5 Step Operating Practice

Pausing between transmissions is “key” to reliable multimode digital voice communications on the multimode systems, particularly systems with repeaters like RadioSC1

QSOs that adhere to the following practice will make QSOs better for all operators and enhance communication.

  1. After the transmitting Operator completes a transmission, pause 2 seconds.
  2. After the 2 second pause, PTT and continue pressing PTT for 2 seconds before speaking. This allows the other digital modes and the transcoder to “engage.”
  3. After completing your transmission say “over” or “back to you,” and if 3 or more operators in the QSO, the callsign to which you are passing the QSO in order to mitigate doubling.
  4. Before unkeying continue pressing the PTT for an additonal 2 seconds to allow your transmission and the transcoding process to complete on the other digital modes.
  5. Release PTT.

Other helpful operating hints

  • Be aware of what your display is telling you. If an operator tries to break in a name or call might be seen momentarily on your display even if no voice is heard.

  • Be patient and work together to pass the QSO to next speaker to avoid doubling.

  • If possible place hotspots at home QTH on a RJ45 connection.

  • Use the Calibrate option in the hotspot software to set offset the best you can get it.

  • Be particularly aware of keeping the PTT engaged during your transmission.

  • D-STAR operators direct to repeater or on a hotspot must be on the Gateway. Contact us if you need assistance.

  • If there is a dropout mid sentence during a transmission, wait because it will probably come back if given a few seceonds.

  1. Quick keying will not get good results when on a Reflector or Repeater connected to a Reflector especially one that performs transcoding. Often other operators will miss the beginning and end of you transmission. ↩︎