Cormac CQ100 User manual

Copyright (C) 2006, 2007
Cormac Technologies Inc.
28 N. Cumberland St.
Thunder Bay ON, P7A 4K9, Canada
Email: [email protected]
CQ100 Transceiver
For Amateur Radio

CQ100 Instruction Manual Page 1
What is QsoNet?
QsoNet is a new system which uses the internet to receive audio signals from a ham radio transmitting
station, then instantly reflects the audio back to all stations listening on that frequency. The result is a
simulated ionosphere for worldwide amateur radio communication.
How does it work?
QsoNet works with dialup, DSL and cable internet connections. There is no need to configure router ports.
The network consists of an array of internet servers which provide streaming voip audio between stations.
After installing transceiver software, QsoNet stations are connected to a central server by a single,
outbound TCP connection.
What are the rules?
The use of QsoNet is restricted to licensed amateur radio operators (hams).
Operators are expected to use normal radio procedure - For example:
1.
Identify your callsign frequently.
2.
Always be courteous and respectful. Do not use a frequency that is already in use.
3.
Do not use voice on the CW portions of the bands.
4.
Do not engage in commercial activity. No advertising.
5.
Do not transmit music.
Please refer to the
EULA
for complete details.
What does it cost?
Please visit the website at
http://qsonet.com
for the latest information about pricing.

CQ100 Instruction Manual Page 2
GETTING REGISTERED
Licensed Operators Only:
The owners of the QsoNet system have decided to limit use of the system to licensed amateur radio
operators. The registration process will ensure anyone using a callsign is the legal licensed owner of that
callsign. Your QSO's will be with other licensed stations. Sorry, CB'ers and SWL's will not be granted
access to the system.
Note: Any station operating with a callsign beginning with "Q" is a special
development and testing station under special authorization from QsoNet. There are no real callsigns that
begin with "Q".
IMPORTANT: Your transceiver will not open until your registration has been completed and a
picture of your license has been received.
1. Register your call sign and choose a password.
Visit the website at http://qsonet.com and click the
REGISTER
menu. Register your EXACT callsign with
no extra letters or slash.
HINT: You may change any of your registration information (except callsign) at any time.
2. Send a Picture of your license.
Now click the ACCOUNT menu and use the provided button to send an image of your government issued
license certificate.
Please allow up to 24 hours for your account to be activated.
Note:
If you prefer, the certificate image may be send by email to
[email protected]
Also you may fax a copy to 613-822-5625.
Once you account is activated, your transceiver will be able to connect to the system and you can begin
QSO's with other hams. Also, you will be able to post messages into the QsoNet discussion forum.

CQ100 Instruction Manual Page 3
OPERATING TIPS
Call frequencies are 14.200 (Phone) and 14.058 (CW):
·
Many operators are monitoring these frequencies, so this is a good place to try calling CQ.
·
Please QSY to some other frequency once you make a contact on the call frequency.
Using the Push To Talk Button:
The behavior of the PTT button depends in the setting of the Mode Switch.
Please try to avoid accidently keying on your transmitter. Be careful with Vox mode.
The PTT button will refuse to transmit if some other station is already transmitting.
·
Mode Switch = QRT: It is impossible to accidently transmit.
·
Mode Switch = PTT: The space bar is held down continually to transmit.
·
Mode Switch = PTT / PTL: Tap the space bar once to talk, again to listen.
·
Mode Switcth = VOX: Transmitting is controlled by your voice and the Vox Settings.
·
Mode Switcth = Keyer: You can type on the keyboard to send CW. Partial QSK is provided.
HINT: Never go away and leave the rig in VOX Mode.
HINT: Set the Mode Switch to QRT if you are not planning to transmit.
HINT: The mouse can be used to lock the bar. Just click it, don't hold the mouse button down.
Several ways to move the tuner:
Many people find it awkward to rotate the tuner knob using the mouse. There are several other
methods.
·
Most operators prefer to hold the keyboard LEFT / RIGHT arrow keys to spin the tuner.
·
The mouse wheel will move the tuner knob. Position your mouse cursor over the knob.
·
Click on the band scope for fast QSY.
·
Press keyboard Ctrl+ LEFT / RIGHT arrow keys to SEEK up and down the band to the next signal.
Setting your audio transmit level:
Move the Mic Gain knob until your voice is peaking S9 to 10 level while you are transmitting.
Using the CW Keyer:
If you are sending CW by typing on your keyboard, remember to press the space bar between words.

CQ100 Instruction Manual Page 4
TIPS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED
OPERATORS
Using the Speak Mode:
·
Press Control + Page UP or Control + Page Down to start the
Speak Mode.
·
Now the computer will speak the current frequency for you.
List of Hot Keys:
·
Left arrow / right arrow changes the tuning by one Khz.
·
Control + left arrow / right arrow SEEKS the tuner upward or
downward to the next signal.
·
Up arrow / down arrow adjusts the audio gain (volume).
·
Control + up arrow / down arrow adjusts the microphone gain.
·
Page up / page down switches to another band.
·
Control + page up / page down toggles the speak mode on and
off.
·
Alt + page up / page down changes the mode.
·
Alt + up arrow / down arrow changes the CW pitch.
·
Alt + left arrow / right arrow changes the CW speed.

CQ100 Instruction Manual Page 5
THE CQ100 TRANSCEIVER
What is CQ100?
CQ100 is the first software transceiver designed for communication over the QsoNet system.
Features and Specifications:
·
Covers 5 HF radio bands - 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.
·
Computer microphone provides voice modulation.
·
CW mode is achieved by typing on the keyboard, or by "line-in" on computer sound card.
·
Band scope shows radio activity within a settable sweep range of 50, 100, 200 and 500 kHz.
·
Callsign, handle, QTH, etc are automatically displayed for current transmitting station.
·
Keyboard "Hot Keys" and "Annunciate Mode" provide a simple interface for vision impaired operators.
·
"Round-Table" QSO's are possible because any frequency may have a large number of listeners.
System Requirements:
·
CQ100 requires Windows 2000, XP or higher.
·
A reliable internet connection equivalent to 33.6k dialup modem or higher is required.
·
A sound card with speakers and microphone (or headset) is required.

CQ100 Instruction Manual Page 6
QUICK START
Installing CQ100:
·
When you register with QsoNet, you will receive download instructions by email.
·
Download and run the CQ100 installation program.
·
During the installation, you will be asked to enter your registered QsoNet callsign.
·
HINT: If you accidently enter the wrong callsign, just reinstall, over top of the previous.
·
HINT: If your Windows is set up for multiple users, each user may have an independent installation of
CQ100.
·
HINT: If you are installing a version upgrade, it is not necessary to uninstall the older version. Every
time you install CQ100, all of the current files are overwritten. However, you should be sure the
program is closed before attempting a re-install.
Running CQ100:
·
Once installation is complete, you can run CQ100 by clicking the desktop icon, or by using Start>
Programs> CQ100.
·
When the program first opens, you will see the login box with your callsign. You must enter your
QsoNet password into this box.
·
If the password agrees with your callsign, the transceiver will immediately open and connect into the
system.
HINT: Two copies of CQ100
CANNOT
be run on the same computer at the same time.
HINT: The same callsign
CANNOT
be logged in twice from two different computers at the same time.
It may appear to work for a few minutes, but the oldest login will soon be disconnected.
HINT: If you forgot your password or have trouble with the login, visit the website at http://qsonet.com
and click "Account" to solve the problem.

CQ100 Instruction Manual Page 7
Exploring the Controls:
When your transceiver opens you can begin exploring the operation of the controls. Everything works
pretty much like a real hardware transceiver.
·
The small "
X
" at the right top corner is used to close the program. The small "
?
" at the top left corner
is used to open OPTIONS MENU and HELP FILE.
·
Use your mouse (drag) to spin the large TUNING KNOB. Try tuning in transmissions from other
stations.
HINT: You can also use the mouse wheel, or hold keyboard Left / Right arrows to spin the tuner.
HINT: Press Ctrl_LeftArrow or Ctrl_RightArrow to SEEK up and down the band to the next signal.
HINT: Click on the band scope for a fast frequency change.
·
Use your mouse (drag) to spin the AF GAIN KNOB to a comfortable listening volume.
HINT: Be sure your hardware speakers are set to a reasonable volume level.
HINT: You can also use the mouse wheel, or the keyboard Up / Down arrows to control the AF Gain
(sound volume).
·
Use your mouse (drag) to spin the MIC GAIN KNOB to a good transmitting level.
The best audio level is when your voice peaks between S9 and 10.
HINT: You can also use the mouse wheel, or the keyboard Ctrl_Up / Ctrl_Down arrows to set MIC
Gain.
·
Try clicking on the BAND BUTTONS to move between bands.
HINT: The keyboard Page Up / Page Down keys can also be used to move between bands.
HINT: Every band is a different server, so a band switch is actually making a whole new connection
into the system. If you suspect something has gone wrong with your QsoNet connection, click the
BAND BUTTON to refresh a whole new connection.
·
Try clicking the SWEEP BUTTON to set how much of the band is shown on the band scope. Your
current frequency is always at the center of the band scope.
HINT: The band scope is updated every few seconds. You may notice some "ghost blips" caused by
the small lag in updating the spectrum.
·
If you don't like hearing the faint static sound between stations, click the SQUELCH BUTTON to on.
·
When receiving an incoming signal, the S-METER is showing the audio level being sent from the
transmitting station.
HINT: If a station is transmitting a silent carrier, the signal will show on the spectrum graph, but the
S-METER will show zero.

CQ100 Instruction Manual Page 8
Calling Your First CQ:
·
First find a clear channel in the voice section of any band.
HINT: "Voice Band" versus "CW Band" is shown on the front panel tuning display. Please do not use
voice transmission on the CW bands.
·
Experiment with operation of the PUSH-TO-TALK BUTTON:
Be sure the MODE SWITCH is set to "PTT", then click your mouse once on the PUSH TO TALK
BUTTON. The large button now says "ON THE AIR" and the red light comes on. Click you mouse
again and your transmitter goes off. A single mouse click is used to toggle the transmitter on and
off.
HINT: The keyboard Space Bar can be held down as a push-to-talk button. If the mode is set to
PTT / PTL the space bar will toggle like the mouse, so its not necessary to hold the space bar
down.
HINT: If the mode is set to VOX, the transmitter is operated from your voice level. Set the VOX
LEVEL and VOX DWELL settings for satisfactory VOX behavior.
HINT: CQ100 will refuse to transmit if it is currently receiving a signal.
·
Now begin transmitting your CQ, Adjust the MIC GAIN so your voice peaks around S9 to 10 dB over
S9.
HINT: If you see no mic volume, or cannot set the desired level, click the corner "?" then click
audio input "Open Mixer". Be sure Mic is selected and turned up.
HINT: If you hear feedback from your speakers when you talk, click the corner "?" then click audio
output "Open Mixer". Be sure Mic is MUTED here.
·
While you are transmitting, all listeners will see your callsign, handle, QTH, and station info on their
panels, You can change this information by visiting your ACCOUNT page at http://qsonet.com

CQ100 Instruction Manual Page 9
TRANSCEIVER OPTIONS
This screen opens when you click the little question mark "
?
" at the top left corner.
Account Options:
Your QsoNet account is configured and managed at the QsoNet web site.
HINT: Click here to change your displayed information (Handle, QTH, etc).
Audio Output Options:
If you have more that one sound card, you may select which sound card will be used for audio output.
HINT: USB headsets appear as additional sound cards to the Windows system.
Configuration of the selected sound card may be achieved by clicking Open Mixer.
HINT: Be sure Wave and Volume Control are NOT muted and turned up. Be sure Mic IS muted.
Audio Input Options:
If you have more that one sound card, you may select which sound card will be used for audio input.
HINT: USB headsets and USB mics appear as additional sound cards to the Windows system.
Configuration of the selected sound card may be achieved by clicking Open Mixer.
HINT: Be sure Mic is selected and turned up here.
HINT: If you mic does not have enough output, some sound cards have a DB BOOST checkmark under
advanced button.
Transmit Timer:
Your mic will key off if you continually transmit beyond this time limit. If you want to talk longer, simply use
PTT and keep talking.
HINT: This timer is meant to save you the embarassment of accidently leaving your rig transmitting for
hours.