FT4 On Ham Radio Satellite RS-44!!! How it’s Done!!

Welcome Back!
Join me for the Super Exciting World of FT4 on Satellites! LOL...
But seriously, if you have been wondering how to work FT4 on Linear Ham Radio Satellites, then this information will get you going.
I go through Icom IC-9700 settings, WSJT-X Settings, and contact demonstrations for a couple passes of RS-44. I forgot to mention in the video, staying on frequency is CRITICAL! I have my SAT Controller set to update the radio every 800ms and will be experimenting with other time frames to see if it can be perfected even more.
Stick around until the very end of the video, you will see how efficient this mode is for satellites. I turn the power down to 0%! and still decode and can hear the audio signal coming back down from the satellite at around 11 degrees.
This shows how if you have bad conditions or need to get in at low angles it can be done. This mode will greatly increase your use of the satellites as you can squeeze out those early and ending few degrees you normally can't work with Voice.
Thank you to Tim Boyd AA4SS and Michael Hernandez N2MTM (WT2D) for help with proper settings on the forums.
00:00 Intro
00:14 Radio Settings
03:59 WSJT-X Settings
09:37 Let the Contacts Begin!
16:11 0% Power and Still In!!!
Equipment used
Icom IC-9700
CSN Technologies S.A.T. Controller
WiMo X-Quads
SHF Elektronik Mini 70 Preamp
Yaesu G-5500 Rotor
WSJT-X

[@stevegriffin9552]

That was an awesome video. That’s pretty neat to put that mode in the logbook. I may have to check that out sometime. Thanks for all the hard work to figure this stuff out. I don’t think I would have patience for that. Have a great weekend. WD5ENH Steve

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

Thanks for the kind words Steve I appreciate it! The thing that impressed me the most about it was the last clip. Having the radio at 0% and still seeing my signal on the return waterfall and then seeing WSJTX decode my cq was just nuts! Can you imagine the distance guys will get if they start and end a pass with it?

[@hamradiofrequencies]

Good upload. Going to have to give that a try myself!!

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

It is so exciting to get a couple FT4 contacts at super low angles at the beginning and end of each pass! I will be putting up a video soon of a full pass of RS-44 which starts FT4, switches to SSB, then back to FT4 to round it out. Thanks for watching!! 73, Rob

[@VP2EIHonAnguillaIsland]

Great Stuff my friend.. 73

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

Thank you for watching! 73!

[@WA1LBK]

Very interesting! - I thought it would be impossible to do digital modes like FT4 on the linear translator satellites due to Doppler shift; obviously, as you've shown, it's not. I'm also running an IC-9709 with the S.A.T. controller, been entirely on SSB for the linear satellites to this point. For antennas, I'm currently running 10 elements on 2 meters & 11 elements on 70 cm, both vertically polarized; both antennas are "hamfest specials" I originally picked up to try SOTA operation with my IC-705 (but never got around to), and when I picked up a used Kenpro/Yaesu el/az rotator system, they got pressed into satellite service. I'm curious as to what antennas your running? (Been thinking of upgrading to either a CP or switchable polarization antenna system). Nice informative video, & you have a new subscriber ! 🙂 73, Tom WA1LBK

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

Hey Tom, thanks for stopping by! Man, you always have one of best signals on the birds and nice clear audio as well! I would say your setup is doing fantastic my friend. I love reading what others are running so I can wrap my head around the voice from the other side of the mic. I always saw the option for FT8 on the SAT screen but never tried it until N2MTM shoved me this direction. There are issues with decoding if the other station is not spot on frequency. The SAT controller holds you perfectly, but if you hear someone drifting, they won't be able to do it. I have my radio Update Interval set to 800ms in the SAT Controller. I forgot to mention that in the video. That setting will help keep you on target better as well. I am running WiMo X-Quads set to RHCP with Phase Harnesses, SHF Elektronik Mini 2 and Mini 70 Pre-amps, Yaesu G-5500 Rotor, CSN Technologies S.A.T. Controller, and the Icom Ic-9700. My next upgrade will be polarity switches. I just haven't had the need for it just yet. There is not much local VHF/UHF activity in my area anymore, and what there is I can get with the Hustler G-7 I have up just fine. Welcome to the channel, I have built quite a bit to watch over the last year or so. I hope you enjoy, and I will catch you on another pass! 73, Rob

[@aarongriffin81]

I've done FT-4 and FT-8 on HF but not over sat. I lose interest in most digital modes pretty quickly. I'm surprised there is that much activity, sometimes there are few people working the voice portion of the sat. Can you do SSTV on RS-44?

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

Man it is great for the early and late portion of the pass. That is going to be my new strategy moving forward. You might be able to do Robot or one of the other short modes. I have never tried it, but I might.

[@HAMFunko4pdi]

I am waching this and I set my SAT box the same as you and my frequencies are reversed from yours. I show the uplink as 435.118 and down on 145.857 yours are reversed. Was that JO-97?

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

Hey Mike, It is RS-44. The frequencies you listed in the comment are the correct ones for JO-97 though. In this video I moved around on a couple of them because the other operator wasn't centered where the SAT places you automatically. So, I assume they were not using the SAT. I find that every so often, someone will be really near the center of the transponder. You can roll up to them and find that sweet spot of around 5kc below them to set your receive center and you should be close to decoding then.

[@autocrime1]

thanks for the video what are your settings in the actual sound card of your computer. are they default or custom

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

I believe they are default. I don't computer very well so I would imagine that's where they are

[@timothyboyd5669]

I think your duplex isnt working cause in your radio setting you had speakers as "mixed" (maybe) Also in your computer microphone settings , do you have it set to 2 channel ?

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

That was the only way I could get it to work. I am sure its because i don't computer well and I have another setting wrong.

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

Also I did have it on 2 channel 64 like I think your post said.