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Data Modes

Over the years, I have been involved in data modes. I got into UIView and SSTV a bit, though not so much now as I am at university. I have been using packet for a long time but for a few years I stopped due to lack of quipment, etc. I now have the quipment but I can't get my TNC to work under Windows XP that well and rarely reboot into Windows 98, although this problem has been sorted by finding the right software! I still do not use packet as I have now got another problem - the data cable is in bits!!
I am not attempting to write the infinite guide to amateur radio data modes as there are better descriptions out there by people who know what they are taking about. However I wanted to put together a very very simple overview of them. There are other modes but as I have not used them, I do not think it is right to comment on. I am merely going on my own experiences. Here I will describe the modes to give a summary of what they are from what I have done with them over the years.

Packet

Packet is a digital communication mode on radio. It gets its name from the short bits of data it transmits by radio in the form of tone bursts. The packet network consists of bulletin board systems and nodes that join together the network. You can send messages to other amateurs through the BBS of general messages that can be read by all. You can directly chat with one or more radio amatuers. Packet can be used with a Baycom modem, a terminal node controller (TNC), or a sound card. The TNC is a device that generates the tones that are sent to the radio and transmitted. I personally use a TNC with my PC mostly. I also use a Baycom modem with an Amiga 600. It works quite well too. Packet is such a simple thing that people can use Commodore 64 with it.This makes it cheap as the computer itself is easy to obtain.

UIView

This works using the packet system.

SSTV

SSTV is slow scan television. With this, users can send each other pictures over the radio.

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