Hey Mike, great Monday video as always! Your comment @ 12:22 regarding the Pwr bar ... if you go into WSJT Settings / Audio, look at the bottom, 'Remember power settings by band' and click BOTH 'Transmit' and Tune, it will remember last TX and Tune settings on the Pwr bar. You didn't mention that but I highly recommend clicking both 🙂 73 KJ6ER
I have the IC-7200 which I use mainly for FT-8/Ft-4. According to both the manual and other youtube videos on setting up the IC-7200 for digital modes, you should have the ALC showing 2-bars on the meter. This will not create a dirty signal when running FT-8. Keep in mind that not ever radio is run the same way when using digital modes. I also run a Yaesu FTdx3000 which needs to have the ALC at around 30%. I mainly run 80 watts with both radios. I have at this time over 18,000 Ft-8/Ft-4 contacts all over the world in less than two years with a Random Wire Endfed and a Sirio Ground Plane Vertical both at 20ft on a medium size city lot w/o any trees to work with. Don't get too hung up on ALC!!!!!!!!! 73 from Erving (N1ECC) Lowell, Ma.
Hi, Mike. I love using the IC-7300 and WSJT-X for FT8. Thanks a lot for the directions for setting the power slider using the power and ALC meters on the 7300. I did that to fine-tune my setup as soon as I finished watching this video. I mainly use 40m and 20m bands for FT8, only occasionally using 30m or 15m. It's become my favorite mode. Thanks for the tips! Best, Marc (N1QGM)
You can use TX-5 line to ask the activator for their park number. They would need to use TX5 line to tell you. If you do that, make sure to give them a spot afterwards.
Seems like it wouldn't be hard to add a POTA/SOTA query/response into wsjx automagically like it does everything else with a check box for "auto query POTA on TX 5" and "auto respond POTA qury" with a feild for current park number.
I typically run 30w on FT8 with my IC-7300. My power level has minimal changes. Might have to adjust the power settings a bit, but not much, probably 5% or less. Generally, I keep my ALC to 1 to 4 bars, just enough to get the desired wattage output.
Great video, I experimented with lots of different antennas, every situation is different, radiation angle,proximity of metal ,ground factor ect. , end fed in different angles and configurations will work just please get an reliable matching balun, spend the money in something that not fail easy and always protect from radiation and lighting! Thanks, great video!!! Nw1L
Mike, I need help. I have ft 857d digirig and Mac book pro m1 I have seen signals coming in on ft8 but it seems I'm not getting out. I have no external meter to justify pwr or Alc. External antenna tunner ldg z100 plus . Radio settings are dig gain 50 mode user u dig vox 0 all off sets in the radio ate set to 0hz, radio power 20 watts . I'm using the a dx Commander antenna.
I post the Park number in the logging comment section for the hunter's reference. That's the only way I have thought of to let them know which park I activated. I make sure that the grid square is correct as well.
FT8 allows grid eg. PF96HC my local POTA park. JS8CALL allows PF96HC22DL. The js8 locator will spot me as in my park on PSK Reporter. Where as PF96HC is a larger area.
Thanks for the video! Wondering what Mac software you are using to display your radio? I have an Icom 7300 and am looking for something like this. Thanks! W8CFS
I've heard there's a way to do it with the 7300 but I'm not sure how. I believe it involves some third party hardware and some under the hood type stuff. I'm using the video out from my 7610 into an HDMI capture card fed into OBS. I also have an HDMI splitter so I can send the 7610 screen to an external monitor.
The advice about watching that ALC meter and putting a clean signal to air is a message which really needs to get through to many folks. It’s quite surprising how many stations overdrive their transmitter on modes like FT8 or WSPR. I quite often see multiple WSPR decodes from the same station in the same frame and that’s a dead giveaway of harmonics resulting from too much drive. Of course, much the same applies to regular SSB voice. Some folks have a penchant for winding mic gain and compression up far too high in the mistaken belief louder is better! 🙂
Hi. Do you have any idea why my SWR meter pegs every time I transmit.?, I have an Icom 7610. everything else works on the ft8 program, tests ok, etc. I have no problem with SWR on the SSB bands, just this one with the WSJT program. Do you have any ideas? \\Thanks George KC3WRH
Hmm, that's interesting. Are you only ever up in the SSB portion of the bands? Is the tuner tuned for the upper portion of the band and seeing a high SWR because it's not tuned on the FT8 frequency? Or are you not even using a tuner and have a resonant antenna?
50 watts on FT-8?! Man, I normally see where I can reach on 1 watt or less. I have the QRZ continents of the world award on 1 watt. QRP is just much more fun IMO. 73 KI5BXN
Giving this video a miss as other than FT-8 WSJT-X this is about this but who knows it could be about that too so due this and lack of substantive information telling us what this is about it's a definite miss. I usually flag these "this" videos as "Not Interested". Have a good day Mike.
TH-cam titles are clickbait to up veiws. No one likes it. It works and if you want to succeed at the platform you've little choice. Not his fault. Atleast he did(and does) cover the content suggested. Take yer free content and shut up or go make a better ft8 video and let us know how much better you are by getting more veiws.
Been watching and subscribed to your channel . Great content . Getting my family on board too. Would you mind shooting me your email : I have a specific question for ya. Thank you again for all the content and the time you put in to get everyone up to speed
Hey Mike, great Monday video as always! Your comment @ 12:22 regarding the Pwr bar ... if you go into WSJT Settings / Audio, look at the bottom, 'Remember power settings by band' and click BOTH 'Transmit' and Tune, it will remember last TX and Tune settings on the Pwr bar. You didn't mention that but I highly recommend clicking both 🙂 73 KJ6ER
What a great tip!! Thanks Greg.
Was just going to type the same answer. It's a great feature of the program.
The power slider pro tip for FT8 when changing bands is a game changer. Thank you, again, Mike!
Thanks for the tip on the power setting with FT8
Thanks Mike, been running FT8 for a few years now and didn't even know you could remember the power settings per band, top video.
Glad to help!
I have the IC-7200 which I use mainly for FT-8/Ft-4. According to both the manual and other youtube videos on setting up the IC-7200 for digital modes, you should have the ALC showing 2-bars on the meter. This will not create a dirty signal when running FT-8. Keep in mind that not ever radio is run the same way when using digital modes. I also run a Yaesu FTdx3000 which needs to have the ALC at around 30%. I mainly run 80 watts with both radios. I have at this time over 18,000 Ft-8/Ft-4 contacts all over the world in less than two years with a Random Wire Endfed and a Sirio Ground Plane Vertical both at 20ft on a medium size city lot w/o any trees to work with. Don't get too hung up on ALC!!!!!!!!!
73 from Erving (N1ECC) Lowell, Ma.
The Elecraft K3 also likes some ALC (3 bars). I know that when I listen to this good advise.
Hi, Mike. I love using the IC-7300 and WSJT-X for FT8. Thanks a lot for the directions for setting the power slider using the power and ALC meters on the 7300. I did that to fine-tune my setup as soon as I finished watching this video. I mainly use 40m and 20m bands for FT8, only occasionally using 30m or 15m. It's become my favorite mode.
Thanks for the tips!
Best,
Marc (N1QGM)
You can use TX-5 line to ask the activator for their park number. They would need to use TX5 line to tell you. If you do that, make sure to give them a spot afterwards.
Ahh, good point
Seems like it wouldn't be hard to add a POTA/SOTA query/response into wsjx automagically like it does everything else with a check box for "auto query POTA on TX 5" and "auto respond POTA qury" with a feild for current park number.
Awesome info on the power/alc settings!
I typically run 30w on FT8 with my IC-7300. My power level has minimal changes. Might have to adjust the power settings a bit, but not much, probably 5% or less. Generally, I keep my ALC to 1 to 4 bars, just enough to get the desired wattage output.
Great video, I experimented with lots of different antennas, every situation is different, radiation angle,proximity of metal ,ground factor ect. , end fed in different angles and configurations will work just please get an reliable matching balun, spend the money in something that not fail easy and always protect from radiation and lighting! Thanks, great video!!! Nw1L
Very informative ! Thank you
My pleasure!
Mike, I need help. I have ft 857d digirig and Mac book pro m1 I have seen signals coming in on ft8 but it seems I'm not getting out. I have no external meter to justify pwr or Alc. External antenna tunner ldg z100 plus . Radio settings are dig gain 50 mode user u dig vox 0 all off sets in the radio ate set to 0hz, radio power 20 watts . I'm using the a dx Commander antenna.
Great video as always Mike, I just want to know what you are 3D printing and it looks as if you are recording the print as well.
Just a couple parts for the Tri-Lam I sell for the BuddiStick Pro antenna. Not recording. Just have a light there so I can see the darn thing lol
ALC meter in my radio (IC-7300) is frozen! Actually all meters are everything in the radio screen too during TX please help
I post the Park number in the logging comment section for the hunter's reference. That's the only way I have thought of to let them know which park I activated. I make sure that the grid square is correct as well.
FT8 allows grid eg. PF96HC my local POTA park. JS8CALL allows PF96HC22DL. The js8 locator will spot me as in my park on PSK Reporter. Where as PF96HC is a larger area.
Thanks for the video! Wondering what Mac software you are using to display your radio? I have an Icom 7300 and am looking for something like this. Thanks! W8CFS
I've heard there's a way to do it with the 7300 but I'm not sure how. I believe it involves some third party hardware and some under the hood type stuff. I'm using the video out from my 7610 into an HDMI capture card fed into OBS. I also have an HDMI splitter so I can send the 7610 screen to an external monitor.
Great video...getting into FT8 for for the first time..
Paul K1YOU
Thanks for all your enjoyable and informative videos. How are you displaying your radio interface on your monitor? 73 de Brian ZS5BR
The advice about watching that ALC meter and putting a clean signal to air is a message which really needs to get through to many folks.
It’s quite surprising how many stations overdrive their transmitter on modes like FT8 or WSPR.
I quite often see multiple WSPR decodes from the same station in the same frame and that’s a dead giveaway of harmonics resulting from too much drive.
Of course, much the same applies to regular SSB voice. Some folks have a penchant for winding mic gain and compression up far too high in the mistaken belief louder is better! 🙂
Hi. Do you have any idea why my SWR meter pegs every time I transmit.?, I have an Icom 7610. everything else works on the ft8 program, tests ok, etc. I have no problem with SWR on the SSB bands, just this one with the WSJT program. Do you have any ideas? \\Thanks
George KC3WRH
Hmm, that's interesting. Are you only ever up in the SSB portion of the bands? Is the tuner tuned for the upper portion of the band and seeing a high SWR because it's not tuned on the FT8 frequency? Or are you not even using a tuner and have a resonant antenna?
If his rig has one of those 3:1 tuners it should be able to accommodate any differences. IMHO😁
very true
Easy way is to use CW or SSB :)
WSJT-X settings has 2 check boxes to remember power/tune settings for each band.
Ooops, didn't see Greg's comment. Also, a tiny bit of ALC on ICOM is ok.
Yep, and I didn't know about that until Greg mentioned it earlier. Thanks for sharing.
My ALC is always 1/4 of the limit just to crank my amp..😊
Self spot
Or, he could buy his dad a NanoVNA to go with the antenna for about $80.
50 watts on FT-8?! Man, I normally see where I can reach on 1 watt or less. I have the QRZ continents of the world award on 1 watt. QRP is just much more fun IMO. 73 KI5BXN
That’s pretty awesome I have to admit.
Giving this video a miss as other than FT-8 WSJT-X this is about this but who knows it could be about that too so due this and lack of substantive information telling us what this is about it's a definite miss. I usually flag these "this" videos as "Not Interested". Have a good day Mike.
Sad Ham!
Holy crap this was a hard sentence to read. Do you ever try proof reading before you hit send?
Informative video Mike, thanks! Great thing about America, you have the right to be a D-bag.
TH-cam titles are clickbait to up veiws. No one likes it. It works and if you want to succeed at the platform you've little choice. Not his fault. Atleast he did(and does) cover the content suggested. Take yer free content and shut up or go make a better ft8 video and let us know how much better you are by getting more veiws.
Been watching and subscribed to your channel . Great content . Getting my family on board too. Would you mind shooting me your email : I have a specific question for ya. Thank you again for all the content and the time you put in to get everyone up to speed
Thanks for watching and sharing with your family. Good luck with that! Email is k8mrd@icloud.com
@@hamradiotube got it , thank you 👍🏻