Trying PSK31 at Knox Mountain
July, 2009
I had seen Jim Francoeur KC1FB using his
Nue-PSK Modem recently at Lobstercon in Maine,
and I wanted to try using PSK31 myself from a remote
location. I wondered how it would stack up with CW in the
field. So today I packed up the FT-817 and an EEEpc
running FLDIGI and headed for Knox Mountain.
Fortunately, as an after thought, I brought my paddles.
I knew it would be a different experience from my usual
outings with CW. And I knew my pack would be different
too. For one thing it was bigger... and heavier. There
was all kinds of extra stuff... and it weighed 12 pounds
instead of two... computer, wires, interface, FT-817 instead
of the little ATS-3... but I was prepared for all that. I was
certain it would all work just the way it does at home.
The hike in was perfect. It was a glorious, warm,
sunny afternoon and the brook was full from
yesterday's rain.
The brook was rushing after yesterday's storm.
The trail was damp and moss covered. There
were mushrooms everywhere. The mosquitoes
were pretty thick too.
The trail was moss covered.
At the cabin I heaved my water bottle over
a branch in front of the porch and set up
a half-wave end fed wire for 20 meters. I had
brought a laptop battery for the FT-817 and
it powered up nicely at five watts. The computer
ran smoothly, and I connected the Signalink
USB interface. It's exactly what I use all the
time at home. Soon I had stations on the
waterfall. Not many strong ones, but I didn't
think I'd have trouble working any of them. I
was wrong. I called Germany and France and
3 different stateside stations, but couldn't snag
one. The whole thing was messy. I didn't bring a
mouse and I used the trackpad. It was all too
clumsy and frustrating. CW in the field has
always been pure joy for me... this had me cursing.
Finally I said, "No more!" and put the computer
away and plugged in the paddles . Already, I
felt better.
I put the computer away.
The IARU contest was going on and the bottom
of the band was full of signals. One after another
I worked European stations without a problem:
Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, France,
Croatia and Serbia. Within 10 minutes I'd worked
eight of them... And I was starting to feel like
this was fun again. So I thought to myself,
"Look PSK31 is a wonderful mode, it should work
nicely out here." I plugged the computer in again
and made a second attempt at PSK.
Try as I might, I just could not snag a QSO. It's not that CW
is a better QRP mode. Not that the band was dead.
I use PSK31 frequently at home with great results.
I think put simply... CW is about as basic, as dependable
and fool proof a mode as one can get, and it lends itself
perfectly to the sparse requirements of hiking and ham
radio.
The pond and trees shimmer in the afternoon sunlight.
As I pack up for the hike back, I know I won't repeat the
digital modes experiment anytime soon. The simplicity
and efficiency of CW is an obvious and well-proven way to
mix the magic of radio with the play of nature.
73, Jim W1PID