Psk

Fldigi supports the following Phase Shift Keying formats:

Operating Parameters
Mode Symbol Rate Typing Speed1 Duty Cycle2 Bandwidth3 ITU Designation4
BPSK315 31.25 baud 50 wpm ~ 80% 62.5 Hz 63H0G1B
BPSK63 62.5 baud 100 wpm ~ 80% 125 Hz 125HG1B
BPSK125 125 baud 200 wpm ~ 80% 250 Hz 250HG1B
BPSK250 250 baud 400 wpm ~ 80% 500 Hz 500HG1B
BPSK500
500 baud
800 wpm
~ 80%
1000 Hz
1000HG1B
QPSK31 31.25 baud 50 wpm ~ 80% 62.5 Hz 63H0G1B
QPSK63 62.5 baud 100 wpm ~ 80% 125 Hz 125HG1B
QPSK125 125 baud 200 wpm ~ 80% 250 Hz 250HG1B
QPSK250 250 baud 400 wpm ~ 80% 500 Hz 500HG1B
QPSK500
500 baud
800 wpm
~ 80%
1000 Hz
1000HG1B
PSK63FEC
62.5 baud
55 wpm
~ 80%
125 Hz
125HG1B
PSK125R
125 baud
110 wpm
~ 80%
250 Hz
250HG1B
PSK250R
250 baud
220 wpm
~ 80%
500 Hz
500HG1B
PSK500R
500 baud
440 wpm
~ 80%
1000 Hz
1000HG1B

These are narrow band low symbol rate modes using single carrier differential Binary Phase Shift Kying, BPSK, or Quadrature Phase Shift Keying, QPSK. 

PSK63FEC and the PSKxxxR modes are forward error correcting modes.  PSK63FEC is compatible with the MultiPsk mode of the same name.  The PSKxxxR, or robust, modes use both forward error correction and interleaving to achieve about 4 dB s/n improvment over standard PSK.  These modes are use primarily by the PskMail user community.  They are the invention of John Douyere, VK2ETA, a member of the fldigi development team.

In addition to the binary phase shift keying the signal is 100% raised-cosine amplitude modulated at the symbol rate.  This reduces the power to zero at the phase change.  Because of this amplitude modulation, the signal bandwidth is relatively narrow. Synchronization at the receiver is straightforward because it can be recovered from the amplitude information. Differential PSK is used to provide continuous phase changes when idle (to maintain sync), and by allowing the receiver to measure phase difference from symbol to symbol, to reduce the effects of ionospheric Doppler phase changes which modulate the signal.  The slower modes are more affected by Doppler, and the QPSK modes are particularly affected.

With no interleaver and limited coding length, the QPSK mode Forward Error Correction coding gain is limited, and under burst noise conditions on HF the performance is usually worse than the BPSK option at the same baud rate. In general the narrow-band BPSK modes work well on a quiet single-hop path, but give poor performance in most other conditions.


PSK63 signal transmitting text data - oscilloscope / waterfall views


QPSK63 signal transmitting text data - oscilloscope / waterfall views

The two oscilloscope views above clearly show the combined phase and amplitude modulation of these modes.

With these modes, a very linear transmitter is required.  Over-driven operation results in excessive bandwidth, poorer reception and difficult tuning.  Overdrive usually occurs by having the audio signal much too large.  The Sights & Sounds section has demonstrations of overdriven PSK signals.  These are very sensitive modes and usually very little power is required.  QRP operation of 80, 40, 30 and 20 meters can provide nearly 100% copy over multi-hop paths.  In many instances PSK can provide better decoding than CW.

Setting up for a good clean on air signal that will receive the accolades of your qso partners is easy.  Follow the instructions on using the tune button and you will have a clean on signal.

Good reception of PSK signals requires that the demodulator be phase locked to the incoming signal.  Fldigi has both a fast acquire / slow tracking AFC system.  Place the red bandwidth bar (see above) so that it overlies the desired signal and then press the left mouse button.  The signal should quickly lock on a decoding should commence immediately.  It is almost impossible to visually tell whether a BPSK or QPSK signal is being received.  Under very high s/n you might be able to hear the difference, but that is even difficult for most operators.  If you are not able to decode a signal that looks like a BPSK and the bandwidth of the signal matches the baud rate then it might be a QPSK signal.  Just change mode a try reacquiring the signal.

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