FT8 is currently the most popular digital mode on the amateur radio bands. It was released in 2017 by Steve Franke -K9AN and Joe Taylor – K1JT. It is included in the software suite WSJT-X and JTDX. Nearly every DXpedition uses some FT8 in their operations. This is partially due to the auto-logging, extremely power recieve function and ability to have multiple QSO details in the same FT8 message.

It is different from other digital modes like RTTY and PSK because it has error correction. It also uses internal macros to respond to messages from other stations. This makes the mode nearly fully automated.

FT8 uses 15-second windows to transmit and receive. Because of this, you will need to have a synced computer clock; any discrepancy of more than a second will result in no decodes of other stations, and other stations will not be able to decode you.

The frequencies to find FT8 are 1.840, 3.573, 7.074, 10.136, 14.074, 18.100, 21.074, 28.074, 50.313 – all USB. Don’t worry about remembering these; WSJT-X has these frequencies built in.

Look at the windows above. The left side is the messages heard, the right side is the messages that you have transmitted and messages that your receive filter is on. This is the green bracket on the other WSJT-x window.

Now that you have the basics of FT8, want to get it running?
HOW TO OPERATE FT8
FT8 and DX
FT8 Portable