Question
Which of the following statements is true about PSK31?
Answer Options
- A) Upper case letters are sent with more power
- B) Upper case letters use longer Varicode bit sequences and thus slow down transmission
- C) Error correction is used to ensure accurate message reception
- D) Higher power is needed as compared to RTTY for similar error rates
Correct Answer: B
Explanation
PSK31 uses a variable-length coding scheme called Varicode, which minimizes the transmission time required for common characters. Varicode assigns the shortest bit sequences (and thus the fastest transmission times) to the most frequently used characters, such as the space character and lower-case letters.
Therefore, upper case letters use longer Varicode bit sequences and thus slow down transmission. This incentivizes operators to use lower-case letters for routine conversation, conserving bandwidth and transmission time, an important feature given the mode’s narrow 31 \text{ baud} symbol rate.
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