MT63 data mode experiment

Last week, the RSGB announced that a special GB2RS MT63 data transmission was to take place at 13.30 UTC on Sunday.

This broadcast involved a number of the GB2RS regular operators transmitting the news text using MT63 at speeds of 100 and 200 words per minute using bandwidths of 1kHz and 2kHz respectively. These went out on 5,279kHz and 3,600kHz. They were received word perfect across the UK.

Stations taking part included one located at the Lancashire Emergency Planning headquarters in Preston , and a member of its staff was able to send a response message that was witnessed by some 20 Radio Amateur Emergency Network members attending a meeting there.

One extraordinary demonstration included reception in Royston of two transmissions made at the same time on the 5MHz frequency by stations in Wilmslow and Merthyr Tydfil , one using MT63 data and the other USB voice.

The receiving station, G4HPE, was able to copy both without problem, thus demonstrating the amazing robustness of the MT63 mode under co-channel interference.

The regular Sunday evening GB2RS MT63 broadcasts continue every week. Reception reports should be sent to the e-mail addresses quoted at the end of the data news text.

Source: GB2RS News - Courtesy of the RSGB