AOR DIRECT - ARD9000

ARD9000 - Voice modem - hearing is believing !

NEW low cost digital voice modem, FM quality over an SSB HF link !!

THE ARD9000 IS OFCOM AND CE APPROVED

All over the world, radio amateurs have been discovering how much fun it is to work HF without background noise.

AOR set the pace in this breakthrough technology with its ARD9800. Now, in response to worldwide demand, AOR has developed the ARD9000 which makes digital voice communications even more affordable.

AOR’s digital voice technology delivers audio quality you have to hear to believe. Whether you are working digital voice across state lines or across an ocean, amazing doesn’t seem strong enough to describe it.

With an ARD9000, it’s easy to convert existing HF analogue transceivers to work digital voice with NO transceiver modifications. The ARD9000 automatically detects a digital signal and decodes it, so you also maintain full analogue capabilities. Whether a contact comes in as digital or analogue, the ARD9000 can handle it.

ARD9000

Discover how much fun it is to work Amateur Radio in digital voice mode
using the ARD9000 and your EXISTING analogue transceiver!

Enjoy digital voice communications while maintaining analogue capabilities
The ARD9000 makes digital voice communications FUN & affordable. Now you can use your existing analogue transceiver to work digital voice on Amateur Radio bands without making any modifications to your transceiver.

No transceiver modifications needed
The ARD9000 uses the same audio frequencies (300 Hz ~ 2500 Hz) as microphone audio to modulate the voice signal. This allows you to use an analogue radio as a digital voice radio.

Works on Single Side Band (SSB) mode
The Automatic frequency clarifier function adjusts frequency drift automatically in the SSB mode. (Approximately up to +/- 125 Hz). Utilizes the OFDM (Multi Carrier Modulation) circuit that is effective against Multi-path or Selective Fading.

Automatic digital receive
Automatic voice signal detector recognizes the received signal as analogue or digital, automatically switching to the appropriate mode.

Built-in high grade Vocoder (AMBE)
Utilizing high-grade digital voice compression delivers quality digital voice communications.

Built-in FEC error correction
A powerful error correction circuit delivers stable and reliable communications.

Small and compact unit. Easy to operate
Simply connect the ARD9000 between the microphone jack and microphone. No complicated modifications necessary. Optional interface cables for most popular transceivers are available or you can build your own connectors.

Wide range of operating voltages
Operates on 10 to 16 V DC from an external power source.

DSP
Utilizes a uniquely designed high performance DSP engine.

Uses established G4GUO open protocol
The use of open digital protocol means use of the ARD9000 is permitted on Amateur Radio bands (UK, USA, Japan and most countries are permitted).

	SPECIFICATIONS
	Modulation method	OFDM
	Bandwidth	300 Hz ~ 2500 Hz, 36 carriers
	Symbol Rate	20 mS (50 baud)
	Guard interval	4mS
	Tone steps	62.5 Hz
	Modulation method	36 carriers: DQPSK (3.6K)
	AFC	+/- 125 Hz
	Error correction	Voice: Golay + Hamming
	Header	1 Sec. 3 tones + BPSK training pattern for synchronization
	Digital voice	AMBE coder, decoder
	Signal detection	Automatic Digital detect, Automatic switching between analogue mode and digital mode
	Power requirements	10 ~ 16 V DC, Approximately 100 mA (@ 12 V DC)
	Dimensions	70 (w) x 33 (h) x 98 (d) (mm) (Projections excluded.)
	Connectors	Radio: Microphone output (level adjustable),
		Speaker input (200 mV ~ 5 V p-p), External Speaker Output,
		DC Input Connectors
		Speaker Microphone (with PTT)
	Others	Force Synchronization Switch

The operator can use the microphone supplied as part of the ARD9000 package, or a microphone of their choice (wired for ARD9000 input). The ARD9000 package includes, modem, microphone, audio cable, rear audio plug (8-pin circular) and manual. The rear panel pin-out of the ARD9000 is to ADONIS standard so that 'off-the-shelf' commercial leads may be employed. A list of leads may be viewed at the following web page (for code number):

http://www.adonis.ne.jp/code.html

Adonis cables may also be obtained from several suppliers in the UK including Martin Lynch & Sons Ltd and Waters & Stanton PLC, refer to the Waters & Stanton 2005 catalogue page 47, prices typically range from £10.95 to £15.95 inc VAT (I - Icom, K = Kenwood, Y = Yaesu):

D-8MI	Modular Icom* plug*
D-88I	8 pin Icom* plug*
D-88MK	Modular Kenwood* plug*
D-88K	8 pin Kenwood* plug*
D-6MY	Modular Yaesu* plug*
D-8MY	Large Modular Yaesu
D-88Y2	8 pin Yaesu* plug*

IS IT LEGAL?

Yes, the ARD9000 employs an open published digital protocol (Charles Brain G4GUO) per FCC rules. The transmit bandwidth is within the same spectrum as conventional SSB.

CE approval has been achieved and OFCOM has approved the AR9800 for use by Radio Amateurs in the UK from 19 January 2004 under the guidelines of BR68 (open protocol data mode to enhance operation). The same situation applies to the ARD9000.

For further information visit the OFCOM web site on www.ofcom.org.uk

The data format has been characterised and publicly released as an 'open protocol' on the following web sites:

The ARD9800 / ARD9000 are already in use in the UK, USA, Japan and most other countries.

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Operating manual & leaflet

Downloads available in Acrobat PDF format:

A QUICK-START-GUIDE for the ARD9000 has been written by Mike Weiler (DB1JAW) and provided to us (20.09.2005), Mike says "...it might also be of interest for your UK customers .... as I hope. The file is also available thru my homepage: http://db1jaw.de". Click here to download the 164kb PDF file from the UK server.

Operating manual note:
Please note that latest stock of the ARD9000 (Sept'05) now has the operating manual as a CD-ROM PDF file rather than a printed operating manual... remember, it will take some time for dealers stock to rotate (so you may still get a mixture of both manuals for a while). The carton boxes are marked with a red dot next to the serial numbers to signify that the CD-ROM version is included. There is no different in the hardware, but we note that R22 appears to have been removed during manufacturer (to reduce the potential for audio buzz when using analogue mode).

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ARD9800 LIAISON WEB SITE (for AR9000 too)
An independent web site has been established to enable like-minded people to compare results and set up transmission schedules (November 2003). Take a look at http://www.hamradio-dv.org

Suggested frequencies are:

7.169MHz, 7.170MHz, 7.173MHz, 7.176MHz, 7.290 - 7.299MHz
14.236MHz USB (noisy in UK), try 14.255MHz USB
18.1625 USB
21.370MHz USB

There is an informal NET every Saturday and Sunday at 20:00 UTC on 14.236MHz +/- 3kHz USB

A few operators have reported an audio buzz when using the ARD9000 in analogue mode (okay in digital mode), a technical bulletin on the subject may be viewed as a PDF file (433kb) - click here

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