How cool is that?! How to get on the air with JS8Callįirst off, you need a digital interface for your rig to your computer. I’m still working on a live QSO but it is certainly possible, and just a matter of time. Using the relay command > I was able to send a message to myself through 3 other stations- one of them in Europe, a continent I have yet to work. This is what it looks like when you receive a relayed message. It’s not yet possible to get a status via a relay- but there’s still a way to find out if they’re on Auto: Relay a message to yourself. Skipping the ST2>ST3 relay definitely made the throughput a lot faster. I had such a QSO where I could hear ST2 but they could not hear me, and so I used ST3 as a relay in one direction, and ST2 replied to me directly. If they reply it will also go through the relay. ST2 hears it and it pops up on their screen that they received a relayed message, and they have the opportunity to reply. So, you reply to ST2’s CQ with ST3>ST2>HW COPY? ST3 hears it, and relays it to ST2. But you saw ST3 acknowledge ST2’s HB earlier and know they can communicate.
Imagine that STATION1 hears STATION2 calling CQ, but ST2 can’t hear ST1’s reply. Remote stations on Auto are now able to be used to relay messages. Unlike WSPR, this is not for propagation reporting. This informs operators about who is hearing their signal and who can relay transmissions. All stations who hear the HB signal and are on auto will send a reply with a signal report (SNR). The way it works is this: STATION1 sends out a HB signal. One of the many things that make it unique are the automatic HeartBeat (HB) transmissions, and the ability to put your station on automatic mode. JS8Call is more than simply a conversational FT8, which is itself very cool. That’s exactly what Jordan has done, and so much more. WSJT-X is an open source program, which means that anybody can fiddle with it and make their own version. Jordan Sherer (KN4CRD) agreed with that notion, but he also had the know-how to do something about it. It’s made a simple 5 watt QRP station capable of truly worldwide contacts! Here in Washington State, I have worked many Pacific Rim countries including Japan, New Zealand, and more all with kit or homebrew equipment, with the exception of my amazing Jackite pole.Īs neat as FT8 is, it can sometimes leave you wanting just a little more- why can’t I use it for conversational QSO rather than just a quick CQ/SNR/73? It’s just text, right? What’s JS8Call? If you’re a ham radio operator on HF, then you likely know all about FT8 and what it’s done for (or to, depending on your perspective…) amateur radio.