Hellschreiber
FAQ
Frequently
Asked Questions on
Hellschreiber and IZ8BLY's program
© 1999-2000 IZ8BLY Nino Porcino and ZL1BPU Murray Greenman
Last update: 05 Aug 2000
Questions covered:
Q: Where can I learn all
about Hellschreiber?
A:
Hellschreiber and other "Fuzzy" modes are well
explained in the Murray ZL1BPU's "Fuzzy Modes" web
site, at http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu. It has all the necessary hints and
information, as well links to other pages and printed
documentation (books, magazines).
Q: How can I get started on
Hellschreiber quickly (without reading all the boring
documentation)?
A: Go to http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu and click on "Getting
started". All you need is there.
Q: Where can I get the latest
version of IZ8BLY's program?
A: From
author's official web site at: http://space.tin.it/computer/aporcino.
If you have problems in downloading
it, try one of the other mirrors, such as the "Fuzzy Modes" web site.
Q: How can I find out about
Hellschreiber events, activities and news?
A: If you
have access to the internet, join the Hellschreiber mailing list
(reflector) at http://www.egroups.com/subscribe.cgi/Hellschreiber.
It is open to all users (both Hams
and SWLs), and is a good place to ask for help or arrange skeds.
New releases of IZ8BLY software are also announced there.
Q: What are the Amateur
Hellschreiber operating frequencies?
A:
Currently most Hell activity is on 20m, around 14063.5 KHz. Other
bands are still fairly unpopulated, try: 3580, 7037, 10137,
14063.5, 21063, 28120. There are some nets but they are not very
constant.
Q: Why I do receive each line
of text twice on the screen?
A:
Hellschreiber is a synchronous mode, but the transmitting phase
is unknown at the receiver, and varies anyway, because of the
propagation time. Text is printed twice to negate the effects of
phase and small timing errors, thus avoiding the need for
synchronism. Note that while the text is printed twice, it is not
transmitted twice.
Q: Why I do receive sloping
or inclined text?
A: This depends on the accuracy of the sound card timing
reference. Some sound cards are accurate, and some are not. Sound
cards are intended for music and sound effects where even a 1%
error is acceptable. For Hellschreiber even 0.1% error is
noticeable. Anyway, because the text is printed twice, it will
always be readable, even with excessive slope.
You can fix your soundcard inaccuracy by entering a corrective factor in the field "Slant correction" of the Preferences window dialog. The manual shows how to align the soundcard clock with a standard time and frequency station like WWV.
Q: What I should write in the
field "Mode" in a Hell QSL-card?
A: Hell is a CW mode, on-off keyed like Morse. I would
write "FH", or if you insist on ITU
nomenclature, write "J2C" or "350HJ2C".
For PSK-Hell put "FH", or if you insist "P1C" or "200HJ2C".
Q: What I can do to decrease
the snapshot file size? What file format is appropriate? .JPG
.GIF or .BMP?
A: The program creates uncompressed bitmap files at
maximum resolution. You can use software like PaintShop
Pro to clip just the
wanted area of the file, and reduce the number of colors to 16.
GIF file format is to be preferred as it is lossless (accurately
stores the picture as received) and is very compact with
grey-scale images. JPG loses some information during compression,
but can be useful to obtain a smaller file size.
Q: How can I make the
Waterfall display darker?
A: Make sure you are not feeding a low volume
level to the program via the Line-in or Mic plug. Increase the input volume of
soundcard using the sound mixer or eventually increase your RTX audio output
level. The right volume setting is a bit before you get a red coloured
waterfall.
Q: I can't see buttons/icons
on the program toolbar, what I have to do?
A: You need to update your COMCTRL.DLL by installing a
"patch" furnished by the Microsoft itself at the
address: http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/ieplatform/ie/comctrl.asp
Q: Is Hellschreiber legally
permitted on Ham bands (in the U.S.A.)?
A: Recently a question has been raised about the
legality of Hell transmissions in the USA. Hell, PSK-31,
RTTY, Amtor, Pactor, Packet, etc., are legal because the
protocols for their transmission is in the public domain, and
therefore anyone who wishes to monitor these transmissions may do
so, even the FCC. The ARRL have recently specifically asked for and received
rulings from the FCC that PSK-31, Feld-Hell "and related modes" are legal
for use by US amateurs, and are considered by the FCC to be digital modes.
Q: How can I start typing my
reply while the other operator is still transmitting?
A: Type an
asterisk character (*), and then start typing your reply. The PTT
or VOX will not be triggered or the text sent until you complete
the line with the "Enter" key.
Q: Must I include only
confirmed QSOs in the DX-CC Hellschreiber Top List?
A: You may include all logged Feld-Hell QSOs, not just
those confirmed by QSL cards. If you want to keep a proof of
contact for your own benefit, save a copy of a snapshot file.
Q: How can I send special
graphics characters like the ones that IZ8BLY sends sometimes
(spaghetti, wine, and so on)?
A: First
load one of the fonts FeldNarr, FeldLow or FeldModern. Then right
click with the mouse on the TX buffer for a pop-up menu of all
the characters, and select the one you want. If you want to
include them on buttons or in files, learn their ASCII codes and
use the metacommand $C (e.g. $C23).
Q: Is there something special
I can do so the program will work with a slow computer?
A: Choose "486" in the Speed tab of
preferences window. Disable the waterfall display. Choose to load
only the "Feld" wavetable at startup. If the software
still hangs or responds too slowly, keep the filter turned off.
Q: The program could not find
the help file! What is wrong?
A: This may happen if you have installed Netscape
instead of Explorer as internet browser. In any case, run
Netscape or Explorer and manually browse for the Help.htm file in
the "Help" folder.
Q: Can I mirror IZ8BLY's
program on my webpage / BBS ?
A: Yes, you can do that, although it is preferable that
you simply provide a link to the official web page, because new
versions are released frequently, and your mirrored copy may
quickly become out of date!
Q: I tried to update my score
on the DX-CC toplist page but it does not update! (I tried to
sign my name on the Hellschreiber Callbook but it does not
update!)
A: The update isn't immediate as I have to manually make the
changes and upload the new file to the internet with an FTP
program. This usually happens every day or two, so please be
patient!
Q: What can I do to help
promote Hellschreiber activity?
A: There are many ways to help:
Q: Does IZ8BLY Hellschreiber
run with Windows NT or Win 3.x?
A: It runs with Windows NT but will not on Win 3.x.
Q: I am confused by all those
fonts. Which is the best?
A: It depends on what you make of them. You should use
only fonts of the "Feld" family, but which you chose
depends on your own taste and on how quickly you can type. If you
are a slow typist, use a wider font. When in doubt use the
standard "Feld Hell" font.
The
Hellschreiber FAQ
© 1999 IZ8BLY Nino Porcino and ZL1BPU Murray Greenman
If you have good questions or answers to be added here,
email Nino at ninopo@tin.it