Educational topic: FT8 digital mode
What is FT8 Digital operating mode that started gaining momentum in 2017 Named after Its developers Steven Franke (K9AN) Joe Taylor (K1JT) Mode uses an 8-frequency shift keying format Signals occupy 50 Hz www.coppellhams.org
FT8 sound 15 seconds of concerted screaming 13 seconds of noise 2 seconds of silence www.coppellhams.org
What you need WSJT-X digital software program Website: http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/ Interface from your computer to the radio SignaLink USB is a popular option www.coppellhams.org
My setup www.coppellhams.org
My setup TAK-tenna 80m 100-feet of LMR 400 Coax Comet Flat Feed-Thru Cable www.coppellhams.org
How do you know you’re getting out there https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html www.coppellhams.org
Waterfall from WSJT-X www.coppellhams.org
WSJT-X main screen www.coppellhams.org
Band activity www.coppellhams.org
RX frequency (this is what you’re ‘listening to’) www.coppellhams.org
QSO area www.coppellhams.org
What a QSO looks like I hear you, here’s Roger, here’s CQ with my grid my grid and a your signal signal report report CQ with my Roger Roger, 73 73 location www.coppellhams.org
What a QSO looks like www.coppellhams.org
When calling CQ You can call generally CQ K8AMH EM12 You can specify a state you’re trying to work CQ HI K8AMH EM12 You can specify you’re trying to work DX CQ DX K8AMH EM12 www.coppellhams.org
FT8 during RTTY Roundup QSO count (can contact same Countries worked station on other bands) Aruba 1 Band QSOs 80m (3.5 MHz) 7 Brazil 1 40m (7 MHz) 34 Canada 8 Dominican Rep. 1 20m (14 MHz) 83 Guatemala 1 Haiti 1 Total Time On: 11:57 (717 minutes) Japan 1 Mexico 3 United States 109 www.coppellhams.org
FT8 during RTTY Roundup www.coppellhams.org
FT8 lessons learned Tune your antenna! Transmitting on 80 meters causes Lights to turn on and off Alarm panel to beep randomly Always Upper Side Band www.coppellhams.org
FT8 lessons learned Get to know your Automatic Level Control (ALC) meter ALC circuit governs signal strength going into the power amplifier Icom likes the meter to be somewhat full… Elecraft wants none of that… www.coppellhams.org
FT8 lessons learned Turn off filtering You could be calling CQ for a while Operating split could help you You need to see if someone started to step on you www.coppellhams.org
Please be kind www.coppellhams.org
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