Technical

Joe and Julie of SARCNET have released the following details copied from their mailout: “FreeDVis a digital voice mode specifically for Amateur Radio HF communications. It provides wide-bandwidth, crystal-clear, noise-free audio and works with weak signals down to 5 dB under the ambient HF noise level. For us it is a game-changer: We now use it every day to run ourSchool Amateur Radio Club Neton 7083 kHz, which we previously ran for 10 years on 7105 kHz - often putting up with barely readable and very noisy analog single-sideband signals. With FreeDV we now have our Amateur Radio (rig)connected to Hi-Fi speakers andlisten all day for stations calling in without the annoying snap, crackle and pop of HF band noise. We can hear local, and many more DX stations from ZL and VK6, just like they were in the other room! When conditions on 40 m are stable we can often work stations up to 300 km away on only 100 mW PEP. So what's not to love? Well, actually, one really big thing for us: How do we use FreeDV easily when setting up our portable station at parks or summits, or safely when mobile in our car, all without having to lug around and interact with a laptop computer?”