All,
After some time in development the 136/500 version of the Opera
data mode is ready for experimental use .
Download links are available from myself or Gary, G4WGT as the
versions may change , these may also change ,
Users are invited to join the Opera yahoo group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/O_P_E_R_A_/?yguid=131323118
At the moment , spots are distributed to other OP users on line at
the time ,. future intent is to link to the PSK-Reporting network
and for a HF version and possible limited QSO mode , allowing
under the noise qso's with a simple xtal tx
There is a on line chat mode to facilitate tests etc
The software is available for all , free to use ,
Happy new year to all and good luck
73-G ..
OPERA The new CW/ QRSS replacement data mode
There is always the assumption that all armature radio stations
can effectively translate what ever new soundcard data mode
that
is coded to radio frequency..
The question I posed was ‘What about those who cannot , and only
have CW transmission facility’s’? …
Never did get a reply
So after a long exchange of emails , the concept of a serial
data
mode that used only one tone , on/off keyed , with a eye on the
qrss system, was finally discussed and coding work begun, an
initial statement that in software , could be achieved a lower
level
of detection than that required to produce a line on a spectrum
plot
set the scene for a what was originally proposed to be a simple
data mode, turned into to a race to the noise floor.
OPERA
Is a totally new Data / Beacon mode , profiled for the 136 and
500 bands , with HF possibility’s later in the project . The
beacon
mode is the version under test at the moment.
Opera was designed as an alternative to the QRSS transmission
system
and provides for a limited number of characters to be transmitted
by
a serial single keyed tone , as is QRSS or live CW, 6 at the
moment.
It is live ‘data’ mode and there is no requirement for time
synchronisation of the tx/rx station .
The mode can be transmitted by any transmitter SSB/CW , there
being provided a keyed tone and Comm. Port CW key interface
There is a windows ‘gui’ interface and the requirement for RX
audio feed, based round 1500 Hz , Tx audio at 1500 Hz may also be
used to drive a audio/rf conversion , changes of Tx audio tone
prevent collisions, and the software scans for a slot of minimum noise
.
to place the TX carrier in.
If the CW key option is used, then the Tx frequency is selected by
the Tx master oscillator only.
Once a signal is decoded, the decode-spot is distributed to other
web-connected users, future development will link to the
PSK-Reporting
network .
OPERA is coded at the moment for 136 and 500 Khz and still
under
development.
As a basic out line the system (at the moment) codes the six
characters of the call sign and transmits them as a serial ‘pulse’
train using either conventional audio to RF translation , or by
the use of a COM port and transistor keying cct that simply
replaces the CW key ,
Reception, as the data is spread out along a time line , decoding
is completed during the final stages of the transmission , due to
this
,,it is not possible to include a receive progress monitor,
however
the system will track and decode multiple transmissions of both
time
bases simultaneously
Transmit times are used to denote the mode
500 Khz
2 Minuets
16 Minuets
136 Khz
8 Minuets
65 Minuets
S/N, The mode is capable of decoding under the noise level ,
beyond
that of WSPR or the ROS-MF-2 system with a maximum data loss of
33% before the decode Fails.
Opera 2 similar to WSPR
Opera 8 6dB better than WSPR.
Opera 65 9 dB better than Opera8,
