[bars] PSA for FT8/FT4 users - HOLD TX FREQ

Thu May 1 13:14:34 CDT 2025

Another way to help check your transmission is getting out is to check PSKReporter for your callsign on FT8 on the band you are using.

https://www.pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

It’s handy to not only see that you are making it out, but it also shows you approximately how far you are reaching.

-Dan/KC1VMX

From: bars <bars-bounces at w1hh.org> On Behalf Of Paul Pellegrini via bars
Sent: Thursday, May 1, 2025 13:57
To: Verhulst <verhulst at comcast.net>; Christopher Lennon <kwaj.speedo at gmail.com>
Cc: bars at w1hh.org
Subject: Re: [bars] PSA for FT8/FT4 users - HOLD TX FREQ

Chris -

The most important and difficult thing to accomplish is make your first contact. That will let you know if you have correctly made all the software and hardware interfaces required. After that you can learn about proper operating procedure. Tim's tips are important. He bolded "hold tx frequency" in the wsjtx software and you should start with that, then you can move on.

Good luck - Paul

On Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 01:42:01 PM EDT, Christopher Lennon via bars <bars at w1hh.org <mailto:bars at w1hh.org> > wrote: 

I have a Xiegu G90 and I recently bought the DE19 interface.  It has a soundcard built in so the computer connects via USB. 

There are lots of YouTube videos to make the connection with that setup, so I am not worried about that.  But tips like the one you shared.  Good operating practice.  Do you just pick thing up along the way or is there the WSJT Bible?

Sent from my phone.

On Thu, May 1, 2025, 1:31 PM Verhulst via bars <bars at w1hh.org <mailto:bars at w1hh.org> > wrote:

The makers of Easylog ham software (which I REALLY like) have created an FT8 book. I have not seen it but some here may be interested.
https://tinyurl.com/57s8h3jc

Tony W1DYS

On 5/1/2025 10:16 AM, Tim - K1DC via bars wrote:

For those of you that may be new to the FT8/FT4 digital modes - Welcome!

Please, PLEASE, make sure that you check (enable) that 'Hold TX Freq' check box within WSJT-X (or the equivalent in your software of choice).  This will prevent you from changing your TX frequency to the TX frequency of the station you are calling.  The result is that all callers will be spread out over the 3khz passband rather than all bunched up on the TX frequency of the station they are calling.  This is especially important when trying to contact special event stations or a rare DX station.

Also, try to set your FT8 TX frequency on an even 50hz increment (500hz, 1150hz, 2200hz, etc) within the passband.  This will maximize the use of the resource and preventing potential QRM with signals overlapping.

73 & Good DX!

Tim/K1DC

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