PSKGNR V1.34

[Readme] [News] [Download Now]

PSKGNR is a simple program that works with PSKSBW (V1.06) to provide many features including:

bulletType ahead
bulletSingle-key call signs (yours and your partners')
bulletTransmit file
bullet20 macro strings
bulletSerial numbers
bulletCurrent date time with GMT offset
bulletInternet and CDROM callsign lookup
bulletADIF log export feature

It's free and not very old so take your chances!  A screen shot of PSKGNR (may vary slightly from the latest version). You can also see W5BBR's screen shot. WM2U also has a nice page with screen shots and some advice for getting started. PSKGNR only works with Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT.

News:

bulletVersion 1.34 -- Persistent serial numbers, improved log screen, repeat last transmission
bulletVersion 1.33 -- ADIF logging is here!
bulletVersion 1.32 -- Flawed; please use 1.32.1... adds slash 0 support in conjunction with PSKSBW 1.07
bulletVersion 1.31 -- Save/load options to a file (good for troubleshooting); print macro cheat sheet from Macro Palette
bulletVersion 1.30 -- Use ^. to switch to RX with CWID
bulletVersion 1.29 -- Use FCC database on your hard drive (read the manual for instructions)
bulletVersion 1.28 -- automatically start/close PTT programs (requires V3 of PTT programs)
bulletVersion 1.27 fixes some problems with shrinking windows and adds support for Buckmaster CDROM.
bulletVersion 1.26 fixes minor problems and add support for external PTT keying (check out KPTT/YPTT on the download page).
bulletVersion 1.25 fixes the RCV button to work like ^\ and adds Flying Horse CDROM lookup (experimental).
bulletVersion 1.24 makes all receive switchovers visible (you can select the character used). This means there is no longer any difference between ^0, ^R, and ^\. Also, this version prohibits you from entering ^0s that don't make sense. Options to start up with all palettes.
bulletPlease be sure the PSKGNR window is active before attempting to use PSKGNR commands!
bulletVersion 1.23 adds QRZ CDROM lookup capabilities
bulletVersion 1.22 adds word buffering and callsign palette (both optional, of course).
bulletThere is now a manual - a little better than the old readme file.
bulletReplace ^0 in your macros with ^\ if you want to see a backslash to mark where you switch to receive.
bulletMore new features: improved macro palette, international call sign servers, shift-click buttons same as right-click, copy calls to clipboard for logging, setting call clears name, friendlier macro names
bulletNew features: call sign/name in status bar (click to set, shift click to clear). Also click on TX to switch transmit mode on/off and click on BPSK/QPSK to change mode. Change callsign lookup URL (on the F12 screen).
bulletI have one report of F11 not working with PSK31SBW -- please report this along with your OS, PSK31 version, etc. Do not report F11 not working with PSK31EVM! Unless, of course, you know why it doesn't work! If F11 works with your copy of PSK31EVM you should report that!
bulletNow works (sort of) with EVM. F11 doesn't work with EVM and I don't know why (no EVM here).
bulletNever let it be said that I'm not for free choice! If you turn on the "Use PSK31 keys" option, you can use PSK31's FKeys to control PSK31 and the "standard" PSKGNR FKeys are control keys. The default is off, so if you have gotten used to PSKGNR the way it has been, everything still works the same. New in 1.17 - Use the arrow keys for PSK31 control if you like and hide the buttons if you like. 1.18 adds support for up/down arrows too.
bulletSome of you have asked about supporting this effort. I'm not looking for money for this program. However, if you insist on doing something, consider making a donation to the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital which helps kids (often at no charge) who have leukemia and cancer. My dad died from leukemia and this was his favorite charity -- they are good folks there and leukemia is a tough illness for anyone, especially a child.  Don't send any money to me! Send it right to St. Jude's! If you like, you can make the gift in memorial of Cecil Williams, but that's strictly up to you. Thanks for helping.

SPECIAL NOTE:
Current version is  1.34.0 -- if you have an earlier version you just need pskbare.zip and use it to replace your PSKGNR.EXE file.

If you have the VB6 runtime environment, you probably only need this file: pskbare.zip. This contains the latest version.

If you need the entire environment, you'll need to jump to this page and download the two disk set. This contains V 1.34.0.

For either set of files, go to the download page and pick a mirror close to you.

Download page:    http://wd5gnr.virtualave.net/pskgnrv.htm

If you aren't sure which one to get, get the 2 disk set as it will work in all cases. Then, after running Setup, download pskbare.zip and replace the pskgnr.exe file you got from the original installation.

I am no longer placing the entire documentation in the readme.htm file. Instead, read the manual. If you want a local copy, use File | Save As in your Web browser to save it to your disk.

ReadMe File:

PSKGNR V1.34.0  5 Sept. 1999

What?
PSKGNR is a front end for PSK31SBW.EXE V1.06 and above -- it may or may not work with other versions or other software. It also seems to work with psk31evm V1.26. If you aren't familiar with PSK, skip to the bottom of this file.

Features include:
* Type ahead
* Single-key call signs (yours and your partners')
* Transmit file
* 20 macro strings
* Serial number
* Current date time with GMT offset
* Remembers size/position of PSKGNR and PSK31SBW window
* Converts 0 to Ø
* Looks up callsigns on the Internet or CDROM
* Shows elapsed transmit time

Why?
I wrote PSKGNR for my own use and thought someone out there might enjoy it. If you want to use it, it is free. If you don't like it, don't use it. It has turned out to be wildly popular.

Who?
I'm Al Williams, WD5GNR. You can e-mail me at alw@al-williams.com. I've been a ham for a long time (22 years) and a digital operator on and off since 1980. You can find out more about me at http://www.al-williams.com/wd5gnr. I am the same Al Williams that writes columns for Visual Developer and Web Techniques magazines. I am also "that Basic Stamp guy". I've operated from Bay St. Louis, MS; Starkville, MS; Austin, TX; Evansville, IN; and League City, TX.

My firm, AWC, provides developer training, hardware/software consulting services, and microcontroller development tools. PSKGNR is not an AWC product, just something I threw together.

How?
Operation is simple. The first time you run the program you'll need to set your call (onTools | Options) also set the path to PSK31SBW.EXE and your time offset to GMT. You can also set any macros you want. If you want spaces around things like call signs, you can store spaces in the macro slots. You can also set your callsign by right-clicking the leftmost button.

When you run PSKGNR, it will find a running copy of PSK31SBW or it will run it for you. Rearrange the windows so you can see both at once. PSKGNR remembers the size and position you set for PSKGNR, and now remembers PSK31's position. If you don't like this behavior, you can turn it off.

You can type into the box that appears in PSKGNR. When you hit Send or F9 (default), PSKGNR begins sending to PSK31, switching it to transmit mode. Hit receive to switch back when the text is complete.

Use Ins/Del to move the PSK31SBW RX  frequency. You can also set an option that allows you to use the arrow keys as in PSK31, but then you can't use them for editing.

For more info, check out the manual.

Where?
You can download the latest version of PSKGNR at http://www.al-williams.com/wd5gnr/pskgnr.htm.

Reporting Problems
If you have problems with PSKGNR, feel free to contact me. It is helpful if you tell me what OS you are running (Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, etc.), what version of PSKGNR you are using, and what version of PSK31 you are using. Other details (memory, etc.) are helpful too. You can email me from the PSK31 Help menu or at alw@al-williams.com.

What's PSK31SBW?
This is software that implements PSK teletype with a Windows PC on a soundcard. PSK is great because it is very narrow, and extremely immune to noise and QRM.

You can find out more about PSK and download the free software at http://www.kender.es/~edu/psk31.html.