Partly out of curiosity and partly because jeff, ke9v, shamed me into it, i setup my signalink interface, downloaded wsjtx, and started operating ft8, the latest shiny object from the k1jt team. Wsjt x ft8 the easy way with the icom 7300 youtube. In this video i cover the download locations for wsjtx, how to run it and using the built in logging capability. When setting up your transceiver for ft8 or other similar. These features can be selectively enabled to match band and signal conditions as well as the users available cpu horsepower.
It decodes multiple signals at once, and is very good even for overlapping signals via signal subtraction, particularly for ft8. For digimodes on a single frequency, like ft8, this isnt really important but could be handy. Then, turn on the ic7610 first and next turn on the pc. The first step is to create a micro sdcard with the remotetx raspberry pi software on it. This software includes support for recent icom radios like mine. Ft8 is included in a beta release of wsjtx, version 1. Technical corner operating in the ft8 mode with the ic. Among its biggest advantages is a shorter transmitreceive. Ft8 mode is latest bright shiny object in amateur radio. But ft8 is an extremely narrowband mode, around 50 hz wide. Hopefully, this guide will allow you to get your pc connected to your icom radio with the minimum of effort.
Yes, rf power is high, both on rig and wsjt window. The following instructions assume you have already wsjtx installed and configured, and that you know how to use it to make standard ft8 mode qso. Fb news readers who read the technical article operating the ft8 mode with the ic 7610, described in the december 2017 issue, asked us to show the settings for the ic 7300. Wsjt is a computer program used for weaksignal radio communication between amateur radio operators.
Jtdx adds a number of ft8 decoding options that are useful on crowded bands and in situations when signals are very weak. I occasionally hear folks transmitting an ft8 and their mic is also on. I am using a cat cable that works with fldigi and a signalink usb. Ft8 qsos are 4 times faster than those made with jt65 or jt9. Only a usb cable should be used to connect between your ic 7300 and a pc. When i try to reply to a cq, the xcvr goes into xmit mode, but there is no power output. Icom usb cat and digimode interface guide first of all, thank you for purchasing my icom cat and digimode interface cable set.
This guide is for the seasoned ft8 op, the beginner and those who are not sure if they really want to give it a go but would like to learn what its all about. Your interface comes with a full 12 month warrantee against material failure. The ft8 digital mode is the latest in a series of weak signal applications for amateur radio. Icom cat and digi mode interface guide first of all, thank you for purchasing my icom cat and digimode interface cable. Jtdx feature rich software for ft8 and other jt modes. The digital signal processing techniques in wsjt make it substantially easier for amateur radio operators to employ esoteric propagation modes, such. Ft8 operating guide work the world on hf using the new digital mode by gary hinson zl2ifb version 1. Another thing to remember is to control linear, etc. Ft8digitalmode ft8 with icom ic7610 jean, i have a ic7610 and would appreciate knowing all of the settings that you used with wsjtx and fldigi for jt8. These modes were all designed for making reliable, confirmed qsos under extreme weaksignal conditions. Next go to the radio tab and try the mode settings, i had one radio that needed to be on usb and the. Icom ic7300, using digital modes pskrttyft8 youtube. Also included, additional settings, making a contact and finally importing wsjtx log into hrd logbook. Ft4 dx contest 2020 is scheduled for the weekend of february 29 march 1, 2020.
This is done by downloading the rtx04 image file below and then using the etcher software program to copy the image to a 8gb or larger micro sdcard. If it works on other models, please drop me a line so i can amend the instructions. Always use low power 2040w to avoid unnecessary interference to other hams. Unlike jt65 or jt9, transmit and receive cycles in ft8 each last about 15 seconds. Wsjtx implements communication protocols or modes called ft4, ft8, jt4, jt9, jt65, qra64, iscat, msk144, and wspr, as well as one called echo for detecting and measuring your own radio signals reflected from the moon.
It also made no difference if i used usb or usb digital. In the case of 40m, you set your radio to upper sideband yes, upper, even on 40m and 80m and tune it to 7074 khz. Jtdx ham radio software for jt65, jt9, t10 and ft8 modes download latest version. Since i could not find an ic746pro in the radio list i used the icom amateur radios early like i did with the ic706. With all features enabled, jtdx seems to decode more signals on a crowded band than wsjtx.
As wsjtx or more correctly, hamlib, doesnt officially support the icom ic7610 yet, ive made a video explaining how to get it running. Configuring the ic7600 and wsjtx for operation using a. Radio set to digital mode each time that i tried to transmit. The latest version of the ic7300 firmware also appears to be version 1. Audio both ways over the usb is straightforward and ptt over usb is easy if youre willing to use cat. If you want to control the frequency and key the radio in rtty mode and at the same time, switch between the mark and space using the serial port, but without using dtsrts pins, then you need the capability to have two serial ports on the radio, for which a ct17 compatible cable is needed. Step one is to make sure the pc recognizes the ic7600 usb hardware in device manager. Get the drivers and choose the usb sound as the input and output devices. All ft8 activity well, practically happens in the 3 khz or so bandwidth of a typical ssb qso. My k3 has a digital mode that bypasses the equalizer and has its own mic input level setting. The software is based on wsjtx, so hams familiar with wsjtx will feel right at home with ft8call.
Once you get it installed i have a few more videos on the icom 7300 to improve reception, transmit and make the wsjtx wide graph waterfall look its best. If you have or are thinking of diving into the ft8 digi world i was made aware via a dutch blogger paul pa0k his brand new call of this amazing ft8 operating guide by gary hinson zl2ifb. This is a common problem, apparently, but i havent been able to configure for my particular rigcomputer. Contacts are four times faster than with jt65 or jt9, and an entire ft8 contact can take place in about 1 minute.
This post shows the settings i use with my ic7300 for digital modes over the usb connection from the 7300 to a windows computer. How to configure an icom ic7300 for ft8 on this weeks episode of digital dorsey. When ft8, jointly developed by joe taylor and steve franke k9an, was announced it was described as being designed for, multihop es where signals may be weak and fading, openings may be short, and you want fast completion of reliable, confirmable qsos. Your interface comes with a 30 day no questions satisfaction guarantee and full 12 month. Answers like that are written by people who arent using an ic735 for ft8, and dont understand our issues arent in any of the manuals. Click the ok button to close the setting screen, and then the main wsjtx screen is displayed. Those are all basic settings, and you can now operate in the ft8 mode. The 7300 is very simple to set up and get on hf with digital modes, all you need is a usb cable and a computer. It is set mode to set, two of usb mode level of mode 56 and data mode of mode 59. Conceived originally for enhancing esoteric propagaint modes such as high speed meteor scatter and moonbounce, joe taylor k1jt developed a series of applications including fsk144, jt6m, jt65, and jt9.
Here is a decent you tube video of wsjtx you will want to visit dxlab site getting started with k1jt modes using wsjtx, jtalert, and dxlab i will focus on ft8 since it is the hottest mode at this time. As you probably know, this mode has really caught on with the digital crowd, and the waterfall is chock full of ft8 signals. Heres how i successfully configured the ic9100 for wsjtx v1. Steve k9an and i have developed a potential new mode for wsjtx. I can get the ft8 waterfall with appropriate decoding. This solution may also work on other early icom radios. It is similar to ft8, but we are able to make longer transmissions. Typical applications include meteor scatter, eme moonbounce, and qrp communication at hf. Ft8 requires a connection between the radio and the computer usually a usb connection in order for the program to control the radio. Ft8 is a weak signal mode and not a high power mode. Recently, most transceivers have a useful usb port to process sound data.
I am new to this mode trying to get on jt8 for the first time. Ft8 digital mode ft8 with icom ic 7610 i got it working by selecting ic 7600 in wsjtx and then setting the civ address in the 7610 to 7ah, which matches the 7600s address. Ft8call hitting the ham bands ham radio with k0pir. But, with poor conditions like we have experienced at solar minimum, ft8call.
The 8 denotes modes 8frequency shift keying format. Make sure your computer mic is off and gain is set correctly. The wsjt project currently includes five programs designed for amateur radio communication using state of the art digital techniques. But when i transmit, my audio scope is a flatline and i never get responses. From the website, if propagation is good enough for a faster mode, you should be using it instead. Its still in beta testing, but ft8 the latest digital bauble to capture the imagination of the amateur radio community has been luring away many of those already using the popular jt65 weaksignal mode. Main dxpeditions use a variation of the standard ft8 mode, known as foxhound fh in short or also as ft8 dxpedition mode. Dx engineering how to configure an icom ic7300 for ft8. In this video i cover the download locations for wsjtx, running wsjtx and using it logging capability, settings, making a contact and finally importing wsjt. Some of the blogs discuss the challenge of configuring the ic7600 and wsjtx for operation using a usb cable. In the comments are the required settings file, and some extra advice in the form of screenshots of the radios menu settings. The program was initially written by joe taylor, k1jt, but is now open source and is developed by a small team. Download jtdx software for jt65, jt9, t10 and ft8 modes.