FT8 & FT4Digital Soundcard Modes

An Introduction

Anthony Luscre, K8ZT

• Ham since 1981• ARRL Ohio Section Youth Coordinator• Favorite part of AR- Operating!

• All modes• QRP• Contesting• DXing

K8ZT, Anthony Luscre

• Email-k8zt@arrl.net

• Website-www.k8zt.com

Contact Information

http://www.k8zt.com

100+ Slides & many links so you’re probably going to want to view Today’s Presentation to read in full

View this slideshow and access all the

embedded links at tiny.cc/ft8ft4🔗

http://tiny.cc/ft8ft4

What is FT8?

• I am guessing that most of you reading this have either heard about FT8 from fellow Hams or heard it on air as that strange repetitive buzzing sound between the CW and SSB portions of the bands

FT8 FT4 5

http://drive.google.com/file/d/1eJnosusep_5H1SHRfAbNCYo6j-yvz2Rg/viewhttp://drive.google.com/file/d/1eJnosusep_5H1SHRfAbNCYo6j-yvz2Rg/viewhttp://drive.google.com/file/d/1CXZacxDaDOJrhUik46A2CFHhteEgh5J9/viewhttp://drive.google.com/file/d/1CXZacxDaDOJrhUik46A2CFHhteEgh5J9/view

What is FT8?

• As one of the fastest growing modes of Amateur Radio it has been hard to miss, but you may be wondering how to get started and why you would want to?

• But first, who is responsible?

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Who is Responsible for these Modes?

• WSJT-X software, and it component modes, originally developed by Nobel Laureate Joe Taylor, K1JT

• Other prominent developers-• Steve Franke, K9AN• Bill Somerville, G4WJS

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Why I Do FT8/FT4 ?

• My “Multitasking Mode” (while I am reading email, writing with computer, etc.)

• Works great with my QRP (low-power) signal

• Increase my total DXCC/WAS/ QSOs #s on less used Bands

• Allow me to use bands that often seem dead

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Why I Do FT8/FT4 ?

• Allows my QRP signal (5 watts) & marginal antenna (60’ sloper) to work all states & new DX on 160 M.

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Why I Do FT8/FT4 ?

• “Dead” Bands are alive daily (12, 10 & 6)

• Read-• Want to Work 6, 10 or 12

Meters But No Sunspots? Don’t Miss Your Chance with Summer E Skip and FT8🔗

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jPcnBEm8Bsv6ZicjEimitFdhJ0NsQy2pUxNEttDbzek/edit?usp=sharinghttp://marac.org/links.htm

What Can FT8 & FT4 & 5 Watts Do?

• In three years, during sunspot low• DXCC 3 bands• 8 Bands WAS• Over 1400 QSOs• All QSOs with my

5 watts or less

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Band DXCC WAS QSOs %

160M 61 50 1610 11%

80M 57 50 934 6%

60M 65 50 643 5%

40M 63 50 1468 9%

30M 80 50 635 4%

20M 187 50 5357 37%

17M 155 50 1733 12%

15M 107 50 805 5%

12M 47 48 382 2%

10M 38 48 485 3%

6M 22 48 773 4%

Totals 868 544 14825 11.8 Ave. per Day

What Can FT8 & FT4 & 5 Watts Do?

12

• WAS8 Band

• FT8• 5 watts• Need 5

QSOs for 11 Band WAS

What Can FT8 & FT4 Do?

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• Works well with HOA Limited, indoor, temporary, mobile, etc. Antenna Options

• Magnetic Loop Antennas are very portable, and the limited bandwidth (without retuning) is not as big a problem on fix frequency modes FT8/FT4 as on other modes

WSJT-X Software Suite

• Many modes including JT65, FT8 & FT4 • Can decode signals decibels below noise floor• Can allow successful exchange of info with

signals inaudible to the human ear• Add redundancy to the data, such that all of a

message may be successfully recovered even if some bits are not received by the receiver

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WSJT-X Software Suite- FT8 & FT4

• Messages typically either decoded correctly or not decoded at all, with very high probability.

• Requires tight synchronization of time & frequency between TX and RX• FT8 (June 29, 2017)

• Transmission times ~15 seconds per cycle• FT4. (April 2019) very similar to FT8

• Transmission times ½ as long (~7.5 sec)

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WSJT-X Software Suite- FT8 & FT4

• Decoding threshold by mode better than:

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○ JT65 -24 dB

○ FT8 -20 dB

○ FT4 -18 dB

○ CW -15 dB

○ SSB +10 dB

WSJT-X

• Quick View of WSJT-X Program’s FT8 or FT4 Screen

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What Can WSJT-X Do?

• Automatic Logging • Easy transfer of electronic log to LOTW &

eQSL • Let you know where & how strong you are

being heard• Work with almost any SSB Radio including

VHF/UHF

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What Can WSJT-X NOT Do?

• Rag Chewing and Long Contacts• JS8CALL🔗 is option for full text QSOs• PSK31 is more traditional option

• Work without a computing device• Work with a CW only radio

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http://js8call.com/

Getting Started with WSJT-X

• What You Need• HF Radio (Capable of SSB Transceive)• Computer (Windows (7 or later), Linux, or OS X)• Soundcard or Soundcard Interface*• Software (Free)

* Some radios have this built into the radio

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Recent Radios*-Built in Soundcard?

* Under $2000 21

Radios with Built in

Soundcard

Radio that do not have

Soundcard

Radio w/o SC but Isolation

circuits so you can connect

directly to soundcardICOM 7300 ICOM 718

ICOM 7100 Yaesu FT-891 Elecraft K3 (non S model)

Yaesu FT-991 / 991A Yaesu FT-1200 Elecraft KX3

Yaesu FTDX3000 Yaesu FT-450 Elecraft KX2

Elecraft K3s Yaesu FT-857 Phaser Single Band Kits $55

Kenwood TS 590 S / 590SG Yaesu FT-818 /817 QRPGuys DSB Digital

Transceiver Kit $40FLEX-6400 Kenwood TS-480

ICOM 705 Alinco DX-SR8T

http://www.midnightdesignsolutions.com/phaser/#FAQhttps://qrpguys.com/digital-transceiver

Getting Started with WSJT-X

• Computer Software (Free!)• WSJT-X Operating Software • Helper Software

• JT Alert for Windows or• AlarmeJT for Linux• Software to maintain highly synchronized time

• Online Monitoring (spotting) Pskreporter

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Putting it All Together- Radio

• Setup Radioa. Install manufacturer's driver softwareb. Set Baud Rate of Radio (you may also need to

turn on interface)c. Connect Interface cabled. Determine Com Port # of Radioe. Test operation of CAT control with logging or

contesting software (N1MM, etc.)f. Set other radio settings for WSJT-X (see below)

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Resources to Help With Setup

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-yBKo9Fr1NmwG4AaV0jiI6LbtiMysYGVLPqw2LDG8kM/edit?usp=sharinghttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1-yBKo9Fr1NmwG4AaV0jiI6LbtiMysYGVLPqw2LDG8kM/edit?usp=sharinghttp://www.voyageurlutherie.com/docs/KX2 Digital Mode Configuration Examples.pdfhttp://www.voyageurlutherie.com/docs/KX2 Digital Mode Configuration Examples.pdfhttp://www.n1rwy.org/?p=157http://www.n1rwy.org/?p=157https://www.w6pql.com/misc/wsjt-x/ft991-wsjt-x.pdfhttps://www.w6pql.com/misc/wsjt-x/ft991-wsjt-x.pdfhttp://www.fbnews.jp/201805/technical_enhttp://www.fbnews.jp/201805/technical_enhttp://www.k0pir.us/icom-7300-wsjt-x-ft8-easy-wayhttp://www.k0pir.us/icom-7300-wsjt-x-ft8-easy-wayhttp://w6awd.us/blog/wsjt-x.htmlhttp://w6awd.us/blog/wsjt-x.htmlhttp://www.w3fpr.com/Data_setup.htmhttp://www.w3fpr.com/Data_setup.htmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyUs6KkPr6Ehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyUs6KkPr6Ehttps://youtu.be/SrXbg9ytksUhttps://youtu.be/SrXbg9ytksU

Soundcard Radio Interfaces Choices

1. Radio with built in Soundcard2. Interface with built in Soundcard

a. Tigertronics Signalinkb. MFJ-1204c. ZLP Electronics MiniProSCd. West Mountain RIGblastere. XGGCOMMS

3. Interface without Soundcard

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Soundcard Radio Interfaces Choices

3. Interface without Soundcarda. You will need to use your own soundcard

i. Soundcard built into your computer (not suggested due to conflicts with other sounds generated by computer)

ii. External Soundcard (recommended)1. Simple inexpensive USB2. Doesn’t need to be fancy

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Putting it All Together- Audio

• Setup Audio Path• If Radio has built in Soundcard

• Install manufacturer's driver software• Check Computer’s Sound settings (Control Panel)

• In all cases make sure your Radio or Interface Soundcard is NOT DESIGNATED AS THE DEFAULT SOUND DEVICE in Sound Control Panel Settings

• Set your computer’s internal soundcard (the one you are not using for WSJT-X) as default

27

Putting it All Together- Software

• Install Software• WSJT-X- Installer• Time synchronization software (The built-in Windows

facility for time synchronization is usually not adequate)• Meinberg NTP (Network Time Protocol Setup)• Dimension 4 from Thinking Man Software• Other

• Install JT Alert

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Putting it All Together- Software

• Configure Software• WSJT-X• JT-Alert

• See full slideshow for details of each setting screen

tiny.cc/ft8ft4

29

Operating Tips

• Before starting WSJT-X software• Always make sure all USB cables & devices are

attached to computer (USB Soundcards, Digital Interfaces, Radio Controllers (CAT), etc.)

• Make sure the Radio is turned on• You can create multiple WSJT-X Configurations for

different radios/operators

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Operating Tips

• Reduce power output settings on your radio to avoid overheating your transmitter

• Use minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications

• Make sure your radio’s filtering is set for its maximum bandwidth

• All speech processing, noise blanking, etc. should be turned off

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FT8/FT4 Operating Tips

• If things stop working, check:• Computer Soundcard settings (especially after Windows updates)• Time Synchronization• Radio bandwidth filter is set at maximum• Is radio in correct mode (USB or Data)? • Is WSJT-X in correct mode (FT8 or FT4)? • 3 boxes checked? (Hold Tx Freq, Call 1st, Auto Seq)• Is “Special Operating Activity” selected?• Is radio working on other modes?

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Basic Operations

• WSJT-X FT8 or FT4 Screen

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Basic Operations

• Start Program• Choose FT8 or FT4

from “Mode” menu• Choose desired band

• Use Frequency selection box drop down-menu or

• By directly typing in frequency

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Basic Operations

• Three boxes that should be checked in normal operation• Hold Tx Freq (avoids changing

transmitting frequency when you double click on a station to call them)

• Auto Seq (sends proper replies after starting of a contact or response to CQ)

• Call 1st (used when CQing to allow auto-answering of responding station)

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Basic Operations

• Choose Transmit Frequency Using Band Map• Allow a couple cycles of decode• Find unoccupied space and Right Mouse

Click to choose “Set Rx & Tx Offset”

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Basic Operations- Receiving

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Basic Operations- Calling CQ

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• Make sure “Call 1st” box is checked

• Choose “CQ” message

• Enable Tx

Basic Operations- Answering CQ

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Special Modes Settings

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• There are a few special modes available from “Settings...Advanced” menu• Hound Mode for DX stations using F/H• FD & other contesting modes

Operating Tips

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• After transmitting a few times you can use PSKReporter to check to make sure your signal is getting out and other stations are decoding you

https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.htmlhttps://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

Contact Information

Anthony Luscre, K8ZT•Email- k8zt@arrl.net•Website- www.k8zt.com• Complete 120+ slideshow with extensive resources

tiny.cc/ft8ft442

http://www.k8zt.com

Q&A