WSJT-X Basics in 10 minutes

This does not cover how to set up WSJT-X, only what is on the screen, what it all means and how to do a QSO. I have received a comment about the input volume and agree it should be no more than half way.

[@jchidley]

This is exactly what I was looking for. A quick demonstration of WSJT-X which, as a side effect, explains what WSJT-X is and what it is used for.

[@RobertMacCready]

Setting up WSJT-x is a special art that only a few people can do. Just getting the mysterious drivers in the right place takes time and you can experience loads of frustration. Maybe that's why I can't find a video that slow walks you through the setup. If I ever figure it out, I just might do a video on it.

[@adamg1zhd]

I keep tell myself I need to do one but haven't got around to it. Really it needs a PC or VM that is a new install before you start, but also, it does differ slightly dependant on what transciever you are using and if a seperate interface/soundcard is required. With newer ICOMs, even as late back as the 7600 and 7100, it's pretty straight forward, if you know how. I might just try and creat a 10 minute video on how mine is setup, may would be a start, for sure.

[@johnorchard6158]

Adam. I really appreciate this video. Exactly what I needed. 73.

[@TheJanez59]

I found at last, simple but efective ! Some yoputubers are doing veryvery long versions of this simple demonstration....

[@lanceriffle4841]

Thanks, to the point and no bull.

[@Dervin75]

Thanks for FT8 info here.......hope to do some FT8 soon

[@14404145]

Very good information and well presented. Thank you William w2wc

[@decioxy]

Helped me, yes Sir! Thanks! De PU2PYB - Brazil

[@adamg1zhd]

If you leave a thumbs down please tell me why and I will do what I can to improve it.

[@adamg1zhd]

The cables you use for radio control and sound I/O. WSJT-X only links to the COM ports and Sound Ports avaialble to it. The Drivers for the USB cable, for example, set up the ports.

[@STREETTV26]

Very nice demonstration, 73 de 7X2GK

[@zachreyhelmberger894]

Great presentation!

[@tonywalker8250]

Excellent, thanks.

[@archstanton9182]

Of all the FT8 videos I have seen in the past few weeks, this is one of the best.

[@BlackHamRadioUniversity]

looked and did not see the drivers for Mac. I looked on the Icom website before posting this and did not see it. I saw the drivers for Windows but not Mac.

[@adamg1zhd]

WSJT-X does not user Drivers. Only the USB cable to your radio or sound device will need them. So you need a USB cable with drivers compatible with Mac.

[@BlackHamRadioUniversity]

@@adamg1zhd and what cables are those?

[@brian.7966]

well done thank you.

[@samuel7155]

Very useful! Thanks kp4smc 73’s

[@rayharkins9564]

Question. I went in and set the items I wanted to follow by color. It only shows the cq, transmit and incoming call but none of the other colors like new grid, country or other items I checked. Any idea what the heck I am doing wrong? Great video thank you..Kb6lqv

[@adamg1zhd]

Hi Ray, I have all the 'Decode Highlighting' items ticked accept for 'LoTW User' and 'CQ in message'. Are you saying you aren't receiving anything but CQs and incoming items, or that they are they only ones highlighted? If they are the only items then do you have the 'CQ only' box ticked above the recieving signal strength meter?

[@dougtaylor7724]

Very good mate!

[@4X4-RADIO]

You should turn your "Audio In" down You are clipping, going Red... set to @ 30~35dB on a clear frequency

[@adamg1zhd]

I couldn't work out how to do it with Windows 10 before but have fixed it since making the video. Cheers.

[@larrychristensen5917]

@@adamg1zhd how did you adjust the level. I'm running windows 10 and can't get it lowered.

[@adamg1zhd]

@@larrychristensen5917 Sound Settings, input, chose the device (USB.. ), select Device properties. You can also rename the device there to RX Input for example.

[@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

[@adamg1zhd]

I'm sure you have the answer by now but just incase not, you just need to type in the country letters in between CQ and your callsign in Tx 6, e.g. CQ NA G1ZHD IO92 for North America. However, if the combination of your callsign the extra country characters and the locator are too long for the display screen then it will just show as < >. It should still be sending the correct letters.

[@n1kkri]

@@adamg1zhd I appreciate your post. When I do that It transmits mycall FN41 Note the brackets and the underscore. Someone else told me it could not be done with a letter and number. no good with P4 either, what works is just the letter "P" I have tried it with 4 letters and it works. If I use 5 letters I get the brackets.

[@nicksmit489]

I had hoped to do FT8 with software only but apparently still require the interface hardware to my Yaesu radio for anything to work. I am really disappointed as I thought it is computer to computer communication?

[@adamg1zhd]

Well the comms is still RF but the computer codes and decode the message. Which Yaesu do you have?

[@napomania]

from last weeks i've tryed to operate in FT8 bu i can't transmit. i don't know if it's a problem of PC or some issue of the radio

[@adamg1zhd]

What radio are you using? So are you receiving signals and have you selected the right com port for the audio. Also check the figure in DT. If more than +/- 1.5 you will need to syncronise you PC clock to the net.

[@thomashenderson603]

is there a way on the left panel to show the contacts that you already made?

[@adamg1zhd]

If I understand your question correctly, all I do is in the Colour Settings, I deselect the option to highlight in green "CQ in message...." and "LoTW user", that way the callsigns I've already in my WSJT logbook are not highlighted.

[@thomashenderson603]

@@adamg1zhd Perfect! Thank you

[@K5JHP-John]

How do you dislay country? Mine does not. Have not found that setting.

[@adamg1zhd]

John, I've had a look at mine and I can't see any settings that would allow you to switch the Country on/off. They only way I can do it is to reduce the width of the window, so you just can't see it. Also, Country only shows on CQ calls, and only once you have already contacted the DXCC and ITU zone in which a Country exists. I will keep looking and let you know if I find any other possible reasons.

[@K5JHP-John]

@@adamg1zhd I will check it again tonight... once the thunderstorms clear out. in my local area.

[@kg5pte]

How do you adjust higher your db gain in the left corner of the screen ?

[@adamg1zhd]

You need to adjust the input of the USB volume through device settings in Windows. Open Sound Settings, select the USB input device, Device Properties and adjust the volume.

[@carld1568]

Thanks for the instruction. Carl KA9WYK

[@rayharkins9564]

What is a normal transmit power setting for FT8?

[@adamg1zhd]

Short answer, 30w. Long answer: I know it's not useful but the right answer is 'as low as possible'. You somewhat need to guage the power for the day and difficulty in getting the QSO. Of course propagation, antenna, location, receiver conditions, all have a big impact, as in any other mode. I personally normally operate between 30w and 100w, but this is often too much for any QSOs, especially when using my beam. For the beam 6m-20m I would typically use about 30w but for the wire 30m-160m I often use 100w. However, I have made many contacts on 10w or even less. My recommendation would be to start at 10w, after 3 no replies try 30w and keep increasing until you get there. With FT8 it's often better to TX on a different Hz if you are struggling, just in case of a pile up, rather than increasing the power. Often with FT8 it's a matter of patience rather than power. I certainly would avoid QRO in FT8, even for distance, all it does is spread the BW and upsets people.

[@rayharkins9564]

Thank you

[@zhaqirhussein]

I used JTDX, my radio yaesu ft 450, when pressing the enable tx menu the frequency jumps to another frequency, I think you have a solution ?, thanks

[@adamg1zhd]

Sorry Zhaqir, I'm not a JTDX user.

[@zhaqirhussein]

@@adamg1zhd thanks

[@gamestv4875]

I don't receive anything. Where can I find a setup video?

[@adamg1zhd]

What radio are you using and how are you connecting it to the computer?

[@TimothyKingRealtor]

@@adamg1zhd I am getting nothing. Using Ham Radio Deluxe, a Signalink USB, and Yaesu FT-891.

[@adamg1zhd]

@@TimothyKingRealtor Tim, have you sorted it or do you still need help? Email me if you do. [e-mail]

[@SirSteveFury]

If I understand correctly, the purpose of the software is only to display transmitter statistics? I think it would be more practical to also view broadcasted info or conversations. If I happen to receive from a transmitter in Ukraine, for example I'd be more interested in the broadcast and not so much transmitter statistics. I don' think this program is useful to me. But yes, thanks for the video. Neither thumbs up or down.

[@adamg1zhd]

Sorry Steve, I'm not sure what you mean by Transmitted and Broadcast stats. The purpose of the SW is to work the FT8 mode. The purpose of the video is to simply shows how the SW works in regards to FT8. I do not have anything to do with the FT8 or WSJT-X design, I think you should feed your comments back to the originators.

[@SirSteveFury]

@@adamg1zhd Hi Adam. I've been a casual SW DX'er for about 50 years but only recently recently got a good quality receiver (PL990) which opened the door to SSB. I've been messing with the SSB for about 4 months now. I noticed folks like to participate in the distance competitions. I'm a complete noob to digital comm. I first used PSK31 and enjoyed monitoring conversations. I came across the FT8 in my research and the WSJT-X is very popular so I tried it. All I could get regarding messages was station ID (Call sign, location etc). All the info I could find anywhere about the WSJT-X shows it only displaying station ID, which leads me to the possibility that it is exclusively used for the DX competitions. I understand the fun the distance competitions are to operators, but I personally am not as interested in them as a RX only. Hope that makes sense. I came across the software js8call which works with the FT8 mode and displays the conversations. You have a well produced video and "Thank you" for publishing it, and I give you the thumbs up that it deserves. My original reply wasn't meant to be criticism, sorry if I came off that way. 👍👍

[@adamg1zhd]

@@SirSteveFury I understand now Steve, thanks for the message. Yes FT8 isn't so interesting for SWLing, as it is a fixed set of messages, not a conversation as you get with other modes such as JS8call. It's more used for Grid chasing rather than DX but I have worked Aus and NZ using mode, as well as many UK squares.