Fldigi (short for Fast light digital) is a free and open-source program which allows an ordinary computer's sound card to be used as a simple two-way data modem. The software is mostly used by amateur radio operators who connect the microphone and headphone connections of an amateur radio SSB or FM transceiver to the computer's headphone and microphone connections, respectively.
This interconnection creates a "sound card defined radio" whose available bandwidth is limited by the sound card's sample rate and the external radio's bandwidth.
Such communications are normally done on the shortwave amateur radio bands in modes such as PSK31, MFSK, RTTY, Olivia, and CW (Morse code). Increasingly, the software is also being used for data on VHF and UHF frequencies using faster modes such as 8-PSK.
Using this software, it is possible for amateur radio operators to communicate worldwide while using only a few watts of RF power.
Fldigi software is also used for amateur radio emergency communications when other communication systems fail due to natural disaster or power outage. Transfer of files, emails, and FEMA ICS forms are possible using inexpensive radio hardware.Introduction arrl.orgNBEMS — a Digital Emcomm Tool w1hkj.com
Supported digital modes
Mode name Speeds supported Custom modes Morse code 5–50 words-per-minute Yes PSK 31, 63, 63F, 125, 250, 500, 1000 No FSQ 2, 3, 4.5, 6 No IFKP 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 No Contestia 4/125, 4/250, 8/250, 4/500, 8/500, 16/500, 8/1000, 16/1000, 32/1000, 64/1000 Yes DominoEX Micro, 4, 5, 8, 11, 16, 22, 44, 88 No Hellschreiber Feld Hell, Slow Hell, Feld Hell X5, Feld Hell X9, FSK Hell, FSK Hell-105, Hell 80 No MFSK 4, 8, 11, 16, 22, 31, 32, 64, 64L, 128, 128L No MT63 500S, 1000S, 2000S, 500L, 1000L, 2000L No Navtex Navtex No Olivia 4/250, 8/250, 4/500, 8/500, 16/500, 8/1000, 16/1000, 32/1000, 64/2000 Yes QPSK 31, 63, 125, 250, 500 No 8PSK 125, 250, 500, 1000, 125FL, 250FL, 125F, 250F, 500F, 1000F, 1200F No PSKR 125R, 250R, 500R, 1000R No RTTY 45.45/170, 50/170, 75/170, 75/850 Yes SYNOP SYNOP No THOR Micro, 4, 5, 8, 11, 16, 22, 25x4, 50x1, 50x2 100 No SITORB SitorB No Throb / ThrobX 1, 2, 4 / X1, X2, X4 No WEFAX IOC-576, IOC288 NoOFDM500F, 750F, 3500No
Portability
Operating systems Fldigi is based on the lightweight portable graphics library FLTK and the C/C++ language. Because of this, the software can run on many different operating systems such as: Microsoft Windows (2000 or newer) macOS Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Solaris.
Additionally, Fldigi is designed to compile and run on any POSIX compliant operating system that uses an X11 compatible window system / graphical user interface.
Architectures
The Fldigi software is written in highly portable C/C++ and can be used on many CPU architectures, including: amd64 i386 armhf/armel ia64 mips mipsel powerpc s390 s390x sparc Raspberry Pi.
Sound systems
Multiple sound systems are supported by Fldigi, allowing the program to abstract the sound card hardware across differing hardware and operating systems.
Open Sound System (OSS) PortAudio PulseAudio Read / write to WAV files (file I/O)
Features NBEMS: The narrowband emergency messaging systemLong Haul VLF/LF/HF Data Networks liltechdude.com Support for transmitting and receiving in all languages by using UTF-8 character encoding (some modes) Connection to external programs via TCP/IP port 7322 Ability to be used as a KISS modem via TCP/IP port 7342 Dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) encoding and decoding Automatic switching of mode and frequency by use of Reed Solomon Identifier signal identification Inbuilt macro language and processor for programmable automated control Sound card oscillator frequency/skew correction Measure sound card oscillator's skew to atomic clock: WWV or WWVH Measure RF receiver frequency skew to atomic clock: WWV or WWVH Transmit a WWV-like time signal as a calibration reference Control of external transmit / receive radio hardware by using GPIO pins. (For embedded hardware) Simultaneous decoding of multiple Morse code (CW) signals Decoding of Morse code (CW) by self-organizing map artificial neural network (trained artificial intelligence)
The Fldigi Suite
The "Fldigi Suite" consists of the Fldigi modem and all extension programs released by the same development group. Most of these extensions add more capabilities to Fldigi such as verified file transfer and message passing. Interconnection between these programs and the Fldigi modem is made over TCP/IP port 7322.
Some of the Suite are however standalone programs used for utility or testing purposes only, with no connection to the Fldigi main modem.
Flamp Flamp implements the Amateur Multicast Protocol by Dave Freese, W1HKJFLAMP Amateur Multicast Protocol 3.0 w1hkj.com and is a tool for connectionless transferring of files to multiple users simultaneously without requiring any existing infrastructure. The program breaks a given file into multiple smaller pieces, checksums each piece, then transmits each piece one or more times. When all parts are correctly received the sent file is re-assembled and can be saved by receiving stations. This program is useful for multicasting files over lossy connections such as those found on High frequency (HF) or during emergency communications.
Flarq Flarq implements the ARQ specification developed by Paul Schmidt, K9PS to transfer emails, text files, images, and binary files over radio. This protocol is unicast and connection-based. The software seamlessly integrates with existing email clients such as Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, and Sylpheed.
Flmsg Flmsg allows users to send, receive, edit, and create pre-formatted forms. Such a system speeds the flow of information during emergency communications. The software has a number of forms built-in including FEMA ICS forms, MARS reports & messages, Hospital ICS forms, Red Cross messages, IARU and NTS messages.
Flwrap Flwrap is a tool for the sending of files using a simplified drag and drop interface. Data compression is available also, which reduces data transfer times.
FLNet FLNet assists net control operators in keeping track of multiple stations during digital amateur radio nets.FLNet sourceforge.net
FLLog FLLog is a logging software which keeps track of conversations between amateur radio operators in a database format known as ADIF.
FLWkey FLWkey is a simple interface to control an external piece of hardware called a Winkeyer. This is a Morse code keyer which is adjustable via computer commands over USB.
Flcluster This is a telnet client to remote DX cluster servers, which is a real-time reporting of stations heard transmitting, and their frequencies. It does not connect to Fldigi.Flcluster sourceforge.net
Flaa Flaa is a control program for use with the RigExpert AA-xxxx series of antenna analyzers, and does not connect to Fldigi.Flaa sourceforge.net
Flrig FLRig is a component of the FLDigi suite of applications that enables computer aided control of various radios using a serial or USB connection.
Using FLRig in combination with FLDigi, events such as frequency, power level, receiver gain and audio gain may be adjusted from the computer automatically or by user intervention.
Test tools The Fldigi development group also releases a number of open-source programs which assist in the testing, development, and comparison of different modes within Fldigi, such as LinSim, CompText, and CompTTY.
RSID
To identify the mode being transmitted a signal called an RSID, or Reed-Solomon Identifier, can be transmitted before the data. Using this identifier the receiving software can automatically switch to the proper mode for decoding. The assigning of these identifiers to new modes is coordinated to ensure inter-operation between programs. Currently 7 sound card-digital-modem programs support this standard: PocketDigi FDMDV DM780 Multipsk Fldigi AndFlmsg TIVAR
RSID operates by sending a short burst of a specific modulation before the data signal, which can be used to automatically identify over 272 digital modes. This burst consists of a 10.766 baud 16-tone MFSK modulation where 15 tones/symbols are sent. The burst occupies 172 Hz of bandwidth and lasts for 1.4 seconds.
Software architecture For simple keyboard-to-keyboard communication Fldigi can be operated using just the main window. For more complex uses or file transfer external programs can be attached to the internal TCP/UDP ports 7322 (ARQ), 7342 (KISS), and 7362 (XML-RPC).
The image below helps to illustrate the interconnections and signal-flow within the Fldigi architecture.
Community-provided extensions
Fldigi allows external programs to attach and send / receive data by connecting to port 7322/ARQ or 7342/KISS. When used this way, Fldigi and the computer's sound card are acting as a "softmodem" allowing text or data sent on one computer to be transferred using the wireless radio link in-between. Programs which have a history of use with Fldigi as the underlying modem include: D-Rats - easy to use chatrooms, email, and file transfer over-radio. PSKmail - send and receive on-internet e-mail over a remote radio connection. Fldigiattach - attach Fldigi as modem for Linux AX.25 and TCP/IP connections. UIChat - Java-based amateur radio chat program. LinkUP - Program for unattended operation and person to person chat. Linux - Fldigi can be used in Linux as a KISS (TNC) modem for AX.25 and TCP/IP connections.
Awards and recognitions
At the 2014 Dayton Hamvention the project lead, Dave Freese (W1HKJ), was recognized with the Technical Excellence Award "for his development and distribution of the Fast Light Digital Modem Application (fldigi) family of programs for use in amateur and emergency communications." Fldigi was selected as SourceForge's June 2017 Staff 'Project of the Month' Fldigi was one of SourceForge's 'Projects of the Week' for Oct 17, 2016 Fldigi was selected as SourceForge's December 2017 Community Choice 'Project of the Month'
Notable users
Disaster relief services The software is also utilized by some organizations for both routine and disaster/emergency relief services.
Multiple state and county emergency operations centers W1AW (ARRL) Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) Civil Air Patrol (CAP) SATERN, the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network SKYWARN a program of the United States' National Weather Service (NWS) whose mission is to collect reports of localized severe weather.Hawaii skywarn net activation skywarnforum.com
Shortwave broadcasters
Following the successful tests by the Voice of America's VOA Radiogram program, international and government shortwave broadcasters began testing and experimenting with digital data over shortwave broadcast channels using the Fldigi software. These tests led to regular weekly digital broadcasts by the broadcasters listed below.
VOA Radiogram, service terminated in 2017 and continuing as Shortwave Radiogram. In June 2017, following the demise of VOA Radiogram, Shortwave Radiogram began broadcasting digital data-streams using Fldigi via WRMI in Miami and Spaceline Bulgaria broadcasting airtime on shortwave, satellite and internet in Bulgaria. Radio Havana Cuba Radio Moscow Radio Australia Radio Miami International Italian Broadcasting Corporation WBCQ (SW) Mighty KBC
MARS The Fldigi suite of programs has become popular within the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Military Auxiliary Radio System.
Department of Homeland Security Fldigi is being used in-testing as part of the United States Department of Homeland Security Shares program, which utilizes "existing HF radio resources of government, critical infrastructure, and disaster response organizations to coordinate and transmit emergency messages"
PSK Mail