Category Archives: Digital

Articles and Information related to Digital Modes. Topics include PSK, RTTY, JT Modes, APRS, operating using Digital Modes, equipment, software, and more.

Digital, DX, Featured, General, Newsletter, On The Air

DXing and Operating Award Tips

We’ve been pretty active in DX Operating Award programs since we built our station a few years back. Operating Awards provide incentives to get on the air and chase all kinds of contacts and they also help us to understand our station’s and our personal operating strengths and weakness. They also provide motivation to improve the latter.

Yesterday was a banner day for me in terms of completing Operating Award goals. I was able to make the needed contacts to complete two that I’ve been working on for quite some time:

  • Worked All Japan – Requires working and confirming all 47 Prefectures (similar to US states) in Japan
  • Top Band DXCC – Working and confirming 100 DXCC Entities (basically countries) on 160m

Both of these goals were completed using the FT8 digital mode for the remaining handful of contacts. I wanted to take a little time and share some of the techniques that have worked for me in hopes that it might help our readers have more fun and meet their operating goals on the air.

Here are some general techniques and tips for working DX (in no particular order) … You can read the entire article via the link which follows.

Source: Our HAM Station – DX’ing and Operating Award Tips

Fred, AB1OC

Digital, Featured, Newsletter

JTDX – Feature Rich Software for FT8 and Other JT Modes

We’ve recently begun experimenting with a WSJT-X derivative for FT8 and other JT Modes. Its called JTDX. The stated purpose of the JTDX software is (from the JTDX website):

JTDX supports JT9, JT65, T10 and FT8 © digital modes for HF amateur radio communication, focused on DXing and being shaped by the community of DXers.

The latest release candidate of of the JTDX software supports some interesting additional features beyond WSJT-X including:

  • Additional FT8 and JT65 decoder options which can provide improved sensitivity
  • Advanced automatic sequencing and QSO selection features
  • Decoded messaging filtering features

We’ve been testing JTDX V2.0 release candidates here for about a month now. The feature additions definitely provide some useful enhancements. The software is derived from WSJT-X and we’ve been using it here for DX’ing and for weak signal FT8 work on 6 meters. It appears to have most of the features of the current version of WSJT-X with the notable exception of support for specific contest exchanges.

JTDX Main Window and Waterfall

The JTDX software adds a number of FT8 decoding options that are useful on crowded bands and in situations when signals are very weak. These features can be selectively enabled to match band and signal conditions as well as the user’s available CPU horsepower. With all features enabled, JTDX seems to decode more signals on a crowded band than WSJT-X.

You can read more about the features of JTDX and how to get started with it via the link that follows.

Source: JTDX – Feature Rich Software for FT8 and Other JT Modes

Fred, AB1OC

Activities, Digital, Featured, Newsletter, On The Air

CQ WW RTTY Contest Results

The results are in for the 2018 CQ WW RTTY Contest.   The N1FD Multi-Op Entry placed #2 in Area 1 and 14th in North America!

The CQ WW RTTY Contest was held September 29-30, 2018 and the N1FD team operated from the QTH of Fred, AB1OC and Anita, AB1QB.  In addition to Fred and Anita, Dan, AC1EN and Peter, KI1M operated in the contest.

N1FD Claimed Score in CQ WW RTTY 2018
N1FD Claimed Score in CQ WW RTTY 2018

As you can see from the Claimed Score above and the Final Score Below, we busted only 8 QSOs our of 389, resulting in a reduction of less than 10% of our score.  We will receive a report with the details of the errors, which will help us to improve in future contests.

CQ WW RTTY Final Score
CQ WW RTTY Final Score

 

We will host the ARRL International DX Contest – SSB  this weekend, March 1-3, at AB1OC’s and AB1QB’s QTH.  We will again run as a multi-op using the N1FD Call.  If you would like to join us, see the following forum post for more information.

Radio Amateurs Developing Skills Worldwide