FT4 Frequencies

The FT4 mode is the new digital mode born and thought for fast contacts such as QSOs done during contests and DX-Peditions.

Announced in April 2019 as experimental digital mode protocol for fast radio communications, and like the FT8 mode implements fixed length and structured message sequences, but with a total duration of 4.48 seconds, approximately 2.5 x faster than FT8. In contest, the speed is similar to RTTY, but FT4 permit to make contact with signals 10dB weaker then the ones needed for RTTY, with a reduced bandwidth.

FT4 can be used with the WSJT-X or JTDX software capable to run on most popular operating systems, from Windows to Linux and also MacOSx

Frequencies

FT4 Software

WSJT-X

K1JT

WSJT-X implements communication protocols or modes called FT8, FT4, JT4, JT9, JT65, QRA64, ISCAT, MSK144, and WSPR, as well as one called Echo for detecting and measuring your own radio signals reflected from the Moon. These modes were all designed for making reliable, confirmed QSOs under extreme weak-signal conditions. WSJT-X works on Windows Linux and MacOS. This is the official WSJT-X distribuition site.

JTDX

JTDX

JTDX (JT Digital Modes for Linux, MacOS and Windows) is a free, open-source software for amateur radio operators for the reception and transmission of digital modes, including JT65, JT9, and FT8, among others. JTDX is designed to provide improved decoding of weak signals and better usability compared to other digital mode software like WSJT-X. It also has features like a real-time spectrum display, logging, and decoded message storage and retrieval. Download JTDX from the official site.

MSHV

LZ2HV

MSHV is a free windows and linux multimode software that support weak signal digital modes like MSK144 MSKMS JTMS FSK441 FSK315 ISCAT JT6M FT8 FT4 JT65 PI4 amateur radio modes. MSHV features several interesting features including the Multi Answering Auto Seq Protocol, allowing multiple signal transmissions to be used during dx peditions.

How to add FT4 frequencies to WSJT-X

If you have upgraded WSJT-X from earlier version, you may be missing the predefined FT4 frequency values in the drop down menu.
In this case you may need to reset the frequencies to the default values. Simply, go on Preferences->Frequencies right click on frequency table and click on Reset. The new frequency values will now be available.

FT4 vs FT8

FT4 is designed for contesting, particularly on the HF bands. Compared with FT8 it is 3.5 dB less sensitive and requires 1.6 times the bandwidth, but it offers the potential for twice the QSO rate. FT4 is not recommended for everyday use. FT8 Frequencies are different from the ones dedicated to FT4

If you want to add notes or just make corrections to the list of FT4 Frequencies write a comment here below.

Sources:

• WSJT-X Applications
• WSJT-X Documentation