Recently there was some discussion in the TAPR APRSSIG list about using
PSK31 with APRS on long distance, weak signal paths. Although it's not
at all what PSK31 is intended for, it seemed to me that it could be an
interesting experiment. (Note the word "experiment"!)

I've now got a server working that can connect with UI-View32, and allow
you to send and receive APRS frames using PSK31. (If you really want to,
you can also use it with WinAPRS, or any other Windows APRS program that
is capable of connecting to a TCP/IP server.)

Before I release it, I'd like to know if anyone else (a) thinks it's an
interesting idea for experimentation, and (b) will be able to use it.

First of all, you really need to know what PSK31 is. That's not too
difficult, because the internet is full of information and excellent
free software.

Second, you need an SSB rig. Although some of the discussion in the
APRSSIG was about using PSK31 on FM, my own tests showed that it's not
effective with weak signals. I ran a beacon on 10m NBFM for two days,
and got two signal reports from the USA - both stations had only managed
to receive my FM signal by somehow slope detecting it on SSB!

Third, you need to be able to connect your sound card to your rig, and,
if you want to transmit and haven't got a rig with vox, you also need to
connect a COM port to your rig via a transistor switch. The techniques
for doing this are the same for all the PSK31 programs, and for various
other ham programs that use the sound card, so perhaps some UI-View
users might already have this facility?

Finally, the big problem - what band / frequency? My own interest would
be in 10m, but I could see it providing some interesting experimentation
on 2m and 6m. (Oh no! Could I have started yet another UK band plan
argument? ;-)

Anyway, I'll see what the response is...