FT8 (short for Franke-Taylor design, 8-FSK modulation) is a frequency shift keying digital mode of radio communication used by amateur radio operators worldwide. Following release on June 29, 2017, by its creators Joe Taylor, K1JT, and Steve Franke, K9AN, along with the software package WSJT, [1] FT8 was adopted rapidly, becoming the most popular digital mode recorded by automatic spotting networks such as PSK Reporter [2] within 2 years.
FT8 is a popular form of digital weak signal communication used primarily by amateur radio operators to communicate on amateur radio bands with a majority of traffic occurring on the HF amateur bands. [3] The mode offers operators the ability to communicate despite unfavorable conditions such as during low solar activity, high RF noise, or with low transmit power. [4] With advances in signal processing technology, software can decode FT8 signals with a signal-to-noise ratio as low as −20 dB in a 2500 Hz bandwidth, which is significantly lower than conventional CW or SSB transmissions. [5]
FT8 involves 77-bit message blocks transmitted in regular 15-second periods, consisting of 12.64 seconds of transmission time and 2.36 seconds of decode time, giving a digital data rate of 6.09 bits/sec. Source encoding gives an effective message throughput equivalent to about 5 words per minute. The required signal-to-noise ratio in a 2500 Hz bandwidth is −21 dB, so the corresponding Eb/N0 is 10 log10(2500/6.09) = 26.1 dB greater, or −21 dB + 26.1 = 5.1 dB. [1]
Although FT8 transmissions occur within fixed time windows, the software can cope with discrepancies between sending and receiving systems of up to a second or two. Provided that they are manually set to the correct time every so often (for example, by using WWV or other time standard broadcasters), conventional computer Real Time Clocks are usually adequate. However, most FT8 users take advantage of online time servers using NTP or time signals from the GPS to achieve and maintain better time accuracy, automatically.
Forward error correction helps achieve reliable communication despite common RF issues such as fading and interference, and weak/noisy signals due to marginal propagation paths, low power operation and inefficient antennas (e.g. in restricted and overcrowded urban locations). If anticipated messages are missed or not acknowledged, the software can re-send them in the next time-slot.
The 77 bits are sufficient for free text messages of up to 13 text characters, reminiscent of SMS (TXT) messages or Tweets, while a clever data compression scheme reduces the number of digital bits required to pass structured messages containing conventional callsigns, reports and locators. Long or unusual callsigns are problematic for the protocol, however, despite using hashing to pass condensed representations. Decoding errors and hash collisions occasionally generate false 'callsigns' creating puzzlement or excitement if they appear to be rare but genuine calls.
There are multiple uses for FT8 including contesting, [6] [7] testing antennas, [8] and for scientific research. [9]
FT8DMC is a popular club dedicated to this digital mode.
The FT8 Operating Guide gives pragmatic advice on using FT8 for HF communications.
In digital radio, packet radio is the application of packet switching techniques to digital radio communications. Packet radio uses a packet switching protocol as opposed to circuit switching or message switching protocols to transmit digital data via a radio communication link.
In amateur radio, QRP operation refers to transmitting at reduced power while attempting to maximize one's effective range. QRP operation is a specialized pursuit within the hobby that was first popularized in the early 1920s. QRP operators limit their transmitted RF output power to 5 W or less regardless of mode.
Radioteletype (RTTY) is a telecommunications system consisting originally of two or more electromechanical teleprinters in different locations connected by radio rather than a wired link. Radioteletype evolved from earlier landline teleprinter operations that began in the mid-1800s. The US Navy Department successfully tested printing telegraphy between an airplane and ground radio station in 1922. Later that year, the Radio Corporation of America successfully tested printing telegraphy via their Chatham, Massachusetts, radio station to the RMS Majestic. Commercial RTTY systems were in active service between San Francisco and Honolulu as early as April 1932 and between San Francisco and New York City by 1934. The US military used radioteletype in the 1930s and expanded this usage during World War II. From the 1980s, teleprinters were replaced by personal computers (PCs) running software to emulate teleprinters.
Automatic Link Establishment, commonly known as ALE, is the worldwide de facto standard for digitally initiating and sustaining HF radio communications. ALE is a feature in an HF communications radio transceiver system that enables the radio station to make contact, or initiate a circuit, between itself and another HF radio station or network of stations. The purpose is to provide a reliable rapid method of calling and connecting during constantly changing HF ionospheric propagation, reception interference, and shared spectrum use of busy or congested HF channels.
Slow-scan television (SSTV) is a picture transmission method, used mainly by amateur radio operators, to transmit and receive static pictures via radio in monochrome or color.
The R-S-T system is used by amateur radio operators, shortwave listeners, and other radio hobbyists to exchange information about the quality of a radio signal being received. The code is a three digit number, with one digit each for conveying an assessment of the signal's readability, strength, and tone. The code was developed in 1934 by Amateur radio operator Arthur W. Braaten, W2BSR, and was similar to that codified in the ITU Radio Regulations, Cairo, 1938.
PSK31 or "Phase Shift Keying, 31 Baud", also BPSK31 and QPSK31, is a popular computer-sound card-generated radioteletype mode, used primarily by amateur radio operators to conduct real-time keyboard-to-keyboard chat, most often using frequencies in the high frequency amateur radio bands (near-shortwave). PSK31 is distinguished from other digital modes in that it is specifically tuned to have a data rate close to typing speed, and has an extremely narrow bandwidth, allowing many conversations in the same bandwidth as a single voice channel. This narrow bandwidth makes better use of the RF energy in a very narrow space thus allowing relatively low-power equipment to communicate globally using the same skywave propagation used by shortwave radio stations.
A continuous wave or continuous waveform (CW) is an electromagnetic wave of constant amplitude and frequency, typically a sine wave, that for mathematical analysis is considered to be of infinite duration. It may refer to e.g. a laser or particle accelerator having a continuous output, as opposed to a pulsed output.
Olivia MFSK is an amateur radioteletype protocol, using multiple frequency-shift keying (MFSK) and designed to work in difficult conditions on shortwave bands. The signal can be accurately received even if the surrounding noise is 10 dB stronger. It is commonly used by amateur radio operators to reliably transmit ASCII characters over noisy channels using the high frequency (3–30 MHz) spectrum. The effective data rate of the Olivia MFSK protocol is 150 characters/minute.
PACTOR is a radio modulation mode used by amateur radio operators, marine radio stations, military or government users such as the US Department of Homeland Security, and radio stations in isolated areas to send and receive digital information via radio.
Q15X25 is a communications protocol for sending data over a radio link. It was designed by amateur radio operator Pawel Jalocha, SP9VRC, to be an open communications standard. Like all amateur radio communications modes, this protocol uses open transmissions which can be received and decoded by anyone with similar equipment. Q15X25 is a form of packet radio. It can be used to interconnect local VHF AX.25 packet networks over transcontinental distances. Anyone can design or adapt the open-source software to develop their own Q15X25 system.
D-STAR is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. The system was developed in the late 1990s by the Japan Amateur Radio League and uses minimum-shift keying in its packet-based standard. There are other digital modes that have been adapted for use by amateurs, but D-STAR was the first that was designed specifically for amateur radio.
WSJT-X is a computer program used for weak-signal radio communication between amateur radio operators. The program was initially written by Joe Taylor, K1JT, but is now open source and is developed by a small team. The digital signal processing techniques in WSJT-X make it substantially easier for amateur radio operators to employ esoteric propagation modes, such as high-speed meteor scatter and moonbounce. Additionally WSJT is able to send signal reports to spotting networks such as PSK Reporter.
WINMOR is a radio transmission protocol intended to be used in the Winlink 2000 Global Radio E-mail System by amateur radio operators, marine radio stations, and radio stations in isolated areas. WINMOR complemented the PACTOR modes in the high frequency portion of the Winlink system, but since July 2020 has been deprecated by Winlink.org in favour of other, now more modern and capable protocols, such as ARDOP.
WSPR is an acronym for Weak Signal Propagation Reporter. It is a protocol, implemented in a computer program, used for weak-signal radio communication between amateur radio operators. The protocol was designed, and a program written initially, by Joe Taylor, K1JT. The software code is now open source and is developed by a small team. The program is designed for sending and receiving low-power transmissions to test propagation paths on the MF and HF bands.
HamSphere is a subscription-based internet service that simulates amateur radio communication using VoIP connections over the Internet. The simulator allows licensed radio amateurs and unlicensed enthusiasts to communicate with one another using a simulated ionosphere. It was designed by Kelly Lindman, a radio amateur with call sign 5B4AIT.
Fldigi is a free and open-source program which allows an ordinary computer's sound card to be used as a simple two-way data modem. The software is mostly used by amateur radio operators who connect the microphone and headphone connections of an amateur radio SSB or FM transceiver to the computer's headphone and microphone connections, respectively.
Es'hail 2 is a Qatari satellite, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on November 15, 2018. Es'hail 2 was built by Japan's Mitsubishi Electric company, and operates at 26° East longitude along a geostationary orbit to provide direct-to-home television services in the Middle East and North Africa region. The satellite features 24 Ku-band and 11 Ka-band transponders to provide direct broadcasting services for television, government and commercial content distribution. In addition to commercial services, the payload of Es'hail 2 includes a linear transponder with a bandwidth of 500 kHz and 8 MHz for the amateur radio satellite service, with uplink on 2.4 GHz and downlink on 10.45 GHz.
M17 is a digital radio modulation mode developed by Wojciech Kaczmarski et al. M17 is primarily designed for voice communications on the VHF amateur radio bands, and above. The project received a grant from the Amateur Radio Digital Communications in 2021 and 2022. The protocol has been integrated into several hardware and software projects. In 2021, Kaczmarski received the ARRL Technical Innovation Award for developing an open-source digital radio communication protocol, leading to further advancements in amateur radio.
PSK Reporter is an amateur radio signal reporting and spotting network and website started by Philip Gladstone in 2014 which allows operators to see where their radio signals are being received. The platform works by collecting digital signal reports from software clients such as WSJT and FLDIGI, then mapping them to show which stations are being heard by other clients. The website takes its name from the popular amateur radio digital mode PSK31 and supports numerous digital modes, but now the vast majority of digital modes recorded by the service are FT8 traffic. Most traffic recorded on PSK Reporter is in the HF amateur radio bands but the platform also supports MF, VHF, and UHF bands. As of 2021 PSK Reporter had collected over 20 billion reception reports.
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