[LCC] FT8 - New Digital Mode

[Don AA5AU]

FT8 is a fun mode and although it has been more popular than JT65, it has not totally replaced it. I think JT65 is better for very weak signals but the jury is still out. I still use JT65 to find "new ones" on the bands. A couple weeks ago I worked VP8EME on 80M JT65 for a new one on 80. At present I have well over a thousand FT8 contacts.
What makes FT8 so popular is the approx. 13 second transmission period compared to nearly 48 seconds for JT65. This curiously could make it a new digital contest (and possible DXpedition) mode but more experience is needed. I used FT8 exclusively in the CQ VHF contest this summer.
Several DXpeditions are looking to use FT8 including the upcoming KH1 trip. I still think RTTY will end up prevailing and remaining the contest and DXpedition digital mode of choice but until we see what FT8 can do, we really don't know.
73, Don AA5AU

      From: "marsh at ka5m.net" <marsh at ka5m.net>
 To: LCC <lcc at louisianacontestclub.org> 
 Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2017 9:08 AM
 Subject: [LCC] FT8 - New Digital Mode
   
 FT8 - New Digital ModeJudging from spots on packetcluster, it look like JT65 has been replaced by FT8 as the weak signal digital mode of choice.“A beta release of WSJT-X, version 1.8.0-rc1, includes a new FT8 mode, featuring a faster turnaround, and it’s already showing up on the bands. According to the notes for the candidate release, FT8 offers “sensitivity down to –20 dB on the AWGN channel,” and contacts 4 times faster than JT65 or JT9. An auto-sequencing feature offers the option to respond automatically to the first decoded reply to your CQ. The beta WSJT-X also offers a new mode for accurate frequency calibration of your radio, improved CAT radio control, and enhanced JT65, QRA64, and MSK144 decoder performance.”73,Marsh, KA5M_______________________________________________
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