Now that we have the basic setup completed for DM-780 it is time to take a tour of the program. You will find this program to be both confusing and easy at the same time. That is what happens when you have a powerful application available to use.
DM-780 Toolbar
QSO Window
Click on the QSO icon, located on the left end of the toolbar. This is going to open the DM-780 main display window.
- The CW Mode screen above is divided into several sections. The larger white section is the receive panel, the smaller white section is the transmit panel.
- On the left side of the screen are several tabs. The top one is for the ALE (Add Log Entry) panel. The next one is for Macros. Both of these will be discussed in detail later in this section. The bottom tab opens the Tag window which you have already seen.
- The receive panel and transmit panel are self-explanatory. The receive panel is where incoming text is displayed. The transmit panel is where text is prepared for transmission. The ALE (Add Log Entry) section is just that. This is where data about your contact is placed to be added to the logbook after your QSO is over. Information in the ALE can be entered manually from the keyboard or automatically from one of the Call Sign look-up services configured in HRD’s logbook module.
Changing Operating Mode
- To change this window to a different operating mode click on the mode select tab in the top left corner of the QSO window, There you will see over a dozen different digital operating modes displayed. Each of these modes is further sub-divided into variants of the digital mode. Note our example of PSK offers three variants of PSK for you to choose from. We have selected the most popular PSK operating mode.
- After you have made your selection you will notice that there has been some subtle changes in the QSO window for operating in PSK.
- Some things, however, have not changed as they are common to all of the operating modes.
- Next to the mode selection tab is a series of tool icons. In order from the left:
Save Received Text - This allows you to save all your received text to a file in Rich Text Format in a location of your choice.
Viewer - Opens a viewer so you can view your saved received text.
Erase - Clear the receive screen.
Alarms - Manage and select user defined alarms. Help you spot desired stations.
Channels - Select to receive one, two or three channels at one time. Allows you to keep tabs on up to three different conversations at one time. You can only transmit on the Main channel which is the top most or left most depending upon your display choice.
Options - This is another way to access Program Options that you have access through the toolbar.
Waterfall
- There is one important panel missing from our display. There has to be a way to tune in the digital signals on a frequency. That’s the job of the Waterfall.
- On the toolbar click the Waterfall icon.
- The waterfall is a requirement for working PSK and this version is loaded with features to make your digital contacts jump. Full operational details can be found later in this section.
SuperSweeper
- SuperSweeper is a great tool to see what is happening on the bands. This high powered tool allows you to set alarms to alert you of stations that you want to locate. The blue signal is caused by an alarm for stations calling CQ. The setting up and use of SuperSweeper is discussed later in the section.
Radio Panel The next operational feature found on the toolbar is Radio. This allows control of your radio without switching back to Rig Control.
- You can see that you have some controls displayed when you open up the window. There are built-in features.
- There are several items in the radio panel toolbar that make operation easier. The << and >> icons shift your frequency up or down in 500 Hz increments.
- The next group of icons allow to tune to pre-selected favorite frequencies either by selecting the frequency from the drop down list or by using the two arrow icons to scroll through the list. You can manage the contents of this list by selecting Manager from the drop down list.
Radio Panel Config
- The last icon in the Radio panel is the config button. This allows you to configure buttons, drop downs and sliders that are very similar to those you set up in Rig Control. If the item does not have a label, no function is assigned and it does not display.
- To assign a function to one of the buttons, click on a button to select it and you will see a Select Button window where you can make your assignment. Do the same for the drop downs and sliders. When you are done click on the Save button.
- The remainder of the icon buttons in the toolbar should be familiar to you by now.