• [M0IAX] JS8Call an overview for new users

    From M0IAX via rec.radio.amateur.moderat@21:1/5 to All on Tue Apr 27 13:33:22 2021
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, uk.radio.amateur, free.uk.amateur-radio

    M0IAX

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    JS8Call an overview for new users

    Posted: 26 Apr 2021 10:15 AM PDT https://m0iax.com/2021/04/26/js8call-an-overview-for-new-users-2/



    Introduction




    JS8Call has been in around for a few years now, but its sadly still not
    very popular. Many Amateur Radio Operators around the world are using the WSJT-X software constantly to make contacts comprising of a simple signal report exchange and that’s fine, but its not for everybody. If you have
    tried FT8 you will already know of its great weak signal capabilities
    allowing DX Contacts when conditions are difficult. So what if you could
    use a mode that has similar properties to FT8 but also allow a keyboard to keyboard communications as well as integration to allow messages and
    location reports to be sent into the APRS network? Well, in a nutshell
    that’s what JS8Call does.




    Back in March of 2018 I managed to get involved in the testing of some new software for Amateur Radio. I joined a very small team of Operators who
    were mainly in the USA but also three in Europe, including myself. This software was called FT8Call, the original name of what is now called
    JS8Call.




    As you may have already deduced from the original name of the software it’s
    a new digital mode that is built upon the popular weak signal digital mode
    FT8. If uses the same modulation as FT8 allowing it to be decoded at -24Db,
    and it also uses the same 15 second timer to send out its messages.




    It is there that the similarities end though, because unlike FT8’s simple Signal Report exchange format, JS8Call allows free text
    keyboard-to-keyboard communications.




    Recent updates to JS8Call added 3 new speed modes for JS8Call and
    integration to APRS that means if you send an APRS message using JS8Call a receiving station with an internet connection will forward that to the APRS network. More about that later.




    Hardware Requirements




    You don’t need the latest high-powered computer to run it. It will run as Happily on the Raspberry Pi as it does on the latest high-end laptop.
    Supported operating systems include various distros of Linux, Windows 10
    and MacOS X (the standard MacOS installer will also run on the new apple silicone). That said there are also many operators in the pre-release test
    that are running it on older operating systems such as Windows XP and
    Windows 7.




    Like any other computer based digital mode you also need some way of
    connecting the computer to the radio via a sound card interface of some
    kind. On my PC and Icom IC-7300 this is done with one USB Cable for CAT
    Control and the Sound Interface provided in the Radio. With the
    introduction of radios with Wifi such as the Icom IC705 (my favourite
    radio) you can connect the computer completely wirelessly to the radio
    which removes the need for another wire which is great news especially in
    the field.




    Installation




    Installation on the supported operating systems is a simple case of
    downloading and running the installer package. You can find the latest installation packages on the JS8Call website by following the download link
    at the top of the page https://js8call.com




    User Interface




    The user interface is laid out well and does also work quite well on a
    touch screen interface as well as with a mouse. The main window is split
    into the Band Activity pane (showing messages you have decoded).








    Incoming Message Activity Pane, Call Activity pane (showing the list of callsigns you have heard), the Message box (here you will enter your
    outgoing messages) and the Waterfall at the bottom giving you a visual indication of where the signals are in the passband – you can also select
    the frequency offset you want to use here. The six buttons top right
    display settings in use and you can click them to enable/disable or bring
    up a menu of options (also available in the Menus top left)




    Using JS8Call




    So lets get down to actually using the software. If you have already
    installed and used WSJT-X then JS8Call should work right away, if no you
    will need to make sure your connection from computer to your radio is
    correctly set up. There are some guides on my website to get you started
    (link at end of this article). Once installed there are a couple of things
    you need to set up. First enter your callsign on the General/Station
    settings page. Then entry your Maidenhead Grid locator and customise your Station messages, and finally set up your radio interface and select the
    sound card to use.








    Back in the Main User interface calling CQ is as simple as clicking on the
    CQ button, JS8Call will put your CQ message in the message window and send
    it at the start of the next 15 second time frame. Once you receive a reply
    you can click on the station’s callsign in the Call activity pane and then type your message into the message box and click send, JS8Call will automatically add your callsign and the selected station’s callsign to the message and send it.




    You have the option to use 4 different tx speeds (you can receive and
    decode all no matter which is selected) the speeds and their properties are (details taken from the JS8Call Documentation)



    Slow 30 second frames 25Hz bandwidth and around 8WPM decoded down to -28dBNormal 15 second frames 50Hz bandwidth and around 16WPM decoded
    down to -24dBFast 10 second frames 80Hz bandwidth and around 24WPM
    decoded down to -20dBTurbo 6 second frames 160Hz bandwidth and around
    40WPM decoded down to -18dB




    Hint: I tend to call CQ using Normal mode and then switch to a faster speed once I see what the reported SNR is between myself and the far station. If trying for DX select slow mode to call CQ and then switch once contact is established (if possible) I have had some quite lengthy QSOs using slow
    mode. Great results but you need to be patient




    That’s all there is to it. There is some automation like the ability to set it up for your station to reply to directed commands/messages automatically
    but the actual QSOs are comtrolled by the operator with free text or the
    use of Saved messages which can be pre-defined by the user. There is also a “Heartbeat” function that will send out your callsign and grid locator at user-defined intervals. This is not a CQ call but a mechanism that lets
    others know your station is on the air and they can call you direct, or
    maybe send your station a relay command to pass a message to someone that
    they cannot hear.




    APRS




    You can use JS8Call to send messages and locations into the APRS network
    and view on APRS.fi. By formatting your outgoing message correctly you can
    send emails, APRS messages, SMS messages (if supported in your country), position reports and even spot yourself for SOTA. Ive written a python app
    with user interface that you can use to do this, but all it does if format
    the text correctly. It uses the JS8Call API to send the text.








    The Power of Low Power




    The great thing about this mode is that it can be decoded at -28dB. Which
    means that you don’t need to run your radio at full power to chat with a DX station. During the recent QSO party weekend I was able to set my IC-7300
    at minimum power (0% which gave an output power of approx. 350mW) and have
    a conversation with Julian OH8STN in Finland over 1300miles away. I was
    also getting acknowledgments to my “Heartbeat” from stations in North America during the evening.




    What’s the Cost?




    JS8Call costs nothing, it’s based on open source software and although
    parts of JS8Call contain code that Jordan KN4CRD owns the copyright to he
    has assured us that he will never charge for the software.




    Conclusion




    JS8Call has come on in leaps and bounds since I joined the test team back
    in may. And its evolved into what’s going to be a great mode for communication over long distances using relatively low power. Jordan has
    done some fantastic work and is very supportive of new users on the
    groups.io groups and is happy to accept requests for improvements and new functionality. He’s doing Amateur Radio a great service and I can’t thank him enough for that.




    If you haven’t yet tried JS8Call then consider giving it a go, there are a lot of users out there who are happy to help you get up and running, and
    there are a few facebook groups you can join and of course the JS8Call
    website contains links to all the documentation. You can always give me a
    shout and I will be happy to help!








    Links




    mark@m0iax.com




    My website and software:




    https://m0iax.com





    https://m0iax.com/download-files





    https://github.com/m0iax





    JS8Call website




    http://JS8Call.com





    Download JS8Call and Documentation




    files.js8call.com/latest.html

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