RadioRaft 3.21

Click Here for Updating Details from V3.00 / V3.20
Multimode Radio Data Decoder Software
for decoding
12 ARQ modes, 10 FEC modes, 3 packet modes and many others ...
What RadioRaft is
RadioRaft is a multimode radio data decoder software,
created by François Guillet, F6FLT. It allows decoding the most of the data transmission
modes used by many services: maritime, aeronautical, emergency, radioamateurs, press
agencies, embassies, armed forces, police, humanitarian expeditions...
For more details on the features, see below the "Modes and
features" section.
RadioRaft was primarily intended for enthusiasts in
radio technology but several organisations use it now for professional monitoring as well as
novices and beginners because it's so easy to use.
What You Need for RadioRaft:
In order to run RadioRaft you need at
least a PC 486 or Pentium with a 3"5 diskette driver,
MsDOS 6.2 or above, VGA screen, a COM port, a radio receiver
and a simple interface connecting
the speacker or audio output to the COM port.
After installing RadioRaft on your PC, just connect
your PC to the receiver through the interface (HamComm/JVFAX compatible),
or through one of the range of Pervisell Demodulators, and RadioRaft works.
Documentation:
The RadioRaft software package includes the complete
documentation in 2 files: the RadioRaft user's main guide and
the RadioRaft modes user's guide. They are provided both in
HTML and TEXT format. You may read them right now from your browser. They are also
available from the "Help" menu when RadioRaft is running.
Modes and features
The RadioRaft functioning is fully automatic.
You just need to tune your receiver on a station using a compatible mode (see
the list below). RadioRaft tracks the signal, searches for the right
mode, the right speed, the right shift and displays any possible text in just
a few seconds.
In short, it offers all features that make radio data decoding
easy, practical and fast.
Features:
Decoding |
|
Display, Printing |
Automatic mode detection/identification |
Tools |
Possible window to display the status of the reception (phasing,
repetitions, errors...) |
Automatic speed detection |
Frequencymeter |
Graphic frequency/shiftmeter |
Automatic shift detection |
Shiftmeter |
Possible display of special non printable characters |
Automatic signal tracking (no need to precisely tune the receiver) |
Baudmeter |
Several available video modes |
Demodulations
:
FSK, FFSK, MSF, DFSK, AM/CW |
DIGIT mode for bit by bit analysis, with numerous options |
Instantaneous language swap,
French / English |
Parameters of the automatic decoding strategy are modifiable by user |
Set of particular options for the most of modes |
Printer selectable |
Speed from 10 up to 6400 bauds,
at any mode |
Help on line |
Continuous or on request printing, into a file or a printer |
Modes:
Modes of radio data transmissions that RadioRaft decodes
are:
Asynchronous
or quasi-synchronous modes |
|
FEC
modes |
|
BAUDOT |
ARQ
semi-duplex modes |
SITOR-B (Amtor-B)
Tor/Fec, NAVTEX |
|
ASCII (7 or 8 bits, parity or not) |
SITOR-A (Amtor-A)
Tor/Arq |
POCSAG |
ARQ full-duplex modes |
OSCAR-11 UOSAT-Data |
PACTOR-I |
RUM-FEC (Rou-Fec) |
ARQ-N |
|
ARQ-6/90 & ARQ-6/98 |
CIS 11 (Torg 11) |
ARQ-M2
& SI-ARQ |
Packet
modes and miscellaneous |
SI-ARQ 4, 5, 6, 7 |
FEC-A (Fec-1000) |
ARQ-M4 |
ACARS |
DUP-ARQ (Artrac) |
SPREAD 11, 21, 51 |
POL-ARQ |
GMDSS-DSC |
SWED-ARQ |
HNG-FEC |
ARQ-E |
PACKET-Radio (AX25) |
|
AUTOSPEC |
ARQ-E3 |
CW Morse |
|
DGPS |
|
DIGIT |
|
1382 |
|
All mode designations are in accordance with the Klingenfuss
Radio Data Code Manual, 15th edition. See Klingenfuss Publication
to obtain more information on books about radio decoding and on frequency lists.
Here is the list of modes by alphabetical order. Click the mode
to get more details by entering the RadioRaft mode user's guide.
Obtain RadioRaft
You may get the RadioRaft decoder software from the Internet
network, for installation on your PC. What you need to do is:
- Download the software to your PC (file Raft321.exe or
Raft321.zip)
- Expand the archive file Raft321.zip or execute the file
Raft321.exe in a directory on your hard disk (Raft321.exe is a self-extracting program)
- Execute RR.EXE for a quick start, or see the file ReadMe.txt
for more details about the installation
Click here to download RadioRaft version 3.21, ZIP file:
RadioRaft 3.21 (file Raft321.zip
- 263,116 bytes )
Or click here to download RadioRaft version 3.21,
self-extracting file:
RadioRaft
3.21 (file Raft321.exe - 303,751 bytes)
Before you go any further, just take a look at the Screen Shots
For the "Windows only" users:
Windows users not familiar with DOS may download also these 2 files. They
are not required to run RadioRaft. They just simplify the launch.
Click here to download the RadioRaft Windows launchers:
RRlauncher
(files RRrealMode.pif and RR
underWindows.pif 2Kb)
Extract the .pif files from the .zip archive and put
them onto your desktop or in a folder.
Run
RadioRaft by just clicking them.
The first one launches RadioRaft in real mode DOS as you
wouldn't have a Windows environment. It is the best way to run RadioRaft. See
the section "RR
and Windows" for more details.
RadioRaft free version
The software package that you download permits you to
install a free version, not limited in time. It has all the features of the
full version but a limited number of modes. You can receive CW Morse
, SITOR-A (or Amtor-A),
ARQ-E, FEC-A, BAUDOT. The "DIGIT" mode for bit by bit analysis is
also available.
From the free version you may also make a diskette that permits you to install
the full version if you register.
Get RadioRaft full version
For receiving all the modes noted in "Modes and features", you need to register. See the file
"Order.txt" for all details.
When RadioRaft free version is running, you can also get and print the order form from the
menu "Help/Obtain the full version"
You can install the full version only from a diskette. If you have installed the free
version, you may create yourself a RadioRaft disk (menu "File/Create
a diskette"). This permits you to save time and money.
Payments by credit cards are accepted only by authorised
distributors. If you are in hurry to use RadioRaft and want speedy registration,
contact Pervisell Ltd (UK) or Dieter
DIPPEL (Germany).
Update from version 2.xx
The update for the registered users of RadioRaft 2.xx is £13.99
. Proceed as for the full version but enter your Version 2.xx code in the "Call Sign" box
on the order form and you will automatically only be charged £13.99.
Update from version 3.00 / 3.20
The update from version 3.00 / 3.20 is , but only by Internet. Neither the author nor Pervisell provide the upgrade by mail.
If you are registered user for version 3.00 / 3.20, all you have to do is:
- download the software package as indicated above.
- copy all the files to your original RadioRaft diskette, version 3.00 / 3.20 (you
may directly expand the ZIP file on the diskette). You must replace the previous
files with the new ones. Don't use a diskette other
than the one that you used to install the full version 3.00 / 3.20.
- install again from the diskette. Use the same confidential code as for version 3.00 / 3.20. You
can install in the same directory as the previous version.
Note: if your diskette have no tag to remove the write
protection, mask the write protection hole with a sticker on both sides of the diskette,
copy the files and remove the sticker before installing the software.
Radio/PC interface, distributors
Interface
What hardware to use? A simple interface. Here it is:

If you are not familiar with electronics could obtain
an interface that is ready to use. The following distributors in UK, GERMANY,
FRANCE, USA provide interfaces sucessfully tested with RadioRaft by the author:
- PERVISELL Ltd , 8 Temple
End, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP13 5DR, GREAT BRITAIN - Tel (International) +
44 1494 443033 (UK) 01494 443033 or Fax +01494 448236
PERVISELL Ltd is an authorised distributor of
RadioRaft full version.
Pervisell sells SIX "Hamcomm" type interfaces built in compact cases,
without need of external power supply. Two of them can also be used for transmitting
and two are compatible with the Pocsag mode.
- Dieter DIPPEL ,
DF4RD, Muggenhofer Str. 193, D- 90429 Nürnberg, GERMANY - Tel/fax 0911 3 18
79 48
DIPPEL is an authorised distributor of RadioRaft
full version.
Dieter DIPPEL sells receiving only and receiving/transmitting interfaces built
in compact cases. They don't need external power supply.
- COMELEC, Z.I.
des Palluds, BP 1241, 13783 AUBAGNE cedex, FRANCE - Tel 04 42 82 96 38, Fax
04 42 82 96 51
COMELEC proposes 2 interfaces (all of them with transmission
capabilities):
- the "Ham-Comm Nuova Elettronica LX.1237" that needs a separate
12v power supply and has an input filter to exclude out of band signals.
- the CQFT9601, which is multipurpose : a switch allows you to select the
Hamcomm interface mode (position "Rtty/CW/Fax/SSTV"), the "Meteo"
mode for satellites meteorological pictures, and the "Packet 1200 bauds"
mode.
In position "Packet", the CQFT9601 is a REAL demodulator. With RadioRaft,
you will decode not only Packet 1200 bauds, but also any FSK modes, at any
speed up to 1200 bauds. The results will be better than with the interface,
but the Pocsag and Acars modes are not available. In RadioRaft, you must select
"Modem" in the "Options" menu instead of "Interface"
that is used with the CQFT9601 in position "Rtty/CW/Fax/SSTV".
- TIGERTRONICS ,
400 Dally Lane, Po Box 5210, Grants Pass, Oregon 97527, USA - Tel 541 474-6700
-
TIGERTRONICS sells the BP-2M modem which is multipurpose.
Tigertronics made a RadioRaft
review with their product. BP-2M was not yet tested here. See
their pages for more details.
Version History of RadioRaft
- Version 2.00 - First version
- Version 2.01 - Correction
of the English documentation (no modifications of the executable files).
- Version 2.12 - COM3 and
COM4 now supported. F2 key added for screen clear. Off-line Dutch documentation
provided.
- Version 2.13 - Off-line
German documentation provided.
If you are registered user of RadioRaft 2 and want download again the
software, click here: RRaft213.exe (301 ko)
- Version 3.00
- 6 new reception modes
- shiftmeter added
- signal tracking improved
and extended to AM/CW demodulation
- new modulation modes,
independant of the reception modes
- improvement of FSK
decoding, by separate mark/space demodulations
- better protection
against false detection in scanning mode
- better protection
against errors due to propagation effects
- new manual settings
for the modes of functioning
- many new options
- Version 3.20
- CW Morse added in
the free version
- 2 new modes: DGPS
and 1382
- 1 new demodulation
type: MSK
- continuous printing
to a printer or a file
- automatic detection
of special CRC in PACTOR-I
- improvement of narrow
shift FSK demodulation
- improvement of the
signal indicator for FFSK modes
- new keyboard shortcuts
and miscellaneous improvements
- Version 3.21

- Improvements in DGPS
and GMDSS modes
If you are registered for a version 3.xx, you may install any
version from 3.00 up to 3.99.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on RadioRaft
- Does RadioRaft decode FAX, G-TOR, CLOVER,
PSK31...?
RadioRaft currently does not decode any other modes
than those listed in the Features section.
- Does RadioRaft decode NAVTEX?
NAVTEX is not a transmission mode. NAVTEX is a system
of messages sent to navigators, using the SITOR-B transmission mode on the
frequency of 518 kHz. When you select SITOR-B, RadioRaft displays NAVTEX messages
as they are. The heading of a NAVTEX message is formatted, and the rest is
as plain text.
Note that in Europe, unidentified stations transmit at 100 bauds on 510.5
and 521.5 KHz 24 hours a day. Don't confuse these with NAVTEX transmissions.
NAVTEX occurs at a particular time (about every 4 hours) depending on
the station and continues around 10 mn.
- How does RadioRaft decode aeronautical
bulletins or ACARS?
Figures, letters groups or Acars codes are displayed
as they are. There is no 2nd level decoding .
You need the specifications of the Acars mode to interpret all the fields.
But air plane identifier and texts in the Acars frame are in ASCII plain text.
- When could I use a sound card instead
of the interface?
A sound card is the best way for entering the signal
from the receiver. But the use of a sound card is not yet planned, question
of time.
- How can I improve the decoding?
- Filter the audio signal. You may use the PBT (pass
band tuning) of your receiver, or an external filter as a DSP filter. You will
have to adjust manually the filter's characteristics to each audio signal you
are receiving. If you run RadioRaft from Windows (see below
the section "RadioRaft
under Windows"), you can
run a DSP software in the same time: pass the signal to the line input of the
sound card and connect its output to the "Hamcomm"
interface.
SR5 from John Reeve G8ROD
is such a software with many efficient features. Download it from his site: www.ar5.com,
at the section "SR5". It's a shareware with a time
limited trial version.
- Use a demodulator instead of the simple "Hamcomm"
interface.
A "Hamcomm" interface converts the analogue FSK signal from the receiver audio
output into the same but square signal, compatible with the PC COM port.
A demodulator converts the analogue signal into the data signal which is the stream of
information bits.
With the "Hamcomm" interface, RadioRaft has to make itself the demodulation. But
the demodulation of the square signal cannot be as good as this of the same analogue
signal that could process an external demodulator. Be careful: "Hamcomm"
interfaces are sometimes named "demodulators" by their distributors, when they
have no function of demodulation.
- Can I use a modem for a telephone
line?
It is possible, but not simple. For FSK modes with
speeds up to 300 baud, you need a modem with V.21 mode, and for 1200 baud
V.22. The output of the modem must be connected to the CTS input of the serial
port (not the RX input). See the RadioRaft documentation for more details
about this subject.
You can't use a phone modem for POCSAG.
- When I restart
in MsDOS mode from Windows 98, RadioRaft doesn't work.
What can I do?
It is a Microsoft bug
occuring on ACPI compatible PCs when the COM power management is set
(ACPI = Advance Configuration and Power Interface). It is frequently encountered
on notebooks.
When restarting in MsDOS, the power for the COM port controller is switched
off. All DOS programs are no longer able to access the serial ports.
You may either change your registry as shown below,
or Download the Pervisell Fix to prevent this
problem. In either case, you need to disable ACPI for the COM port by modifying
a key in the Windows registry. Be careful when modifying the registry. Save
it before modifying.
To modify the key, click the button "Start" then "Execute".
Write "regedit" in the field then click OK.
Here is the registry key you have to modify:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\VCOMM\EnablePowerManagement
Set the value from "01 00 00 00" to "00
00 00 00" and restart Windows.
Then RR works each time when restarting from Windows
into MsDOS mode.
- I get a memory
error when installing or running RadioRaft.
What can I do?
RadioRaft needs 550 Kb to run. RadioRaft is a real
mode DOS program, so it has access only to the conventional memory, i.e. 640
Kb maximum even tought you have 128 Mb installed on your PC!
Unfortunatly when DOS starts, it uses a part of the conventional memory to
place drivers for the screen, the keyboard, the mouse, the sound card...
It is made by the files "CONFIG.SYS" and "AUTOEXEC.BAT"
which are located on the root of your hard disk. You can edit these files
and remove the lines installing drivers possibly not needed.
If you run RadioRaft from the .pif files (see below
the section "RadioRaft
under Windows"), you
can set these parameters without having to modify the AUTOEXEC ET CONFIG files.
Click right the icon "RadioRaft real mode". Select "Properties"
then the "Program" tab.
Go to the "advanced setup". "MS-DOS mode" must be checked
so this method can't be used for running RadioRaft in a Windows box.
Specify our own configuration in the fields "autoexec.bat" and "config.sys".
To improve the DOS memory allocation for RadioRaft
in a Windows environment, CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT may look like:
CONFIG.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE
DOS=HIGH,UMB
AUTOEXEC.BAT
REM ---------------------------------------------------
REM Set the path for the mouse in the following line
LH c:\mouse\mouse.com
REM ---------------------------------------------------
REM Select your code page (850 is an example for French)
REM The 2 following lines are not required with English standard.
LH MODE CON CP PREPARE=((850) C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\EGA.CPI)
LH MODE CON CP SELECT=850
REM ---------------------------------------------------
REM Select your keyboard (fr is an example for French)
REM The following line may be removed when standard English keyboard is used.
LH KEYB FR,,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\keyboard.sys
REM ---------------------------------------------------
SET winbootdir=C:\WINDOWS
SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND
RadioRaft is a pure DOS program working in
"real mode" (see above the FAQ for more information, or if you get a
memory error when RadioRaft starts).
Theoretically you have to boot your PC in DOS mode before launching RadioRaft.
RadioRaft is only compatible
with Windows 98 and previous versions.
RadioRaft is not compatible with Windows 2000 or XP. If you have Windows
2000 or XP, you will have to boot your PC from a floppy disk with DOS,
and your hard disk must have been formatted with FAT16 or FAT32 in order
to be accessible from DOS.
Thanks to Barry Stone G6SRE for this useful tip
|
Nevertheless you may run RadioRaft without quitting
Windows: with a Pentium
II or more, the decoding is a bit disturbed but all's well up to 200 bauds.
Faster the baud rate, worse the error rate: Windows slows the real time
decoding process even if there is no other applications working in the same
time. At 1200 bauds or more it's not possible to get a correct
decoding under Windows.
In order to launch easily RadioRaft from Windows, two "PIF" files are
provided,
outside of the RadioRaft package. See the section
Download RadioRaft to
get them. One permits to launch RadioRaft in real mode DOS as you would reboot
your PC, the other one to
run RadioRaft in the multi-task Windows environment with the inconvenient mentioned above.
Put these files onto your desktop or in the RadioRaft folder with shortcuts
onto your desktop. You will get the
2 icons ("RR real mode" and "RR under
Windows").
If you have not installed RadioRaft in the default folder (C:\RADIORAF),
click right on the icons, select "Properties" then the
"Program" tab and correct the path to access the RadioRaft
directory.
"RR under Windows" runs RadioRaft in full screen mode. You can move to other Windows applications
using the key Alt+Tab or coming back to a window using "Alt+enter".
You may also modify the icon properties and choose the Window size in the
"program" tab.
For the best
decoding, RUN RadioRaft from the "RR real mode" icon.
Who developed RadioRaft, Requests
I'm François Guillet, F6FLT, a French radioamateur interested
in radio data decoding, and a programmer in assembler.
Questions on RadioRaft are welcomed, but only by
email.
Please don't ask me about frequencies or decoding in general
(question of time!)
Special implementations or designs to customize the software: contact me for an
estimate.
François Guillet
10 route des Goulets
44880 Sautron
FRANCE
What I am looking for is any information about protocols of new modes, as text
documentation and audio files of recorded samples (.WAV format, 16 bits at 22 khz sample
rate is enough). I would like to include them in RadioRaft (time permitting). Thanks in
advance for a possible help.
Links for decoding
Following is a list of links for those who are interested in
radio data transmissions and who want to decode all signals on the air. Sorry, the list is
modest so far. It is just a beginning!
- WUN -- The most complete
site entirely dedicated to the reception of utility stations
- HFFAX
-- All you need for FAX and SSTV
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