Friday, August 17, 2018

FT8Call a new mode??

I already knew FT8Call being developed for a couple of months. KN4CRD Jordan announced his ideas several times on the portabledigitalQRP facebook group. Now, yesterday I saw FT8Call announced at the QRZnow site as being a new mode. Well it isn't! But it is a nice development since the concept is the same as we tested with FSQ last year. Only this time FT8 is choosen as so to say the bearer of information I guess it will be more populair because of this.

Just for the log filler lovers, this isn't about log filling. Yes you can log your contact, but everything is more about making a real contact and exchanging information in difficult situations like when you're portable or in worst case scenarios like a emergency. You always have advantages and disadvantages and in this case the  choice for FT8 is great because it is more sensitive as normal FSK like PSK modes etc. and it is reasonable fast. The disadvantage with this kind of mode is still that you are depending on the internet or satellites for time keeping as everyone needs to be on the exact same time for synchronisation.

It goes too far to write down all the features that are build into this software. I guess you better read about it here. However to give you a example this is a list of commands you can give to obtain info from others:

allcall [message] - broadcasting this message to all stations in network
cqcqcq [message] - broadcasting this message to those with cq enabled
[callsign]:? - what is my signal report
[callsign]:|[message] - relay this message (CALL1|CALL2|CALL3 Message)
[callsign]:@ - what is your station qth (location)?
[callsign]:& - what is your station qtc (message)?
[callsign]:$ - what stations have you heard?
[callsign]:% - what is your station information?

Personally I've just installed the software for review. I didn't have to time yet and still not have time to completely test it. But I keep an eye on the development and find it very interesting. Still keep in mind the software is in development and you can still contribute with ideas on the FT8Call group.
It is not a new mode and it is not a new idea but the concept is great!


5 comments:

Paul Stam PAØK said...

Hallo Bas, toevallig post ik vandaag ook over FT8Call, grappig. We verlengen toch weer terug naar de PSK31 mogelijkheden. Ik houd niet zo van rag chew op een keyboard. Type altijd verkeerde tekst. ;-) 73 Paul PAØK

PE4BAS, Bas said...

Hallo Paul, hier zijn toch wel wat meer mogelijkheden mee als met PSK....rag chew is niet voor iedereen....73, Bas

Paul Stam PAØK said...

Ongetwijfeld. Gisteren weer wat QSO's gemaakt met JT65A op 40 meter. Heerlijk die geluidjes weer te horen en heerlijk langzaam. ;-) 73 Paul PAØK

Hans said...

Hallo Bas, de laatste tijd kun je duidelijk merken dat steeds meer amateurs teruggaan naar JT65 en JT9. En terecht, vanwege het groter bereik door de gevoeligheid.
FT8 blijf ik persoonlijk zien als een logfiller. FT8 komt duidelijk minder ver en het enigste voordeel is dat je veel QSO's kunt maken binnen een beperkte tijd. Nee, geef mij maar de JT65, JT9 etc. waar ik met weinig vermogen mooie afstanden kan overbruggen. Dat is voor mij kicken. En zo heeft ieder zijn persoonlijke voorkeur. 73 Hans, PE1BVQ

PE4BAS, Bas said...

Hans, dit programma gebruikt FT8 alleen als drager. Je kan loggen maar dat is niet de hoofdzaak. Ff goed lezen. Het is FSQ in een FT8 jasje. 73, Bas