All,

 

We have a  working version of the  Opera beacon , with  OP1 and OP2  modes based on the  17Khz  audio band. noting any version  may  be  coded, this represents a first of trial.

 

The version is fully functional  and compatible with the  standard version in terms of  data , so may be  decoded via  sound-card SDR or via conventional translation to  base  band  audio using one of the vhf/uhf settings.

 

At this  stage , the  file is  a  separate exe  'Opera Light.exe'
to  run the  exe , its necessary to install a  working version of the  standard system to provide dll's etc and paste the 'exe' into the  same  directory

 

If any one  would  like to try the  system , I can email the  file directly , the final  version  will  be  incorporated into the  main download.

 

As the Opera system is incorporated in Bo's  OZ2M fixed beacon keying system , Philip Gladstone , psk-reporting  map , is providing addition SHF bands to his map, and  I have requested a 'optical' band  be  added to  compliment this addition.

 

At the moment, please contact me  directly for a  copy of the  exe file at  [email protected]

 

73-Graham
G0NBD

 

OPERA OPTICAL    BEACON   variation

 

Based on  the  lecture  given by  Stuart  Wisher  G8CYW  at the  RSGB convention , outlining the  use of  a  high  frequency  audio sub carrier  for  optical  communications , where  the  light  source  was modulated  with a  17 KHz   carrier  to enable various  modulations  to  be  carrier  above the  audio  0>3Khz   base  band, thereby  eliminating  most  of the  QRM.

 

Following  this  example , a  modified  version  of the  ?Opera  beacon?  is  in development , with  direct  audio  input / output  based  in the   15  to 17 KHz range  , with   intended  OP0.5  and  OP2   modes  [ 30 second  and  120 second  tx  cycle time]  , OP0.5 has been  proven in scatter  tests  on vhf  and OP2  has  similar  sensitivity as  the  wspr  system.

 

The  Opera  beacon  system is  a  free  running  one  pass  decode  data  system , with  no  internet time  locking  requirement , utilising On/off  keying  (ook) of  a  single  carrier , transmitting   256  data  bits. Transmission  either  by way of a  keyed  audio  output, as per normal  data  mode soundcard interface   or  a simple com-port  cw  keyer of an  existing ?cw? system , Tx/Rx  com-port  ptt  switching  is also  provided.

 

Where  as the  Tx  format  remains  the  same  for  all  , the  decoder has  variations  linked to  the assigned band, propagation and  , the  Tx duration  is  used to  set the  sensitivity  , with  versions  from  30  seconds  to  4  hours  ,  -20 dB s/n to   -50 dB s/n.

 

CAT  control  and  SDR  interfaces  are  provided  as  part of the  windows  based software  package , as  is  a ?PIC Code?  , which  may  be  used to  code a  stand  alone  pic controlled  beacon, as  is  a internet chat facility and  spot upload to the  psk-reporting   web  site ,  decodes  from  other  users  are  also directly routed to all  web-linked users , with  single band  or  ?all?  band  filtering.

 

The latest version may be downloaded from http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/

 

Notification  will  be  posted  when the  15/17Khz  modem  is  embodied