New Mode FT8Call Hitting The Ham Bands
Download and Installation
It's in the beginning stages so it's a little difficult finding the download link. You'll have to join the Groups.io Forum. You can find it here.
FT8Call is available for Windows, Linux and Raspberry Pi at this time and will be available for the MacOS at a later date.
Setting it up for the Icom 7300 and Icom 7610 is a breeze.
Use something for time sync. I use NetTime.
Here's a nice video I did last week. It covers the download and installation on Windows.
Operating Basics
It's a little tricky at first, but a very simple program. I like the simple interface. It's very familar since I have been using WSJT-X.
Unlike FT8, this new mode requires user intervention.
If you’ve used Fldigi or WSJT-X before, you’ll feel right at home with FT8Call. The premise is that FT8Call changes the encoding structure of FT8 modulated messages, breaking up long freetext messages into multiple back to back transmission frames / cycles. - FT8Call Document
Standard Messages
Standard messages are freetext messages that do not start with a callsign or a directed command. These messages will only print at another’s station location if they align their receive offset within 10Hz of your transmit offset. This is operation similar to other keyboard-to-keyboard digital modes, like Olivia, RTTY, and PSK. - FT8Call Document
Directed Messages
Directed messages are special FT8Call transmissions that automatically prefix your message with your callsign, similar to how FSQCall operates. Directed messages are useful for communicating in that you do not have to include your callsign in your message, allowing you to use more of the transmission frame(s) for actual message text, as well as alerting the recipient that a message was sent to them. As long as you are in the same passband, you do not have to be on the same frequency offset to receive a directed message. - FT8Call Document
Read and understand those and you'll be in good shape.
FT8Call cannot be decoded by WSJT-X and WSJT-X messages will not be shown in FT8Call. - FT8Call Document
Here's a nice little quick start guide and making a QSO.
A big thanks to subscribers and everyone who posts questions, comments and sends emails to me with ideas and suggestions. I sincerely appreciate it and hope this website helps Ham operators.
If you have a question please comment below. I will do my best to answer it and your experience will undoubtedly help others as well.
UPDATE: See my new article on JS8Call
Sources:
The workstation in my Ham shack:
I’ll be glad to try it out when the MacOS version comes out.
I’ve given up on ft8 because there’s little operator involvement and it never seemed like a “real” QSO.
Hi Jesse,
Nice to hear from you and I know what you’re saying about FT8.
I kinda like FT8Call and the ability to send short messages. It sees to be good in even poor conditions. I don’t lose anything.
I’m looking forward to the MacOS too.
73
Rich, K0PIR
There is a MacOS version now. I’m using it and it works well!
Awesome Steve and thank you.
Hope to hear you on the air.
73,
Rich, K0PIR
Rich:
Have you experimented with using GPS for your time settings when portable?
So far I have just used cell data for my time.
Jim KD0S
Hey Jim,
How’s it going? No I haven’t. Another Ham OH8STN uses a GPS device with his RaspberryPi and FT8.
When I go camping and don’t have Internet access to sync FT8 is still good for quite some time.
JS8Call actually has a manual sync. In the JS8Call menu, click on Window>Show Time Drift Controls. You’ll see the buttons at the bottom after doing that.
Talk to you later.
Rich, K0PIR
Hi Rich. Does FT8call work with windows 7 or only windows 10?
Hi Trent,
Nice to hear from you and good question. I only see on the website Windows 10 supported. You could try on Win7. Thank you for commenting here and thanks for posting your question. Best 73!
Rich, K0PIR