Introduction to HF Packet: It's so easy with UZ7HO Soundmodem and EasyTerm! 3/19/2021

In this video, I want to demonstrate how easy it is to get on HF packet and begin using this mode. Yes, packet is an older mode, but many people have nodes and bulletin boards set up across the country. Some users have personal mail drops set up or use the chat function over HF.
The software I use in the demo is the UZ7HO soundmodem and EasyTerm that can be downloaded from the website uz7.ho.ua. I use a Signalink USB as a soundcard interface between the radio (a Yaesu FT-817nd) and my Windows 10 laptop. HF packet activity can be found on 7.104 MHz LSB and 14.150 MHz LSB.
Please check out my Patreon page and support the channel.
/ bobplank
More from me at www.KK4DIV.com
Music credits:
Autumn Sunset by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: audionautix.com/
Acoustic Guitar 1 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: audionautix.com/
Camera equipment:
GoPro Hero 8 Black
Canon Vixia HF R800
Editing software:
Corel Videostudio X10 ultimate
My favorite radio equipment for outdoor portable ops or RaDAR:
Radio: Yaesu FT817nd
Tuner: LDG z817 auto tuner
Antennas: Chameleon F-Loop magnetic loop antenna (does not need a tuner)
End fed antenna with 9:1 unun (needs tuner)
MFJ 1899T telescoping whip antenna
Wolf River Coil Silver Bullet 1000 w/ buddipole long telescoping whip
Interface for Digital modes: SignaLink USB
Digital software: FLDigi and WSJT-x

[@motorcityman8982]

Thanks for the great content. I got started in amateur radio with vhf packet.
I will now give her packet a try.
73

[@BobPlank_KK4DIV]

That's great. You should let me know how it works for you. Thanks for watching by the way!!

[@pathopkins4500]

NICE =) Really like the HF Packet Bob =) Reloading computers and R Pi =) Software again needed to update all of the programs =) Good to hear you again TH-cam Videos =)

[@edwarddavis7018]

Thanks for the video. I am new to packet so thank you for putting this into country boy terms

[@BobPlank_KK4DIV]

I am glad it was helpful. Maybe we can catch each other on the air sometime using packet. 73!

[@alwaysbepreparedwithjeff3245]

73 Thanks Again For Streaming

[@BobPlank_KK4DIV]

Thanks for watching!

[@Sky1]

I used to run a popular BBS/NODE(s) here in Raleigh NC. I might give this a try see if it sparks interest

[@johnblaisdell2179]

Outpost PMM should work well too instead of easy term. Great video. Thanks Bob

[@BobPlank_KK4DIV]

Yep, it would definitely work as well. I also have it installed and may have to cover it in a future video.

[@antonioaprado]

If I’m already set up for HF digital modes like FT8, JS8Call, VarAC, etc. Could I use the same for HF packet or do I still need to use a sound modem?

[@dk2hm923]

Very well decribed! 73 de DK2HM

[@timmanwell2538]

Neat vid. I was interested to see that you set this up with your Yaesu/Signalink combo. You also have an IC-705, tho. Couldn't you eliminate a component (the Signalink) by using the 705?? Apologies if that's an ignorant question... still learning on this end.

[@kc4npd]

Great video what bbs software are you using?

[@BobPlank_KK4DIV]

I'm using BPQ32

[@speedymartin2]

Thanks for the video, I have setup my IC-7300. sound in and output works fine but the ptt isn't working I have setup the right comport for the IC-7300 , Any sugestions?

[@brichard9485]

I thought I'd learned of a replacement for buying a signalink...wrong turn...

[@rodo19724]

Hi !! Greetings from Argentina !!!!!!! How can I use two Baofeng BF-999 and two arduinos to transmit and receive data over-the-air ?? Thanks !!!!!

[@daveschwarz5279]

We don’t have any BBS packets stations here in the U.K. what would you need to have to set one up.

[@BobPlank_KK4DIV]

Hi, Dave. To set up a bbs you will need some software. I use BPQ32 written by G8BPQ. It runs on Windows and there is also a Linux version, LinBPQ. There is a node map listing all the BPQ32 nodes and it shows a few in the UK. You can find it at nodemap.g8bpq.net:81. Maybe there is one near you. There is a pretty good forum for BPQ32 on groups.io if you have any questions on getting a bbs set up.

[@n3rp-radio]

Great information and very easy to follow. Thanks for sharing! (n3rp)

[@BobPlank_KK4DIV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dangermandave67]

Thanks for this. I'll give Soundmodem a try. I got WinRPR working today, despite the recommended virtual serial port utility com0com being utterly useless and not providing COM ports that the application would recognize. WinRPR doesn't seem to care. I can still get a KISS connection to APRSISCE. I think that Robust Packet is supposed to be more forgiving of poor band conditions than the straight AX.25 protocol, or even the FX.25 (with forward error correction). Have you ever tried it? I've been using Direwolf (supports AX.25 and FX.25) and that seems to work reasonably well. Just interested to know what you think of the alternatives out there.

[@dangermandave67]

Dang it! Now I cannot get Soundmodem to key PTT. I'm using a Digirig and it works great with Flrig - can get that program to key PTT. Any idea what could be the problem? I'm using the PTT.dll and CAT.dll and it has worked fine in the past.