In a Windows environment, there are DOZENS of suites one can choose from. From simple, single-mode packages, to the complex, "one-size-fits-all" suites. Some are free, some are not, some are aimed at the casual user and some for the serious contester.
For a Mac: 3. Four if you include SSTV.
The 3 Mac suites are Cocoamodem, fldigi, and MultiMode.
Cocoamodem, a program created by Kok Chen, W7AY, is arguably one of the more capable digital packages made, be it for Mac or for Windows. This free suite, allows the Mac-equipped ham to use CW, RTTY, PSK31, PSK63, MFSK16, DOMINO, and Hellschreiber modes. It also offers HF Fax and Sitor-B.
Cocoamodem is available for OS X from versions 10.2 up to and including 10.6. It should be mentioned that the earlier versions don't have as many modes available as .088 or the current stable release, .92.
Installation is as simple as it can be for a Mac user. Merely download the disk image, mount, and drag the application onto the desktop, root directory, or in the "Applications" folder. Easy enough.
When configuring Cocoamodem, one section to be aware of is when you are configuring the serial port to key the transceiver. By default, Cocoamodem is set to use VOX. If you own a modern radio that has the digital Vox feature, such as a Yaesu FT-450, this would be as far as you would need to go in order to use Cocoamodem. However, on a radio such as the FT-817ND, you still need an intermediate step to key the radio. Enter CocoaPTT. This is a simple, add-on to Cocoamodem that allows the software to "talk" to an available serial port.
The nicest feature of CocoaPTT is that when it is all configured PROPERLY, as soon as you transmit in Cocoamodem, CocoaPTT starts automatically, and in MOST cases, within 1/4 second. Nice touch, Mr. Chen!
Using Cocoamodem is VERY straightforward, and not too confusing for a newcomer. Initial setup, serial port configuration, sound levels, etc. Then, select the mode you wish to use, enable the "modem", and fire away.
I used Cocoamodem .88 during the 070 Club's PSK31 Contest in January. Like many other digital suites, Cocoamodem allows macros to be setup...making exchanges as easy as pushing buttons. However, one area that Cocoamodem REALLY EXCELS at is when you select "Table View". What this does is to display EVERY QSO heard within the bandpass. So, as I sat at 14.070, I was able to watch as many as 15+ stations simultaneously. When one would call CQ TEST, clicking on the text within Table View would move the cursor on the waterfall to THAT station...allowing the contact. This is perhaps its best feature. It should also be mentioned that in Table View, it seems to be much more sensitive than watching the waterfall's text.
Adjusting the sound levels with Cocoamodem are tricky at first, but with patience, and simple observation, you will know immediately if your levels are too strong for proper detection.
In my opinion, it is the "prettiest" of the suites.
Cocoamodem can be found on Kok Chen's website: http://homepage.mac.com/chen/w7ay/cocoaModem/index.html
"FLdigi" is next on the list. Again, it is a free suite, offered by Dave Bressee, W1HKJ. Like the versions offered for Windows, Linux, and Puppy, it is IDENTICAL in features, capabilities, and even aesthetics. In the simplest of terms, it is for OS X and Linux, what Ham Radio Deluxe is for Windows users.
Where does one begin to describe a program that is universal in looks, features, and modes offered?
For modes offered, fldigi includes CW, DominoEX 4 through 22, Feld Hell, FSK-Hell, FSK-Hell 105, MFSK-8 and 16, PSK-31 / QSPK-31, PSK-63 / QPSK-63, PSK-125 / QPSK-125, PSK-250 / QPSK-250, OLIVIA, RTTY, Throb-1, Throb-2, Throb-4, ThrobX-1, ThrobX-2, ThrobX-4, Thor-4, Thor-5, Thor-8, Thor-11, Thor-22, WWV(Receive only - calibrate your sound card to WWV). Clearly, many more modes than Cocoamodem, and still free for us to utilize.
FLdigi's biggest assets are in its ability to have ALMOST complete control over a modern transceiver. Not only will FLdigi key the radio, but for many Icom/Kenwood/Yaesu radios, it also has CAT tuning as well. My "Mac Pro" has a native serial port, as well as a USB-to-serial cable. After installing the PL-2303 driver found easily through Google, that serial port can be used for frequency changes.
As with other OS's versions of FLdigi, the macros can be set up for contesting, to change modes, or to even clear the screen.
According to Dave, W1HKJ, there are Alpha versions being developed that include JT65 and APRS, similarly to MultiPSK.
Fldigi has built-in logging capability. Granted, it is VERY BASIC, but it can still keep a running log, and even convert it to an ADIF file for the contester hams. It will NOT score like N1MM, so if FLdigi is used, manual calculation is still necessary. This, I feel, is a SMALL price to pay for a suite that it superior to the rest.
An interesting sidenote that I shouldn't leave out...if you have used FLdigi within a different OS, such as Windows, for example, macros and settings that you save are COMPATIBLE in OS X. I had been using FLdigi in Windows 7 and had saved my rig settings, contest macros, and logs. I was able to import them into FLdigi 3.10 for Mac...and they worked PERFECTLY!
| Fldigi can be downloaded from Dave's site at : | http://www.w1hkj.com/download.html |
Finally, there is MultiMode, a suite offered by Black Cat Software. This software, while featuring many modes that some suites don't include, such as 130 MHz AM ACARS reception, CTCSS decode, ALE, GMDSS, and APRS/Packet mode, it is still the last choice for many due to its plain interface, its lousy performance, and its Mac Tax pricetag of $90 ! I'm not against anyone making money on software, but at $90, I would expect the suite to be better than what it really is.
One such commentary on MultiMode seems to suggest that it may be more intended for a shortwave listener.
Another comment stated what many might not be aware of during registration: you pay $90 for the suite, and you are "entitled" to free software updates for ONE YEAR. After the year, they "graciously" offer updates for $35. In my opinion, this is both absurd and risky. If an update doesn't play well with your individual setup, you are probably not going to get your money back. This merely speculation...I don't know if that would be the case...but I am unwilling to pay $125 and wait for more than a year to find out.
Living as close as I do to the Buffalo International Airport, I use MultiMode mostly for ACARS reception. With a short rubber-duck antenna on the front BNC jack of my FT-817ND, I can copy DOZENS of aircraft messages per hour. MultiMode DOES do ACARS and APRS reception well. However, as a RABID APRS enthusiast, one would think that it could be set up to TRANSMIT easier. Referring back to Windows, Patrick Lindecker's MultiPSK includes APRS/Packet transmission and reception. It is a bit tricky to set up, but HF and VHF APRS can be accomplished without much hassle. The benefit to using MultiPSK is that the AGW Packet Engine IS NOT REQUIRED to make it work.
Clearly, the developers of MultiMode, Black Cat Systems, has accomplished this level of reception capability, but without being able to easily TRANSMIT APRS frames, it comes up short.
Overall, MultiMode is a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT for a Mac user. I will keep it around and use it in its "time limited" mode for ACARS. Other than that, don't waste your hard-earned money. It's a dud otherwise.
There are other, lesser known packages available, such as Xastir, and DarwinPSK. However, I didn't include them due to the amount of associated work necessary to make them work properly. DarwinPSK requires X11, Developer Tools CD, additonal libraries such as Qt, esound, and fftw....then...manual file manipulation...and compiling. Sorry...most of us chose Macs for the ease of use. Sure, Macs ARE a beautiful BSD, Unix isn't for everyone.
But, if satisfying and powerful digital mode operation and contesting are what you desire, Cocoamodem and FLdigi are excellent packages.
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