making FT8 QSOs with WSJT-x on 20M

[@K6TJO]

Oh the screeching noise. Thanks for including that.

[@warplanner8852]

Thank you! You made the right decision to keep all the attempts in the video. Instead of blathering about all the options and other features, we got to see what was involved in just making Qs. Good show, ON!

[@AG6AG]

Glad it was helpful! Stu AG6AG

[@GeezerDust]

Appreciate the real world demo, so new comers(like myself) know what to expect. Enjoy all your videos.

[@HumanTimeMachine]

All I hear is distorted FT8. It is difficult to hear your voiceover

[@brucerobson8284]

Thank you for the great example, I’m just starting out in ft8 and this was real helpful.

[@AG6AG]

No worries! Glad you enjoyed it. Stu AG6AG

[@WiliRaqila]

tnx for your kindness

[@vegas_pyrotechnics9820]

If you like ft8 you should get grid tracker...you can visualize all that's going on...even more addicting when you start seeing your contacts :-)..also JT Alert....73

[@porfok8798]

It’s good demostration.

[@AG6AG]

Thanks! Stu AG6AG

[@o2bnov0307]

Hi Stu. I just purchased the Digirig, and want to take it to the park tomorrow for an operation. I am not sure what will happen. I've written down FT-891 settings. How do you send CQ, RST, Rig, and 73? Are those settings in WSJT? Thank you for your help. 73 de David AE4LH

[@AG6AG]

Hi David, WSJT-x will auto create the exchanges and send them. If you are sending CQ it will automatically start reply to them and send the proper messages. If you are pouncing, then once you select the station calling CQ it will automatically send the correct exchanges. Hope that helps, Stu AG6AG

[@lizzyfan1986]

Excellent video

[@billdillon8139]

I noticed when you double-click the line for the station calling CQ, it automatically starts you transmitting. What is the WSJT command for that? I double click the same line but then I have to click the red TRANSMIT manually. I've been doing FT8 since Oct2020.

[@AG6AG]

Hi Bill, There is a checkbox on the General Settings Tab, Check "Double-click on call sets TX enable". That should do it! Stu AG6AG

[@chrishays4835]

What radio you using and what s/w on the computer?

[@AG6AG]

I'm using an FTdx3000 running WSJT-X software. Stu AG6AG

[@michaelbass9654]

Great video Stu. There is a cool trick in WSJT-x to help find CQs from calls you haven't worked yet. Go into File -> Settings then click the Colors tab. Look for the green "CQ in message" line and un-check that one. After clicking "ok" any station that is already in your log will no longer be highlighted in the "Band Activity" window. 73 de Mike N7WLC

[@AG6AG]

Thanks Mike, but I must be missing something. When I turn off the Green highlight I loose all CQ highlighting. What am I missing?

[@AG6AG]

OK I think I got this figured out... I need to check all the rest of the CQ colors to have this work. Wow, never looked at this before. I think I need to play a bit and do another video!

[@markgriffin2285]

Let's say you have a DX station that is not calling CQ. You want to call him so how do I do that on WSJT-X? DE KB3Z

[@jaescalantel2]

HI , Jose EA4IL , I don´t understand well how does it work the graphics you can see in the program , Could you help me ?? thanks

[@AG6AG]

Hi Jose, The main window contains two activity windows. The left activity window are all of the signals you are receiving. The right activity window shows Three types of signals: 1) The signal that your RX frequency is set to. 2) Any signal that contains your call sign. 3) What you are transmitting Default color coding is set to the following: Green: CQ calls Red: Transmissions with our call in them Yellow: What you are sending. So, the short answer is look for a green line on the left side and double click it when it appears. You will begin transmitting to that station on the right side and your receive frequency will set to that frequency. Hope that helps! Stu AG6AG

[@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 my callsign Thanks, Ken

[@AG6AG]

Hi Ken, WSJT-x allows for a two letter identifier in the "Tx 6" "Std Msgs" between CQ and your call. I'm pretty sure it requires ALPHA and not NUMERIC. So... You could use the two letter country abbreviation, but that's probably all the mode is capable to support. How that helps! Stu AG6AG

[@n1kkri]

@@AG6AG for example Aruba is P43 There is more than 1 Country that uses the letter "P" I have tried several combos and cannot seem to get it to work. CQ P43 xxxx FN41 the xxxx= my call sign. I am pretty sure I tried just P4 and that didn't work either. Would like to see some examples but so far have not found a single one or a video showing how to do it. Thanks, Ken

[@AG6AG]

Hi Ken, This document might help answer your questions: w4hfh.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/FT8_Operating_Tips1.pdf. The place that discusses what you are trying to do and it's limitations is '8.6'. As it shows these are non numeric letters limited to 2. This is a limitation of the mode not the software. Hope that's a little more clear. Stu AG6AG

[@n1kkri]

@@AG6AG Thanks, unfortunately a number is what my problem was. Aruba is "P4" I guess that means you can't call CQ P4. At least that answers the problem I was having.

[@patcahill7056]

Hi, where do you log your contacts too, do you have a free downloaded log that syncs with the ft8 program ?

[@AG6AG]

Hi Pat, I use a free logging software called Log4OM. It trolls the WSJT-x log and when it sees a new QSO it downloads it into my master log and then updates all the online logs I subscribe to. I have a few videos on Log4OM if you are interested. Stu AG6AG

[@patcahill7056]

@@AG6AG Hi yes.New to this digital stuff so any info is welcome.THanks.

[@patcahill7056]

Hi Stuart, using your advice I downloaded LOG4OM and set it up using your settings and it is great. Using 50W into my end fed which is about 20 feet above ground the best qso is South Africa. Truly amazing. My display is not the same as yours on the rx winxow but hey I get the contacts. It is good when I want to operate when other people are in the room and I need to keep the noise down, ie, no talking. Always enjoy your videos.

[@AG6AG]

@@patcahill7056 Great!

[@softwarephil1709]

Please turn off radio sound. It’s annoying.

[@AG6AG]

Hi Phil, I originally included the audio to help folks that were having decode issues due to misconfigured filters or notches on their receive side. But I must agree, it would probably been better to only put the audio on for a short time and explain why it was there... Hind sight is 20/20... -- Stu

[@jerryf3375]

I don't get it .... your not talking to anyone...your not working to make a contact. ...you dont do anything but bring up a call on a computer and your not even doing that... the computer is... Where is the satisfaction? Do you really have a sense of accomplishment from something here ? You know nothing about the person.. Your not sharing personal experiences, You can literally just leave it on a couple of days and pretty much work all countries... or all states .. and you didn't do anything to earn it .and know nothing about any of the people you quote "worked" ...

[@AG6AG]

That pretty much sums things up Jerry... It's a great mode if you're just trying to get an idea where you signal will go, or just want to rack up the QSOs for contests or awards. I personally prefer PSK31 or RTTY for my digital contacts, but sometimes there's nothing out there to work so I resort to FT8. One think I will say, the mode has brought back a lot of hams to the hobby, and for that I am glad it was invented! Stu AG6AG

[@jerryf3375]

@@AG6AG agreed . Psk31 I just got into it . Used to do rtty years ago but most everyone just di teletype for contests it seems like . No ragchews... but psk31 dies have some ragchewers