How To Transmit

 

General Description

SkySweeper’s main user interface for two way communication is called chat application. It provides everything needed for efficient transmitting and receiving like predefined macros etc. When transmitting for the first time also the PTT controls as well as signal level settings should be configured.

 

PTT/TX control

The TX control is configured from config->TX settings. The used RS-232 port as well as the used pin can be selected there. This signal should be then connected to transceiver’s PTT input. The RS-232 port and the transceiver should have a common ground.

 

Used TX mode

There are pre-made configurations for all TX modes. All of them are located in RXTX configuration menu. If chat box is used, the RX and TX modes can be selected separately from ‘Config’ menu of the Chat Box.

 

Amplitude and frequency

TX amplitude (magnitude) and frequency can be set from the transmitter ‘Config’ menu. If chat box is used, then click chat box’s ‘Config’ and then ‘TX Conf’ icon in the picture. It will open a configuration dialog for the used transmitter. If SkySweeper is running in 8 bit mode mode, the maximum amplitude (magnitude) is 127. If 16 bit mode is in use, the maximum amplitude is 32767. The used mode (8/16 bit) can be checked and changed by clicking the radio icon ‘InWav’ in the configuration editor.

 

Sum to RX

If SkySweeper transmitter is not transmitting, the signal goes through without any changes. When the transmission starts, the input signal (typically the RX signal) is muted and only TX signal will come out from the sound card. When the transmitting is over, the input signal is connected again to audio. If ‘Sum to RX’ is selected, the TX signal is added to input signal. This might be useful if, for example, several TX blocks will be connected in chain. As a default ‘Sum to RX’ is not activated.

 

Sending text

Here’s a quick guide, what to do to send text:

 

1 Start SkySweeper by pressing the green button in the main menu.

2 Type the text to be transmitted in the TX buffer window (the middle window).

3 Set the cursor in the beginning of the text

4 Press ‘TX ON’ button

5 Now the text should be transmitted. The transmission will stop when the whole text has been transmitted. If ‘repeat’ is selected, the transmission will start automatically from the beginning of the text.

6 You can write new text to the TX edit window (bottom window) during the transmission. Just press ‘enter’ to copy the text to the TX buffer window.

Sending SSTV picture

Here’s a quick guide, what to do to send SSTV picture:

 

1 Start SkySweeper by pressing the green button in the main menu.

2 Load the picture to be transmitted in the TX. The picture is loaded by using ‘Load’ button in the SSTV TX block.

3 Press ‘ON’ button

4 Now the picture should be transmitted. The transmission will stop when the whole picture has been transmitted. If ‘repeat’ is selected, the transmission will start automatically from the beginning of the picture.