After you have your license, you may be wondering what your next step is for experiencing the fun and excitement that this hobby can bring you. You would first need to decide if you wanted to participate in contesting, field/portable operations, Qrp, Dxing, or kit building. Once you have made that decision, you will be able to start building towards that goal.
Personally, I have always been interested in Dxing. Before we had cell phones, international call plans, and the internet, I was enthralled with the idea of throwing a piece of wire out of a window and being able to talk with someone on the other side of the world. With the advancement of technology, we are fortunate that newer mechanisms have become available to accomplish that goal.
With that, radios are still a great way of talking to far off places. Different combinations of radios and modes can take you to a lot of different places. I personally have been spending a lot of my time playing with the FT8 mode and its little brother, FT4 mode. If you are also interested in Dxing, they might be great options for you, too.
Here is some details about these guys:
FT8 is short for the Franke-Taylor design with an 8-FSK modulation. This mode of radio communication is a digital frequency shift keying mode that is used worldwide. It was originally released in 2017 by Joe Taylor (K1JT) and Steve Franke (K9AN) along with the software package WSJT.
FT8 is a weak digital signal communication used primarily to communicate on the HF amateur bands. It is popular because it allows communications despite unfavorable conditions such as during low solar activity, high RF noise, or low transmitting power. The software currently can decode FT8 signals with a signal-to-noise ratio of -20 dB in a 2500 Hz bandwidth. This is significantly lower (better) than conventional CW (Morse Code) or SSB (Single Side Band).
The reason FT8 works so well in these situations is that it transmits within fixed time windows, which allows it to cope with discrepancies in sending and receiving systems of up to a second or two. Forward error correction helps achieve reliable communication from RF issues such as fading and interference, as well as weak and/or noise signals due to marginal propagation paths, low power operation, and inefficient antennas. These situations would be present in restricted or overcrowded urban locations. Finally, if the anticipated messages are missed and or not acknowledged, the software can re-send them in the next fixed time slot. One of the requirements of this mode is they operate within a fixed time window as stated above. These time windows do have to have their time calibrated every so often to work properly. Using WWV or other time standard broadcasters works best, though conventional computer Real Time Clocks will work in a pinch. Most people also take advantage of online time servers by using NTP or time signals from GPS to maintain better time accuracy.
Now that you have the theory for FT8, you will need to know how to get started on making your shack. My basic start up looks like this:
Power Supply
HF Transceiver
Antenna
Tuner
Optional items but necessary if you want to jump right into FT8:
Computer
USB Sound Card ( I use the SignaLink USB sound card)
GigaParts is a great partner for this as they carry all that you could need for your set up - I know I frequent their store! Their web pages and their chat room advisors are great resources for what pairs with what. For extra help, YouTube has some great videos for you. Finally, do not forget about your local HAM clubs! When I was first starting out, a couple of the “Elmers” from my local club were kind enough to point me in the right directions and to give advice when I hit a roadblock.
Once you have everything assembled, you will need to download that WSJT software I mentioned earlier. (WSJT Home Page) Turn it on - there are a few setup steps that you can tweak later once you get more comfortable with WSJT. The important part is choosing the band that you want to work with.
Once you select the band, the software will tell you what frequency to use for it. Once you’ve got that, you will be doing a lot of looking and listening. Watch the left panel for a CQ. Once you see it, double click it. Then the software will automatically step through the process and then you will have your contact. Congratulations! Since you don’t have to wait for the conditions to be just right, you will find it easy to make contacts whenever you want.
It is important to note that as FT8 is a weak signal modality and has a longer duty cycle. That being said, I run my transceiver at 30 watts - you may have to experiment with your setup to find the right wattage for your needs.
As for FT8’s little brother, FT4 - the process is very similar. WSJT is the same for this modality. You will have to select FT4 when you open the program. After that, choose your band, the program will tell you what frequency you need to be on, and then back to looking and listening for your contact(s).
Once you feel comfortable with either mode, you can make your own CQs by pushing the radio button - and you never know who’s been looking for your CQ, waiting to answer!
References:
WSJT homepage(WSJT Home Page)
Wikipedia - FT8(FT8 - Wikipedia)
Disclaimer: This article was written in February 2025 and assumes the information presented is correct at the time of presentation. It is in no way a detailed discussion or instruction manual of the subject presented. Always verify equipment operating instructions with manufacturer’s instructions before proceeding.