Fldigi
|
Fldigi main window snapshot | |
| Developer(s) | Dave Freese (W1HKJ), et al. |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 2007 |
| Stable release | 3.23.04 / 15 October 2015 |
| Written in | Fltk (GUI), C, C++ |
| Operating system | Windows, OSX, Linux, Android, FreeBSD[1] |
| Platform | IA-32, x64, IA-64, armel, armhf, mips, mipsel, PowerPC, s390, s390x, SPARC |
| Available in | English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Polish, Dutch |
| Type | Amateur radio and DSP |
| License | GPL version 3.0 |
| Website |
sourceforge |
Fldigi, the Fast Light Digital modem application,[2] is a free and open-source program which allows an ordinary computer's sound card to be used as a simple two-way data modem. The software is mostly used by amateur radio operators who connect the microphone and headphone connections of an amateur radio SSB transceiver or an FM two way radio to the computer's headphone and microphone connections, respectively.[3][4]
Such communications are normally done on the shortwave amateur radio bands in modes such as PSK31, RTTY, Olivia, and CW (morse code). Increasingly the software is also being used on VHF and UHF frequencies.
Using this software, it is possible for amateur radio operators to communicate worldwide while using only a few watts of RF power.
Fldigi software is also used for amateur radio emergency communications when other communication systems fail due to natural disaster or power outage. Transfer of small files, emails, and ICS forms are possible using the Narrowband Emergency Messaging System (NBEMS) software and inexpensive radio hardware.[5][6][7]
Digital Modes Supported
| Mode Name | Speeds Supported | Custom Modes |
|---|---|---|
| Morse Code / CW | 5 - 50 words-per-minute | Yes |
| BPSK | 31, 63, 63F, 125, 250, 500, 1000 | No |
| FSQ | 2, 3, 4.5, 6 | No |
| IFKP | 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 | No |
| Contestia | 4/125, 4/250, 8/250, 4/500, 8/500, 16/500, 8/1000, 16/1000, 32/1000, 64/1000 | Yes |
| DominoEX | 4, 5, 8, 11, 16, 22, 44, 88 | No |
| Hellschreiber | Feld Hell, Slow Hell, Feld Hell X5, Feld Hell X9, FSK Hell, FSK Hell-105, Hell 80 | No |
| MFSK | 4, 8, 11, 16, 22, 31, 32, 64, 64L, 128, 128L | No |
| MT63 | 500S, 1000S, 2000S, 500L, 1000L, 2000L | No |
| Navtex | Navtex | No |
| Olivia | 4/250, 8/250, 4/500, 8/500, 16/500, 8/1000, 16/1000, 32/1000, 64/2000 | Yes |
| QPSK | 31, 63, 125, 250, 500 | No |
| 8PSK | 125, 250, 500, 1000, 125FL, 250FL, 125F, 250F, 500F, 1000F, 1200F | No |
| PSKR | 125R, 250R, 500R, 1000R | No |
| RTTY | 45.45/170, 50/170, 75/170, 75/850 | Yes |
| SYNOP | SYNOP | No |
| THOR | 4, 5, 8, 11, 16, 22, 25x4, 50x1, 50x2 100 | No |
| SITORB | SitorB | No |
| Throb / ThrobX | 1, 2, 4 / X1, X2, X4 | No |
| WEFAX | IOC576, IOC288[8] | No |
Portability
Fldigi is based on the lightweight portable graphics library FLTK and the C/C++ language. Because of this, the software can be compiled to run on many different operating systems such as:
The software is also written to be highly portable and can be used on many CPU architectures.
| amd64 | armel | armhf | i386 |
| ia64 | mips | mipsel | powerpc |
| s390 | s390x | sparc |
Sound Systems
Multiple sound systems are supported by Fldigi, allowing the program to abstract the soundcard hardware across differing hardware and operating systems.
Features
- NBEMS: The narrowband emergency messaging system [10][11]
- Is the underlying modem for PSKmail [12]
- Support for transmitting and receiving in all languages by using UTF8 character encoding (some modes)
- Rig control
- Connection to external programs via TCP/IP port (7322 and 7342) [13]
- DTMF encode / decode
- Soundcard oscillator frequency/skew correction
- Measure soundcard oscillator's skew to atomic clock: WWV or WWVH
- Measure frequency skew to atomic clock: WWV or WWVH
RSID
To identify the mode being transmitted a signal called an RSID, or Reed-Solomon Identifier, can be transmitted before the data. Using this identifier the receiving software can automatically switch to the proper mode for decoding. The assigning of these identifiers to new modes is coordinated to ensure inter-operation between programs.[14] Currently 7 soundcard-digital-modem programs support this standard.
- PocketDigi
- FDMDV
- DM780
- Multipsk
- FLdigi
- AndFlmsg
- TIVAR
Awards and Recognitions
At the 2014 Dayton Hamvention the project lead, Dave Freese (W1HKJ), was recognized with the Technical Excellence Award "for his development and distribution of the Fast Light Digital Modem Application (fldigi) family of programs for use in amateur and emergency communications."[15]
In The News
In 2014 the group Anonymous released a communications tool named AirChat, which used Fldigi as the underlying modem. This provided a low speed yet reliable data connection using only moderate radio hardware. The AirChat software allows for anonymous transmissions of both encrypted and unencrypted messages over unencrypted channels.[16][17][18]
Notable users
Following the successful tests by the Voice of America's VOA Radiogram program, international and government shortwave broadcasters began testing and experimenting with digital data over shortwave broadcast channels. [19]
- VOA Radiogram
- Radio Havana Cuba
- Radio Moscow
- Radio Berlin International
- Radio Australia [20]
- Radio Miami International
- WBCQ (SW) [21]
- Mighty KBC [22]
The software is also utilized by amateur radio organizations for both routine and disaster/emergency relief services.
Decodeable Broadcasts
- SITOR text forecasts and storm warnings
- WEFAX visual weather fax
- SYNOP surface synoptic observations
- NAVTEX warnings, forecasts, and safety information broadcasts
- VOA Radiogram Broadcasts
- W1AW Broadcasts
See also
- Amateur Radio
- Shortwave Radio
- VOA Radiogram
- WSPR
- American Radio Relay League
- Sights and sounds of digital modes
External links
References
- ↑ "Beginners' Guide to Fldigi". w1hkj.com.
- ↑ "Documentation/FAQ – fldigi". fedorahosted.org.
- ↑ http://www.linuxjournal.com/magazine/rolling-your-own-digital-amateur-radio
- ↑ http://www.linuxjournal.com/magazine/amateur-radio-survival-guide-linux-users
- ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=WeGMAwAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&dq=fldigi&pg=PA228#v=onepage&q&f=false
- ↑ http://www.arrl.org/files/file/On%20the%20Air/Tutorials/Introduction_to_NBEMS_ARRL.pdf
- ↑ http://www.w1hkj.com/NBEMS/PublicService.pdf
- ↑ How Do I Decode a Weather Facsimile (WEFAX) Off of my Shortwave?
- ↑ FreeBSD port
- ↑ https://www.liltechdude.com/portfolio/Data_Networks.pdf
- ↑ http://www.w1hkj.com/NBEMS/PublicService.pdf
- ↑ http://pskmail.org/
- ↑ http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.22/config_io_page.html
- ↑ http://www.w1hkj.com/RSID_description.html
- ↑ http://www.arrl.org/news/dayton-hamvention-announces-2014-award-winners
- ↑ http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/anonymous-airchat-aims-allow-communication-without-needing-phone-internet-access-1445888
- ↑ http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/25/anonymous-airchat/
- ↑ http://hplusmagazine.com/2014/05/14/airchat-secure-wireless-from-anonymous/
- ↑ International Broadcasters Reconsider Shortwave
- ↑ Radio Australia transmitting digital radiograms this weekend, June 8 – 9
- ↑ How to decode WBCQ’s digital message
- ↑ The Mighty KBC tests 9,450 kHz and will send a digital message this weekend
- ↑ W1HKJ honored for fldigi
- ↑ Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System (NBEMS)
- ↑ FLDIGI and NBEMS
- ↑ Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software
- ↑ Understanding Fldigi For Emcomm Use