WSJT-X "Improved" The New Way To FT8!

[@TChachra]

+1 Dark Mode.... :) - thanks for the video Mike.....

[@haxboi5492]

Perfect for a long sesh of ft8

[@bryanpegg1445]

I've been using the improved version for about 9 months now. I like it better than the standard version. The halt TX n high SWR is a nice feature. It works well when you forget to switch antennas when switching bands.

[@KG6NLW]

Now you have to get GridTracker 2 setup! I'm glad to see WSJT-X picking up settings that JTDX has had for a while!

[@MI7DJT]

Also in the Archlinux AUR for any Arch guys.

[@KD0MMF]

Thanks for making us aware of these upgraded features Mike! I would not have known this on my own! I do appreciate the work you put in to make a nice video like this as well. Cheers and happy holidays to you man

[@MikeK7LVH]

Cool improvements! Thanks for letting the rest of us in on the secret bud 👍👍

[@skihatandy2789]

Thanks Mike. I just built a new computer and this video was so helpful.

[@shannonestep5506]

If you double right click, it will move transmit/receive together, well on my windows version it does. Excellent video Mike.

[@sfrahm1]

I've been using the improved version for a while, but not having used it for a couple months I see they have been busy, adding even more features.

[@JeffTownsend-hf1nz]

If you type in a call and a grid and hit Add, it will be saved. With just the call, Lookup will retrieve the saved grid. This is handy when using 6 digit grids on VHF, UHF, and microwaves. This feature has been in WSJT-X for some time.

[@ko4mkp]

Thanks for the great video. I hope you and your family have a wonderfull Christmas and New Year. 2024 flew by.

[@Tommy_Boy.]

You had me at “Oregon Trail”. 🤣🤘🐓🎸

[@dorvinion]

I like that it does cloudlog natively. One thing that would be nice is an API for remote operation. Though i imagine the waterfall might be a challenge. Perhaps interpolate based on received signals...

[@vrb1960]

N3FJP has this feature, I’ve used it for years.

[@dorvinion]

@@vrb1960 Linux user so no dice on that I know I can do remote with WFView. Reminding me of that gave me a reason to think about getting a ZimaBoard/Blade

[@donweeks467]

Nice Mike. Wonder if the filters filter for Grid tracker also. Will have to play it with it and see.

[@Davidjb37721]

Thanks for your time

[@W8MJL]

Dark mode, for guys like me that have eye light sensitivity, is a fantastic setting. Everything i have is set on dark mode if it has it.

[@sarahbutterfly6229]

You can right click then left click to set your rx/tx markers. Or you can just ctrl click and it moves both at the same time.

[@sean-sk]

This is sweet. Makes me want to get back into FT8

[@WB8ERJ]

Gimme that dark mode - give it to me now!! Oregon trail is my FAVORITE!!!

[@hamradiotube]

Hahaha!

[@oncomics1128]

Aw, Mike. I wish I had told you about this way back. My bad.

[@hamradiotube]

better late than never

[@quicksc1]

The filter mode will definitely help me to avoid annoying other people because I occasionally respond to DX request when I'm not DX. lol

[@prephampaul]

Figured out the SWR thing, it doesn't seem to work when using CAT via Ham Radio Deluxe, when I connect direct to radio it works.

[@digiital]

WSJT-Z has many if those features as well.

[@dienadel30]

I musta been under a rock too ! Ha it's great !

[@chucksayers1248]

a tip of the derby to these guys

[@_N1PHR_]

OMG!!!! This ROCKS N1PHR

[@maddogshamradio3407]

Thanks for the video Mike. I would like to filter for CQ POTA and have the software play and audio alert. I’ll have to download the new version and see if this can be done. Cheers Marty Mad Dog, VK4KC

[@hb9joi]

JTDX has been able to do most of these improvements for a long time ! And: JTDX decodes faster, has higher signal (SNR-)sensitivity and uses much less processor resources... important for lower CPU Systems .

[@NickFrom1228]

My biggest complaint for WSJT-X on the mac is the UI. I know its free and I do appreciate that but man, they need to do some updates. I was getting to the point I was about to compile my own version so I could fix some of the issues. I guess I better download this version and see if they have addressed any of the issues. thanks Mike.

[@hamradiotube]

What do you not like about it? I think it's pretty polished. Except for the persistent window that pups up if your radio isn't connected. That's on all OS's though. Drives me nuts!

[@NickFrom1228]

@@hamradiotube Well I'm going to admit I have to rub some brain cells together to remember. I tore my office apart to update it and put all my radios away then decided to play musical chairs with rooms in the house and only now got my radios out, but need to move my antenna mast to get it going so lets just say its been a few months since I've messed with it. What I do recall is (on my mac) the mouse detection isn't smooth on some controls, you need to triple click instead of double click on the callsign text field (small but annoying) , if I double click on a callsign in the incoming list, I'd like it to try to contact that callsign instead of always choosing the sender callsign, sometimes when I switch bands it doesn't, I remember something about it calling CQ when I intend for it to call someone I clicked on but don't remember the details. Then of course that popup window if your radio isn't connected is damn annoying. Why not let me get into the app without the radio connected?

[@HamRadioToday]

Its been out for a while, the dev the forked it originally now is part of the OG project's development. A good analogy would be comparing Fedora to Redhat linux now

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

Nifty. I'll have to give WSJT-X another try when I get my new Mac. It doesn't like Ventura since that update 2+ years ago.(No, I can't update my Mac to Sonoma or higher. My Mac is too old.) 73!

[@Eric10179]

10:33 so that’s why I hear talking every once and a while on FT8?

[@brickerhaus]

So instead of pressing the right and left mouse button you can just do cmd click and both rx and tx go the same spot.

[@GreggK6EGG]

FT8 is killing ham radio, thanks for the info!

[@hamradiotube]

It sure is lol!

[@GreggK6EGG]

@@hamradiotube hey btw im running the same version, i don't see where i can add the band buttons in view... ill figure it out

[@hamradiotube]

@@GreggK6EGG. Interesting. I learned it from you so I’m not sure what to tell you.

[@GreggK6EGG]

@@hamradiotube thats scary!

[@GreggK6EGG]

@@hamradiotube found it.. I was on RC 4 you were on RC 7

[@Truckinman2000]

Most of these improvements have been in JTDX for along time. The one thing i do like is where wsjtx wont transmit based on high swr.

[@toddcamnyc]

I’d like to see a POTA color code. I suppose you could make a custom filter to sort out POTA.

[@hamradiotube]

That's what GridTracker is for.

[@Ammed_KN6STX]

I have never tried FT8 gotta give it a try sometime. Need someone to walk me through setting it up!!!

[@MINI-4X4-RADIO]

It's a Fork of WSJT-X Like all Forks... Will it be maintained and kept up to date..?? It's been around since May 2021 IIRC..??

[@mikeg1zrn896]

I'd like an option to ignore calls that don't start with TX1, Locator.

[@KE8TIQ]

I tried it once and wasn't impressed .. I now use SDR Control.

[@crabwire57]

Saw there was a Mac version of the “improved” product. Anyone know if this install requires moving of the macOS memory block?

[@hamradiotube]

I assume you're talking about that terminal thing you need to do when first installing WSJT-X on Mac? No, I did nothing when installing this version other than downloading it and installing it. It just worked. No terminal command needed.

[@crabwire57]

Thank you for the reply! Keep those vids coming! 73 KD8UWF

[@hazer72]

Not sure if the original had this setting, but Improved has an option to add db reports to comments.

[@hamradiotube]

yeah the old version has that. I always have it checked so it goes into my logging software that way.

[@GreggK6EGG]

FYI for everyone watching most of these new functions are available v2.7.1 "RC7" I was running RC4 and most of these functions weren’t available

[@justawfulgamer7738]

What kind of monster prefers "light mode"?!

[@fwaynedavis]

Finally! Dark Mode! This is a God-send for us with light sensitivity.

[@hazer72]

I like the wsjtx-improved version of the colors for dark mode. I think I had to change the text on one but the rest were good.

[@hamradiotube]

Oh good point, I didn't even think about that. I did do a POTA a few weeks ago on FT8 at night and boy was my screen bright! Totally killed my night vision. Perhaps there is a good use for dark mode after all?

[@hazer72]

@@hamradiotube this is the way 🤣

[@skreb9566]

Is there new version of JTDX?

[@hamradiotube]

no clue

[@ac0m-glennthompson432]

Does it support Super Fox/Hound?

[@hamradiotube]

Yep

[@ac0m-glennthompson432]

@@hamradiotube Thanks oh great one!

[@cavdvr99]

I think TO had the person on last year on a Nuggets.. There is 3 version of this.... Normal, Small screen and Wide Screen. Waiting for a quick video on GridTracker2? How come no one is talking about it?

[@hamradiotube]

I just learned about GT2. Just downloaded it but I have to edit a video now.

[@mrkopecky]

Fear is the path to the dark side.

[@cam545]

I blame Gregg for this video

[@Swaggerlot]

I've used JTDX for something like donkey's years, long before FT8. Never liked the WSJT-X GUI and still don't.

[@CQ.W1WC]

I realize this goes against the "spirit" of ft8 ( is there such a thing? it's KILLING ham radio after all :D ), but I like to use the "CQ: Max DB" in WSJTX-I for responding to the strongest signals for pota contacts. I'm all for making those weak signal contacts at home, but if I'm at a park I'd rather make the contacts instead of taking 5 minutes of retries to get that weak one.

[@hamradiotube]

I don’t see anything wrong with that. It’s there for a reason. I don’t hear qrp stations a lot of times and I also don’t make a big habit out of stopping my activation and calling for qrp only stations. Life is not equal or fair. There’s no rules that say you have to do it one way or another. As a qrp operator myself sometimes, that’s a decision I make. I would never ask or expect someone to stop for qrp stations. Sometimes I do out of courtesy but it should never be expected.

[@CQ.W1WC]

@ my thoughts exactly! I'm glad that Improved added that as one of the options over the regular wsjtx

[@davidc5027]

This looks to be a Fork of WSJT-X. Keep that in mind folks. The software development could be merged within the trunk at some point? IDK.

[@DavidInTheDesert]

Be careful of these. WSJT is open source and there are many variations. Some good, some not good.

[@503Nick]

Wooo. 73

[@captdaveclearedtoland8876]

What? No Satan? I want to send him some cat toys. 73

[@eblast105]

Do you not think the Filters are just going to piss folks off. Why not just stick to putting your requested zone/state/country on the CQ... CQ EU, CQ NA, CQ JA. It would save a lot of wasted bandwidth and radio time for the people being ignored/filtered without actually letting them know your ignoring them. I am however liking the rest of the features. SWR TX shutdown is the best.

[@hamradiotube]

You could give out bags of money and someone would complain they're too heavy. 100% of the time, someone is going to complain about something. Plus, people don't listen. I was calling CQ DX on FT8 the other day and had a 6 station try to come back to me. Of course, I ignored him, but the filters are an extra layer that I think would be quite useful in that case. Especially when people are being really persistent and keep trying to work you, even though you're specifically calling CQ DX. Plus, I kinda enjoy pissing people off lol!

[@ChrisStevens61]

​@@hamradiotubeI like the "hide stations worked today or yesterday" filter!

[@Orthodoxuk]

32Bit really?

[@scottgallagher5344]

A WSPR button would have been nice. Dig your power out BTW.

[@hamradiotube]

Lol 69!!

[@adivor9993]

Bello ma rimane ancora molto inferiore second me a JTDX ... provalo

[@proudsnowtiger]

Just to say - dark mode is essential to those of us with eye problems that muck up the dynamic ramge of our light sensitivity. It's a huge accessibility thing. Don't like it? Don't use it. Need it and it's not there? Game over! Live and let live...

[@Siskiyous6]

It needs a dedicated button to block Cuba

[@jerryKB2GCG]

huh, in current wsjt-x moving transmit/receive is a couple of clicks

[@hamradiotube]

I know, but these are different clicks!

[@radiofanuk]

It’s just not radio. It’s a computer speaking to a computer whilst the operator mows the lawn

[@eblast105]

Dark Mode for Original WSJT-X "C:\WSJT\wsjtx\bin\wsjtx.exe --stylesheet :/qdarkstyle/style.qss"