For example, if you say you are transmitting RTTY on 14080.00 kHz, which means your MARK frequency is 14080.00 kHz and your SPACE frequency is 170 Hz lower, or 14079.83 kHz. It is customary to refer to the MARK frequency as your operating frequency. For amateur radio, the SHIFT has been standardized at 170 Hz. The difference between the two is known as the SHIFT. The lower RF frequency is known as the SPACE frequency and the upper RF frequency is known as the MARK frequency. There is no amplitude modulation, only a pure carrier which shifts frequency.

MARK AND SPACEĪ RTTY transmitter sends out a carrier that shifts back and forth between two frequencies. Please take a moment to read the following and much of the mystery will disappear. RTTY is a fun mode and easy to operate, but there are some questions every newcomer has. Someone there can answer most any question that you may have! Some contest managers do not allow points for “unique” callsigns in the submitted logs! There are varying definitions of “unique”, or the specific number of logs that a callsign must appear in to not be classified as “unique”! Having this knowledge, if you choose to just work your friend just to give them a point, make sure that you work a few (4-5) others, to insure that the contest manager will allow the contact with your friend! There are many web sites to obtain RTTY contesting information, and for fear of slighting anyone, I will only suggest that if you intend to participate, regardless of the level, that you visit rttyjournal and acquaint yourself with the rules, or at least the necessary exchange! Subscribing to is also advisable, as most all RTTY operators, especially those primarily interested in contesting, can be found here. This is not intended to be an “etched in stone” indication of how to operate a RTTY contest, so please don’t take it that way! Whatever works the best for you, is what you should do, as long as it allows your participation to be fun! These hints were obtained from RTTY contesters, world wide, and only reflect how they try to make their operation more efficient! The more efficient “we” make our contest exchanges, the more efficient we make it for all involved! Band conditions certainly play an important part in the exchanged data, so establishing a “different” buffer could make your exchange more efficient in “not so good” band conditions! I’ve archived a copy that I believe could be usefull for beginners. This document was originally posted by K4WW on but this domain has expired since some months at time writing.

Amateur radio rtty