Operating Instructions

Keyboard Short-cuts
Running EZPAD or ART-DX

F1   = CONNect
F2   = DISConnect
F3   = ON                   (sets focus on the 'Send'-button)
F4   = STOP
F5   = XCVR
F6   = RCVR
F7   = KEY                      (transmit in XCVR-mode)
F8   = UNKEY                 (receive in XCVR-mode)
F9   = Open Send Text Line    also by INSert key
F10 = USERS             Focus is set to Chat RX Buffer
F11 = EchoLink Talk         (in RCVR-mode only)
F12 = EchoLink Listen                    - " -

Shift-Keys    => Transmit on RCVR- / XCVR-modes 'SEND CHAT TEXT' CLOSED!
CTRL-Keys => Receive                - " -                                                                 - " -
INSert-Key   => Opens Send Chat Text Line and also puts cursor there
DELete-Key => Closes          - " -              and reactivates the 'Send'-button

Frequency input and +/- from main number keys, and NumPad if NumLock is ON
PageUp Key => Calls up favourite frequency list from 'myfreq.txt'
NumPad Division Key =>                      - " -
ALT-S activates the 'Send'-button and sends the frequency on the display

NOTE!! For the following 'Send'-keys to work the 'Send'-button has to be ACTIVE:
Main Enter, Spacebar,
NumPad Enter, NumPad Multipl. (x) (NumLock must be ON)

!!!Be careful with the 'Send'-button, if you are mixing mouse and keyboard controls!!!

MixBASE Operating Instructions for N8AD-R

(CHAT TEXT ENTRY)

TYPE ON IN THE ECHOLINK CHAT BOX IF YOU RECEIVED THE
WELCOME MESSAGE THEN click SEND.

Type RCVR   IN THE ECHOLINK CHAT BOX THEN click SEND

ENTER YOUR FREQUENCY OF CHOICE USING 5 DIGITS
IE:   03898,    07258,    14313,     21350,     28330,
or enter to the exact cycle using this format   14325.158
03745.750      07200.125      29640.100

OR USE   4 digit   MEMORY CHANNELS
MEMORIES = 7001, 7002, 7062, ETC (FROM 7001 TO 7099).

LISTEN AS YOU WOULD NORMALLY.

ENTER OTHER FREQUENCIES / COMMANDS IF NECESSARY.

ENTER XCVR IN ECHOLINK CHAT TEXT IF YOU WISH TO TALK
ON HF VIA EchoBASE

(SEND YOUR REQUEST TO n8ad@adelphia.net IF YOU ARE
NOT IN THE DATABASE YET.)

TYPE T IN THE ECHOLINK CHAT BOX TO TRANSMIT

WHEN NOISE IS MUTED - TRANSMIT AS NORMAL USING
ECHOLINK

WHEN TRANSMISSION IS OVER TYPE R TO SWITCH BACK TO
RECEIVE.

UNKEY AS YOU ALWAYS DO IN EchoLink FOR Rx

WHEN QSO IS OVER, GO BACK TO RCVR MODE. DO NOT STAY
IN HOT MODE XCVR!

CHANGE FREQUENCIES/MEMORIES AS NEEDED.

IF A NEW QSO IS DESIRED AND FREQUENCY IS
ESTABLISHED REPEAT THE STEPS ABOVE

WHEN FINISHED WITH N8AD EchoBASE ENTER STOP TO
RESET SYSTEM FOR THE NEXT USER

TO USE THE DIGI COMMAND, GO TO THE DIGI HELP

To TALK over top of the streaming audio simply place system in
RCVR MODE and send TALK to mute audio...Send LISTEN
to return to streaming audio.. Does NOT go over HF!!!

IDENTIFICATION :

WHEN YOU ACTIVATE THE XCVR COMMAND, YOU BECOME THE
CONTROL OPERATOR OF N8AD'S STATION, AS IF YOU WERE
SITTING IN FRONT OF THE RADIO.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CONFORM TO ALL THE RULES AND
REGULATIONS OF THE US FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION.

FOREIGN OPERATORS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH
US FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS FOR REGION 2, REGARDLESS
OF THE LOCATION YOUR ECHOLINK STATION IS IN.

IDENTIFICATION IS ACCOMPLISHED BY STATING "YOUR" CALL
SIGN AT THE REQUIRED INTERVALS. AT LEAST ONCE IN A
COMMUNICATION YOU SHOULD ALSO STATE THAT THE
TRANSMISSIONS ARE FROM N8AD REMOTE BASE IN
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

US HAMS : simply   YOUR CALL
CANADIAN HAMS : say   YOUR CALL / W 3
"CEPT" HAMS : say    W 3 / YOUR CALL

IF YOUR COUNTRY'S RULES AND THE RULES OF THE US FCC
ARE IN CONFLICT, YOU MUST COMPLY WITH THE US FCC
RULES, OR CEASE THE OPERATION.

FOR EXAMPLE. EUROPEAN FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS ON 40
METERS DIFFER RADICALLY FROM USA RULES. YOU ARE
PERMITTED VOICE OPERATIONS FROM 7125 UP TO 7300 KHZ,
BUT IN EUROPE THE VOICE BAND IS BELOW 7125. YOU ARE
NOT ALLOWED TO TRANSMIT SSB BELOW 7125 IN
PENNSYLVANIA. IN THIS CASE YOU ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE
"N8AD" FROM 7125 TO 7300 FROM EUROPE IF IT DOES NOT
CONTRADICT YOUR OWN COUNTRY'S RULES!
THE SAME SCENARIO APPLIES TO CANADIAN USE OF THE 40
METER BAND. YOU CAN NOT USE CANADIAN RULES ON A
STATION IN PENNSYLVANIA!

Handy-Hams HOT KEY / Shortcut Control

1... Load and run the EZPAD program, It will automatically load
EchoLink if it is not already running.

2... Start with the F1 key... It will pop up a window requesting
that you enter the station you want to connect to.

Just press ENTER to connect to N8AD-R (If you did not change
it, by typing another station.)

3...   After receiving the Connection Greeting to N8AD's
EchoBASE, press the F3 key. This turns ON the system.

4...   After ~5 seconds press the F6 key, and an audio response
will be received that you are in the receiver mode of operation.

5...   Enter Frequencies in Kilohertz form...for example 14313,
7258, 3955, 29640 etc.

6...    When you are ready to go into transmit operation click F5,
and it will respond that you are in...

"the microphone HOT transceiver mode."

7...    Use F7 to put it into TRANSMIT, Use F8 to go back to
RECEIVE. Do NOT key your space BAR, just use the F7/F8
keys...When all the audio stops playing out your receiver after
you press the F7 key, start talking. (This is most difficult
without being able to see the programs.) F7/F8 is your Push To
Talk while in the TRANSCEIVER MODE F5

8...    Toggle back and forth from transmit to receive...Until your
QSO is finished.

9...    Please send F6 to put it back in the RECEIVER mode. DO
NOT LEAVE IT IN THE XCVR MODE!

Repeat as necessary...

10...    When you are completely finished click F2 to disconnect
from N8AD-R. This will CLOSE the EZ-PAD program, and you will
have to launch it again from the beginning.

It will automatically disconnect you. EchoLink will continue to
RUN in an unconnected state if no one has connected to you.
EZPAD will close down and disappear.

If you connect to N8AD-R with the F1 Key, and just want to talk
over EchoLink without going out over the air on HF, you can
use the F11 / F12 keys. F11 will stop the receiver audio after a
couple of seconds and place your node into transmit, as if you
had pressed the SPACE BAR. When done talking press the F12
to unkey. (Do not use Space Bar)

                                               Len / N8AD

==================================================
NOW AVAILABLE FROM EchoBASE
CW, BPSK31, QPSK31, FSK31, RTTY, PACTOR PACKET,
AMTOR, MFSK, THROB, MT63, FAX
HELLSCHREIBER and SSTV.
==================================================

DIGI COMMAND
"VNC"
All digital modes are now available on MixBASE

All that is needed is a software download of "VNC VIEWER 4"
from http://www.realvnc.com.

Install VNC VIEWER 4, and you are all set to use MixW 2.16,
and all the modes that it supports.

To use the digital modes do the following:

1...Instantiate EchoLink / and EZ PAD or ART.

2...CONNect to N8AD-R

3...Enter "ON", then "RCVR". Then set the Frequency for the
MODE you plan to use.

4...Go to the XCVR mode.
This is necessary to validate that you
are a CONTROL OP in the DATA BASE.

5...The system will set up for the frequency
that you chose. and announce that you
are in the "MIC HOT" mode.

6...IMMEDIATELY activate the DIGI command
by clicking the purple "VNC" command button.

7...Upon activation EchoBASE will print out
important DATA in TEXT CHAT.

A : RealVNC Info for downloading
B : The PASSWORD
C : The SERVER IP Address

8...Enter this information into VNC VIEWER 4.
A: SERVER = 24.93.183.1
B: PASSWORD - ham

9...MixW 2.16b5 will pop up on your desktop, and
you will now be able to do everything
as if it were at your station.

If you are familiar with MixW you are SET ~

STEP 1... CLICK "CONN" BUTTON ON RIGHT.
(You MUST BE CONNECTED FIRST for any command to work.)

OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS
ARTiE-DX
CLICK FOR VIDEO

Use the EZPAD-31 by OH2FH the same way.

YOU WILL CONNECT TO N8AD-R IF ONLINE.

2... CLICK THE "ON" BUTTON TOP LEFT CORNER

RADIO WILL COME ALIVE WITH ALL CONTROLS

3... CLICK THE "RCVR" BUTTON ON RIGHT SIDE

THE EZPAD FORM WILL APPEAR for TUNING

4... CLICK THE ROUND Command Button FOR BAND.

THAT FREQUENCY WILL LOAD INTO READOUT

5... CLICK UP/DOWN BUTTONS TO TUNE TO THE
DESIRED FREQUENCY... LEFT IS LARGER
INCREMENTS... RIGHT IS SMALL INCREMENTS
FOR FINE TUNING.

CLICK THE XCVR BUTTON ON RIGHT
IF YOU HAVE CONTROL OP STATUS.
TRANSMIT BY CLICKING "KEY HF",
AND RECEIVE WITH "UNKEY HF"...

6... RETURN TO "RCVR"" MODE WHEN QSO IS OVER

7... CLICK "STOP" WHEN YOUR SESSION IS OVER.

Hints for proper operation...

The MixBASE system on N8AD-R is composed of three separate elements.

1...It is a Repeater system that simultaneously sends the active HF audio over 2m/440Mhz RF .
Please listen to "something" if you use the system. DON'T just let it play NOISE!

2...It is a RECEIVER that also streams audio over e-QSO, SKYPE, and PORTRAIT. Be sure to
turn the system ON with the ON command, then send the RCVR command via EchoLink Chat
.
3....It is a TRANSCEIVER if you are entered into the XCVR, Control Ops Data Base.

4...When you are finished with a session, be sure to turn off the system, if you entered commands to
use it. Enter STOP, OFF, or QUIT to stop the receiver, and return it back to REPEATER control.

5...If you connect and you are the only user on EchoLink, do not be alarmed if the receiver is ON.
The repeater also offers full control via Touch Tones, and we use it all the time to keep audio
playing for all the "Listeners" on other systems. Feel free if there are no EchoLink users already,
to tune it to whatever you desire.

6...If you connect via EchoLink and there is another station(s) already there...Do not steal the
system away from previous users. There is only one radio, and one user at a time that should
control it.

7...You can speak over Streaming Audio from the receiver if the system is in the RCVR mode.
Send "TALK" in Chat to mute the audio. When you finish transmitting send "LISTEN" to reset
the audio stream.

8...EchoLink will not allow the EXACT line of Chat Text to be duplicated within a 30 second period.
It will ignore a duplicate entry! This is a primary reason to use EZPAD or the ARTiE download
GUI's.

9...Shut off your CHAT TEXT CHIME. If you receive a DING whenever a line of Chat Text is
received, it would be wise for you to shut it OFF, before it drives you crazy. (Same with the You are
DOUBLING WITH message.)

10...eQSO also streams this station's audio. If you intend only to Listen it would be considerate of
you to do so from eQSO since it will not use bandwidth from me. If you want to set a frequency to
listen to, you must remain in EchoLink. The room to connect to in eQSO is the HF_RADIO Room

11...SKYPE is also available and is connected to, one user at a time, by dialing "hfremote". Both
SKYPE and eQSO are not monitored locally by anyone (except only occasionally).

12...Don't ask for XCVR privileges unless you have downloaded ART-DX or EZ-PAD and have
figured out how to use them from a RECEIVER standpoint first. All users can do everything up to
the XCVR command without needing approval.

13...If you are in the Control Op data base and intend to use the transmit functions...BE SURE your
audio is as perfect as it can be. Voice peaks must go to YELLOW on the Audio Meter of EchoLink
without going full scale! Failure to talk it UP to this level will result in LOW OUTPUT from the HF
transmitter.

POOR AUDIO from you will result in really TERRIBLE AUDIO on RF.

14... This system can do ALL DIGITAL MODES ! Using REALVNC VIEWER 4, you can even
do SSTV etc.

15...There is a delay from the time the HF station says OVER until your audio can return to HIM
over the air. This is due to EchoLink and can not be entirely eliminated. Set your RECEIVER
HANG TIME to 300ms and reduce your NETWORK and PC BUFFERING to minimum values
that will still provide good audio that does not break up. (The best it can be reduced to is about .6
seconds.) The station on HF can respond to you immediately, and does not have any delay to
consider. Your response to him will be delayed, only! He does NOT have to drag HIS feet when
returning to you.

73 N8AD

You can also do all the digital modes
with just the Chat Text Box of EchoLink.
It requires a bit more explanation which
can only be accomplished easily using
voice.

In essence all Chat is ended with a
POUND # SIGN, which places it in the
digital application, MixW's transmit
buffer.

You would go to a digital mode like CW
and use the same procedure to transmit
in CW as you do with PHONE, except
what you transmit is sent as text first
with Chat Text, and suffixed with a #
symbol.