a Gateway station
3. Place and retrieve messages in the VHF station's mailbox when you are on HF.

Reference Gateway operation for additional user details.

VHF Gateway Operation

1. Connect to an HF station through an VHF Gateway station.
2. Conduct a keyboard to keyboard contact via a Gateway station
3. Place and retrieve messages in the HF station's mailbox when you are on VHF.

   Note: This requires a General class or higher licensed operator to act as control operator if you are running VHF to HF or UHF to HF.

Encoding/Decoding

1. Download and decode a UUE encoded Excel Worksheet (or equivalent) file.
2. Modify the above file, UUE encode it and upload it to a mailbox.

Net Control Station

1. Serve as the Net Control Station and direct the passing of traffic between several digital stations.
2. As the Net Control Station, successfully direct moving the digital net to another band or frequency.
3. Optional:    Design one or more interesting and challenging exercises of digital techniques.

HF Airmail Operation

1. Set up your HF Digital station to use Airmail 2000.
2. Attach a formatted message to an Email and send via the internet (use the WinLink 2000 system).
3. Download an Email with an attached file from the WinLink 2000 system.
4. Send an NTS or ICS-213 formatted message to another Airmail Station.

Exercise Participation

• Participate in a multiple district or state wide digital net during an event or incident.

Deployed Operation

• Setup and operate multiple digital modes at a remote site during an event or incident.

Hints and Kinks

• When composing a message with any of the text editors, be sure you end the message with a "/ex" (without quotes) on a line by itself. This will tell the receiving station (probably mail-box) that you have completed the message. This then saves you having to remember to send the CTRL+Z end-of-mesage indicator and speeds the data transfer.

• If you are running WinPack or similar software, think seriously about using scripts to quickly change modes. For example: AMTOR requires changing three parameters in the PK-900, so a script makes that a single key stroke.

• Exercise these skills at least once per month. The twice monthly HF digital net is an excellent way to keep your skills current.