FT8 “Franke-Taylor design, 8-FSK modulation” is an Amateur Radio Digital Mode that belongs to the family of weak-signals communication protocols, developed and promoted by K1JT Joe Taylor.
The FT8 protocol is implemented in several application programs including the popular weak signals software WSJT-X , JTDX and the Chat FT8-based software JS8Call that implement a different modulation and can be found in different ft8 frequencies
FT8 should be used in the following amateur radio frequencies:
| Band | Frequency MHz | Notes | |
| 160m | 1.840 | ||
| 160m | 1.842 | JS8Call | |
| 80m | 3.573 | ||
| 60m | 5.357 | ||
| 40m | 7.056 | Region 1 | |
| 40m | 7.071 | ||
| 40m | 7.074 | ||
| 40m | 7.078 | JS8Call | |
| 30m | 10.130 | JS8Call | |
| 30m | 10.132 | Region 1 | |
| 30m | 10.133 | ||
| 30m | 10.136 | ||
| 20m | 14.071 | ||
| 20m | 14.074 | ||
| 20m | 14.078 | JS8Call | |
| 20m | 14.090 | Region 1 | |
| 17m | 18.100 | ||
| 17m | 18.104 | JS8Call | |
| 15m | 21.074 | ||
| 15m | 21.078 | JS8Call | |
| 15m | 21.091 | ||
| 12m | 24.915 | ||
| 10m | 28.074 | ||
| 10m | 28.078 | JS8Call | |
| 6m | 50.310 | ||
| 6m | 50.313 | ||
| 6m | 50.328 | JS8Call | |
| 6m | 50.323 | Intercontinental DX | |
| 4m | 70.100 | ||
| 2m | 144.174 | ||
| 1.25m | 222.065 | ||
| 70cm | 432.065 |
Sources:
- WSJT-X and JTDX application’s settings
- JS8Call web site
- UK Six Meter Group
If you want to contribute to this article, make corrections or just need to discuss about FT8 Frequencies, just leave a comment here below.
FT8 Software
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 (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.
Js8Call is communication software designed for keyboard-to-keyboard message passing. Based on the WSJT-X application and implementing the FT8 protocol techniques, it's a separate project run on Linux, Windows and MacOS
With WSJT-X 2.2.0 rc2 has been introduced also 7.071, 10.133, 14.071, and 50.310 MHz.
50.323MHz is ONLY FOR CONTINENTAL QSO.
The history of this proposal is here.
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~vj5y-tkur/6m/new_qrg.html
Starting January 1st 2023, the 70MHz Band is open to HB9-Amateurs in Switzerland. Unfortunately, the frequency range is as follows: 70.0000-70.0375, 70.1125-70.5000. Meaning the FT8-frequency is not legal in Switzerland.
Can we eventually change this to 70.1740? (proposal)
Who could define it?
How could we inform the community / the software developers?
Problem solved:
FT8 on 70.154
MSK144 on 70.174
SSB on 70.200
see you on 4m…