GridTracker | Making FT8 Fun Again

Grid Tracker is a Great Companion to WSJT-X and FT8. Track, Hunt, and Log Grid Squares, See Real Time QSO's with an Interactive World Map and So Much More!
Download here: gridtracker.org
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00:00 - Intro
00:51 - Download Grid Tracker
02:02 - User Guide: Getting Started
03:15 - Launch WSJT-X and then Grid Tracker
07:40 - Map Settings
11:07 - Import Your .ADIF File To Grid Tracker
12:57 - New POTA Setting
13:30 - Call Roster
14:18 - Operating with Grid Tracker
17:36 - Outro
#hamradio #FT8 # GridTracker #WSJT-X #k8mrd

[@LionRoars918]

Love FT8, as a compromised user with an indoor antenna, it is a life saver.

[@AlvinMcManus]

I am nearly in the same boat as far as physical goes so yay for FT8 and Grid Tracker. I've got it set up to upload to my QRZ log automatically. 73 KN6ZVI

[@AlvinMcManus]

Good video a very nice summary of Grid Tracker. I have watched a deep dive into GT and I appreciate this video for the nice quick, concise review.

[@AndrewMorkunas]

You need one more program to hit the trifecta of FT8 operations, JTAlert. Now this program is a POTA must have as one of the features is alerting on directed CQs. Example: CQ POTA. I use this to hunt those coveted P2P QSOs.

[@barndweller4573]

I have used it before but had a Drive crash and had to do a reinstall. I did not reinstall Grid Tracker until today. Thank you for your nice video teaching me again how to use it. It was also great to meet you in the flea market at Dayton! What you and others like you do for Ham Radio is amazing. Thank God for new blood! Please keep up the great work! DE K8OCN

[@ac0m-glennthompson432]

I've been using Grid Tracker for a while and have learned so much from this video. Thanks Mike, great information. 73, AC0M

[@mssippijim]

Love your videos. Keep them coming!

[@jimirvine763]

Great video Mike. For new users, the spots feature is really useful. When your trying to get a DXCC or Grid, you can look at the spots and see if you're signal is getting to WSJT-X users who are in or near that entity. It's not foolproof, but it's a good indicator if you can be received at that location. For example, I was trying to get Cyprus on 10m this week. I had spots showing up in Lebanon, Greece and the Balkans, so I was pretty sure the guy in Cyprus could hear my signal. Sometimes you get spots from the user you're trying to get. Gridtracker is a superb tool!

[@AlvinMcManus]

I use PSKreporter for the spotting function as well. It has shown me a couple of times that the CQ I was trying to respond to wasn't even hearing me. Saved some frustration. I finally know how to read the color code on the grid squares so I know if I am pursuing a new grid or if I have been there before. I also think that this is a great video. I have learned so much from Mike that I became a Patron. Money well spent.

[@codymaly652]

Very enlightening and I'm definitely adding this to my ft8 arsenal. Thanks!

[@davidm.wilson3736]

Hi Mike, thanks the video sorted out a few issues I was having loading the software on my Mac. I noticed that your from Oakland County. I grew up in Birmingham but moved to flint in my teens. I now of course live in VK land. Thanks again, be safe. 73 David VK2AAW

[@craiger953]

Great video! I’m just starting on FT8 and installed Grid Tracker yesterday.

[@hamradiotube]

Awesome!

[@hitechredneck6366]

The NEXRAD button provides a weather radar overlay for the entire country. You can observe precip/storms overlaid on the roster map.

[@roberts3942]

Great video. Cant' wait to install and use.

[@garyh8315]

A great idea Mike, never seen this in use. A simple intro into GT.

[@kc8wvg]

I know that you did this video a year ago, but all I can say Mike is WOW! I think that Gridtracker will and to my fun. I just used it for a FT8 QSO with a KP station. Cool to watch the map and auto-logging👍👍. KC8WVG 73's

[@cmyk71]

Thank you Mike! I’m just getting into WSJT-X and this vid and your FT8 vid were most helpful. 👍🏻K5YTA

[@kb5miqbigboy]

Great video!! im new to ft8 n gridtracker! good info 73!!

[@MikeN2MAK]

Cool! I didn't realize about the POTA features.

[@jackofalltrades1206]

Excellent video Mike. I would have taken one look at the mass of data and walked away but you have made it very user friendly.

[@hamradiotube]

Glad it was helpful!

[@W9HJBill]

Grid Tracker is the bomb. I gladly donated money to them for their awesome program.

[@PendejoRyan]

I also threw a few bones their direction. I had an issue with it, got on the discord, and they fixed it in minutes.

[@stevegriffin9552]

Wow, Mike it looks very interesting. May have to download the program and see if it works on mine. I do have JT alert also all my WFJT-X so we’ll see what happens. Thanks for the video. It looks like a fun thing to take a look at take care and have a great weekend. WD5ENH Steve

[@NavyFE]

Second time watching this! Great video!

[@Kevin-w8ni]

Nice vid. Thanks

[@K6WRF]

Regarding the window popping up . Try unchecking the Notify on Accepted UDP REquest and Accepted UDP request restores window in WSJTC Reporting. That may keep that from popping the the window up

[@eddy2561]

Great video as always.....licensed in 1965, I've embraced almost every mode there (analog and digital) is including FT8...but lately night after night I see the same - same FT8 stations on the air calling CQ on 80m thru 10m and yes it has gotten really boring. So, I blew the dust off the Kent single level paddle and rediscovered CW agn!! Like Yogi Berra said: "It's deja vu all over again." 73/K6SDW

[@norrinradd8952]

Wherever you go, there you are!

[@eddy2561]

@@norrinradd8952 AMEN!

[@HamTechRadioScannerDrones]

Enjoyed

[@temporarilyoffline]

Good stuff

[@UserUser-99]

K8MRD tells you everthing you need to know to start using Gridtracker. Great job!

[@W4BTK]

"Im an FT8 user" was the best LOL - 73 man Eduardo

[@onewolf3750]

Love GT. Map tip: I selected National Geographic map in settings. Brush up your Geography while using FT8

[@RandallRash]

In Gridtracker call roster (in Windows at least), right click on a column header and you can "move left" to reorder them as desired.

[@lmy5pence481]

It's like EXEL HA ha

[@ruizhou9612]

Coool I used to ust go to PSK reporter and open up a window on a dual monitor. Don't need to do this anymore.

[@K6WRF]

Right click the call roster on the column header you want to move and select "Move Column Left" you cant move right. but just move the others left ahead of it

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Mike, Excellent video. I have downloaded it, but not installed it yet. Stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[@NICKENAQ]

watchingt this video has got me hooked on Gridtracker, I am like you i like to see real live Data and most of all it helps me to see whos doing P0TA 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@kenbecker2664]

Dig this program. I'll be checking for that pota update

[@hamradiotube]

It's already out.

[@cmalbertosub]

Sitting here watching this video...I have missed a couple of settings in both my WSJT-X and GridTracker...thanks and then I saw your grid EM20...wow...makes us neighbors...EM20UD...looked up your call and hoping it is not the prison!!! LOL...

[@patriot9455]

The digital portion of ham is looking fun. Not abandoning voice, but this is a different angle. K0XHF--- Planning to get an HF rig ASAP

[@norrinradd8952]

Nice video bro! Enjoying the FT8 content. If you are a noob, mute your Gridtracker audio or you might end up transmitting it and then we're all going to laugh at you!

[@AlvinMcManus]

OAMS I believe is for chats.

[@DougThomas-KC5VKG]

The task bar pop-up is due to the fact that when you initiate the sequence from GridTracker, it pops up to notify you that an instance in one of your open windows has changed... in this case WSJT-X. I use to have the same problem running the VARA modem and it's nag screen until i finally broke down and licensed it.

[@garywilson-2e0apg93]

MH6 is your 6 digit Maidenhead grid so you have to zoom in to see the grids you’ve worked caught me out a few times

[@Truckinman2000]

How do you get the pota park info listed in the call roster?

[@dgladwell1]

Mike when I click on a station in the roster it doesn't generate a call to them. It just looks them up? I set the setting just like you did? Any help?

[@jackK5FIT]

I use GridTracker with WSJT-X and I love it. Automatically sends all my contacts info to LOTW, QRZ and my logging program on my computer. It makes working FT8 much more fun because you can see so much of what's going on. Is it perfect? No but it's way better than WSJT-X alone. After I added my DX Commander Classic I seldom make US contacts because I can hear so many DX stations. It makes a lot of information available easily. Great program. Thanks for the review and instructions. Jack K5FIT

[@kevinmatthews2620]

i have seen t working on a pals pc, but he uses hrd with wsjtx, i dropped hrd years ago and use log4om v2 and jt alert with my wsjtx ,if i could get grid tracker to work in conjunction with my setup, i would buy another montor and use it

[@leogvt]

There are some videos showing how to setup log4om grid tracker and wsjtx to work together

[@frankthetank3342]

I use QRZ for my logbook, and I only log SSB/FM contacts. I wish there was another way to automatically log FT8 contacts, but not have QRZ count the FT8 contacts (I don't want my country count to go up because of FT8). Maybe I can setup WSJT-X to record my ft8 logs and just not upload to QRZ? (Sorryz digital modes are very new to me)

[@hamradiotube]

WSJT-X does record your log. You can find it in File > Open Log Directory > wsjtx_log.adi

[@jerryKB2GCG]

Is there a way to import a log from HRD log, as wsjt-x doesn’t have all my contacts? can hHRDLIG and this program run at the same time?

[@norrinradd8952]

I've never used HRD log, but I was able to download every contacts I've made from LotW and import it into Gridtracker. Should also be able to download your logs from QRZ if that's your thing.

[@Cab3475]

Where the heck does the WSJTX log information go? I’ve searched for it countless times.

[@Ken-gx4pr]

Do you need an existing log book account anywhere?

[@lmy5pence481]

I have a question to you. What is it that you think that everyone knows what you know, to install soft were, as a newbie I look at your programs to learn and apply what you teach me, so rumbling through a program, install the program that you have had preinstalled and not showing all settings is mind blowing. thanks for what you are doing, I will figure it out.

[@hamradiotube]

I think that I know I made a video before this one on how to use and set up WSJT-X. GridTracker is a companion program to WSJT-X.

[@Leonards_life]

On the bottom of Grid tracker under the call signs worked, I have a yellow triangle with the explanation symbol in it. I cannot find a reason for it. Can you or some one help with this. Thank you for any response. N6ZKI

[@barrybogart5436]

When I click on a call in Call Roster, nothing happens. It sure WOULD be nice if it called for me. What am I doing wrong?

[@andrewmummert779]

Thanks Mike. I am guessing you need internet access when using so may not be good in the mountains.

[@hamradiotube]

Nope. No internet needed. This pulls info straight from wsjt-X.

[@andrewmummert779]

@@hamradiotube thanks Mike.

[@klartajanssen4368]

Seems not to work when wsjtx is started out of n1mm. Tried with second UDP but that didn’t work

[@thomashenderson603]

Hi, I have a question about awards, like getting your "WAS" , I think i need only Alaska according to my stats. But Wyoming i have made a contact, but it is not confirmed. Would that mean I need to get Alaska and Wyoming or just Alaska? Thank you Tom K1CXS

[@hamradiotube]

If it's not confirmed it's not confirmed. You need both.

[@thomashenderson603]

@@hamradiotube Thank you!

[@n1kkri]

I want to send CQ for a specific Country. I have tried creating a macro, or just enter in one of the 6 lines on the bottom right. When I do this I get this symbol "" with CQ_XXX in between the brackets. I can't seen to find any info in how do you do this correctly. I can see others who are doing it on my screen. I will give you the exact example. Give me an example how to type in CQ P43 xxxx FN41 xxxx would be callsign Thanks, Ken

[@radioman3229]

If I do 10 plus contacts on 20m phone , thats one activation.... but, if i ALSO do 10 plus on FT8 ... does that count as 2 activations?

[@hamradiotube]

Nope. It’s all one activation.

[@radioman3229]

@@hamradiotube been watching your ft8 videos... u got me up and doing pota, so now im trying the ft8... thanks

[@DJ-bm4ls]

Are those contacts in real time??

[@jptucsonaz8503]

GT is so... Busy, that I find that having a 2nd monitor is essential to not be blocking other content. I have 2 x 32 inch Samsung's; one a computer monitor, the other a TV/monitor. I've also found the GT is a resource hog! So you needs a very quick internet connection, as much RAM as possible, and a fast CPU & display card, also with a bunch of graphics memory. Otherwise, if you run short of resources, GT will bog down the system so much that WSJTX can't decide! I have the gadgets CPU/gpu monitor tool & have seen GT force the CPU go to 100%. That will interfere with your FT8 operation!

[@amnchode]

What do you define as "a fast CPU "....I ran this on a Raspberry Pi without issue over a phone hot spot connection, till the RPi went Tango Uniform. I would never consider a RPi fast. Now I'm running it on a little palm sized mini PC (that has a slightly smaller footprint than the RPi, but a lil thicker), with a little n5105 chip... It's quick for what it is, but that isn't saying a lot. The only time I had any real issues was out in the field doing POTA ops, and the lookups were showing it down over the hotspot, so I just disabled the lookup for contacts... Problem solved

[@jptucsonaz8503]

@@amnchode Well, I was referring to a Windows box... Pi's work well because they don't have all of the junky garbage & overhead with tons of stuff you don't need/or aren't using; read that .dll's. I once had a Windows PC at work that had over 900 .dll's loaded at once, and it only needed about 50 or 60. Let's just say that the Pi OS is far more efficient.

[@amnchode]

@@jptucsonaz8503 not saying Raspbian/Debian/Linux isn't more efficient (and I'm not the biggest fan of Windows bloat either), but a RPi, that still doesn't hold a candle to most x86 systems, handled it capably...More importantly, nothing stops you from running Linux on said x86 systems. However, what I didn't mention was when I made the switch to the mini-pc, the mini-pc running a low power CPU (re: 10W TDP), even with Windows 11 Pro, ran WSJT-X and GridTracker better than the RPi.... as did my daughter's old cheap Acer laptop, which happens to benchmark lower, that I used until I replaced my RPi with the mini-pc. Both running onboard Intel UHD GPUs. These are far from fast systems, albeit that they'd smoke my dad's desktop in his shack. Hence my inquiry as to what you are considering "fast"... Anything purchased within the last 5 years or so, shouldn't have any trouble...

[@Aerial51Photography]

I's it mac compatible would like to

[@hamradiotube]

Well this whole video along with everything you will ever see on my channel is shot and edited with Apple products. Except for most of my web cams. It is 100% Mac compatible.

[@stephanusleclerc5624]

Lots of good info in this video, and the presenter is clearly a nice fellow. Just some small things in the way of techniques of presenting bug me a bit. BTW I think lots of guys on KZbin do the same kinds of things. Moving the pointer around quickly is distracting and often doesn't draw attention the way the presenter wants. It would be nice to speak a little more slowly and to move between points in a more patient way. Of course, it's possible to start and stop the video, but my thought is that many listeners prefer a more continuous flow of info. Think of the video as if it were happening in a live class. The learning process shouldn't be a race that loses folks' attention. Otherwise, this is a fine video, and the present is a valuable contributor to FT8 info online.

[@wrinkyscarnagecrew]

You're an FT8 user is that like an ntz 48 user? Or closer to a heroin user? Just wondering how dangerous?

[@DonzLockz]

APRS > FT8

[@DJGeorgetheoriginal]

Excellent presentation, thanks. 73’s de N4GCJ.

[@MacoLagames]

Great video my friend, thank you! 73 DE YU4DMR

[@DXingTV]

Hoping to get on FT8 from Jan, and this has really made me excited. VK4FEM 73

[@K6WRF]

OAMS. On Air Message System ;)

[@TheAcidTag]

Off-Air Message System :)