A basic PSK31 station should consist of the following components:

• HF SSB Transceiver
• Soundcard-equipped PC
• Antenna
• PSK31 Software
• (optional) Soundcard Interface

Transceiver / Antenna

Virtually any SSB transceiver will do. The same is true of the antenna, as PSk31 will function with a few watts and a wire antenna. Obviously, the better the transceiver and antenna, the better performance will be achieved, however PSK31 performance is often virtually the same on both low-end and high-end equipment.

PC / Software

The only major requirement for the computer used to send and receive the PSK31 signals is that it contain a soundcard. As a rule, a faster CPU and more memory are desired, however PSK31 will work on virtually any PC equipped with an internal or external soundcard.

Software for PSK31 is abundant, so the choice of software packages depends largely on personal preference, as will as system requirements. All PSK31 software has the basic ability to send and receive PSK31 signals. Many more features exist. Be sure to check our Software Reviews section to see some of the available packages.

Soundcard Interface

PSK31 software will output audio to the PC's soundcard to send a transmission, however a mechanism must exits for keying the radio to transmit an RF signal, as well as link the audio tone to the radio's audio input. Therefore some form of soundcard interface may be used. It might simply be an audio cable with a radio with VOX capabilities, or it might be a specialized external interface. These interfaces connect to the computer and key the transmitter whenever an audio tone is present. Some interfaces contain external soundcards themselves, allowing extra flexibility in soundcard setup. My personal favorite is the SignaLink USB from TigerTronics. This device is an external soundcard that connects to the computer via USB and to my Yaesu FT-857D radio via its data port. It is plug-and-play compatible with minimal setup required.

Another option lies in software based keying. The software suite, Ham Radio Deluxe, can utilize this approach. If the radio's CAT port is already connected to the computer, Ham Radio Deluxe and its multimode software, Digital Master 780, will send the keying command via the CAT connection.

Setup Steps

1. Setup / Install Soundcard Interface or Cable
2. Install PSK31 Software
3. Read User Guide / Help for Software
4. Configure Settings as Desired
5. Read Our Operation Page
6. Operate!