Well, some do. But a lot use them because they don't WANT to talk on air. They CAN speak just fine, but don't want too. Yet they still want to call themselves "hams".
@@Robbie-sk6vc and weather you agree or not they ARE hams. I have absolutely no problem speaking into a mic. Most of the time people usually get sick of me talking lol, but the digital guys( this includes me too) are setting up a transceiver and antenna and they are transmitting and receiving RF signals in the ham bands…therefore they are a ham. C’mon over to this dark world of digital it will make your day brighter 😅
I'm pretty new to amateur radio and even newer to digital but I really enjoy all of it. I love the fact that with an HT, I can talk to someone across the street or to another continent and all it requires is either a repeater or otherwise an internet connection. Most cellphone providers either don't have international calling or the costs could be prohibitive.
Love the video on digital modes. I got my Radioddity QT 60 doing 10 and 12 meter FT 8/FT4 / JS8 call / SSTV and many outher digital modes. I did a digital POTA . and was 10 and 12 meters back in early spring when the bend was great . Digi Rig gets so many radios to work digital modes. Even SSTV on CB 11 meters. A smart phone app does as well. 73
Hey Josh, I appreciate your time and expertise explaining that which is confusing to many of us. Reading about the different digital modes can be very confusing and obtuse, but you have a way to make it easier to understand. 👍
Hey Josh, I have not gotten into Digital HF radio yet, it seems fun. I really do not know how to get it all set up. For now, SSB is doing me just fine. Great video Josh very informative!!!!
Need more ham content uploaded on Rumble. Ultimately trying to boycott youtube due to censorship issues. I no longer want to view content on TH-cam, Rumble appears to have been growing rapidly in recent weeks. Many electronics repair content also uploading on Rumble. I hope to see you there soon. Tom
Big fan of FT8 and C4FM. I've been thinking about getting on JS8Call but got hooked on POTA so there's only so much free time to spread around. I know its not radio related but watching that traffic in the background while you're on auto-pilot...scarred a couple years out of me!
I've only been a Ham for 7 months, so my opinions are still forming. Take it with a grain of salt. Re: digital modes. A lot of my friends love ft8. They make a metric crap ton of contacts. Their logbooks are overflowing. I'm less enthusiastic about it, though i do appreciate it for what it can do. Just not what it usually is used for. A minimum contact, typical callsign/signal report exchange is not really communication to me. It's contact Pokemon; "Gotta catch 'em all!" I don't contest for the same reason. I want to talk for a minute. Share something more than "59. 73." There are some really cool Hams around the world with unique stories to share. Now a PBBS or something along those lines, that can be a lot of digital communication fun, but it's not about the mode. Any mode. It's about investing time in each other. Just my amateur opinion. 73 de AI7UQ.
In our ARES Group, we are starting to identify these digital modes. This video specified many of the digital modes. I plan to create Endorsements for each of these modes.
I’ve not really played with FT8, VARA, or PACTOR. As far as these digital modes are concerned, I’m not sure whether those modes are purely alternative communication to other things we already have that an ISP can give us. I’m more interested in the traditional aspects of ham, wanting to do voice, SSB, and eventually into CW.
Our cell tower went down today, and it doesn’t have back up in event of power failure. If everything does go down- what do you think is actually needed in that situation for communications?
General questions to the group, are these ditigal modes, very different than DMR radios. To my limited knowledge is, these modes are sending digital data, that gets decoded by the computer and its software to use. DMR radios, take your voice signal, convert it to digital, send it as such to another DMR radio, and is converted back to voice. This works for HTs to base stations for groups to communicate across. Which these modes would not work well for that type of communication. ??
What bothers me is how powerful technology is now. But none of the big four Japanese brands make an HT That runs all the desktop, digital modes, right on the radio. Not talking about their proprietary SSTV or messaging system. But regular standardized SST right on the radio screen. Or something like Rattlegram and JS8. I would also mean that you and your friend don’t need to have the same radio so I talk to each other or send each other images. Like if I had one of those modern radios, and my friend didn’t, he could still receive the image through his phone using QSSTV. And if both of us had one of those advanced radios and we could do everything completely wire free. If the radio had FT8 on it, you could even use it as your CAT control for your HF radio. I feel like it would take a lot of development, but it wouldn’t be very hard to pull off and it would completely destroy all competition for whoever does it first.
I must have a TON of digital radios in my area cause all i ever catch when i scan is that noise that sounds like an open channel like someone driving with the window down or water running or something.
Digital clearly has many wonderful attributes that far outperform analog. Having said that, many repeaters have upgraded to digital and rendered analog HT's useless on their system. Just like the VHS vs. Betamax mess we went through (or AM stereo for that matter), there needs to be a standard. One should not require multiple VHF/UHF radios to speak with each repeater that uses a different system of digital encoding that is not compatible with each type. Just my opinion. 73
DMR supposedly saves on resources. I listen to one of W6TRW's (70cm) repeaters which uses DMR. To me voices sound muffled and I have noticed if a person's voice exceeds the lack of headroom intelligibility breaks apart.
I want to "ragchew" (via either voice or keyboard), not just do a proof-of-concept contact as with FT8. What digital modes are designed for longer contacts on HF?
Nearly all radios that offer a digital mode also operate as analog transceivers, so if want the digital capabilities they offer you aren't giving up analog. Analog only radios tend to be cheaper, but obviously restrict your options. A more difficult question is which digital mode to choose, DMR, D-Star, System fusion or some other digital voice mode. To answer that question I suggest look around your area and see what the repeaters you might want to use are using.
1:04 No you are not correct. Analog vs digital it is like audio tapes music vs optical disk music. Or like CD vs Vynil. But not mp3. Mp3 is only about compression. So you had CDs with 10 songs, then you got Mp3 CDs with 100s of songs. But both are digital tech. Audio tapes are analog technology.
And slowly the picture gets filled in ... there is not enough time for exploration, need more time. Thank for increasing the knowledge. I just started with digital modes.
I just can’t get past the fact that internet is involved. To each his own, but that ain’t radio. To me, radio is antenna to antenna, but I certainly don’t begrudge others for enjoying it.
I feel like I have to clarify this every time I mention digital voice. You don’t need the internet to use it on a repeater or on simplex. You do have the ability to add features with the internet, but it’s not required.
Digital modes is not Ham radio, not for me ! IThis is computer to computer "talk" and has nothing to do with operator skill ! But if you dont want to learn Morse code, this is for you ! You must work litle bit hardwe to get Dx Qso on band ! this almoust like smartphone "qso" ! Everybody can do it....I am licensed since 1974, and and know what I am talking about !
Being stuck on one mode of operation isn’t ham radio for me. I think hams should be well versed in all modes to call themselves good operators. Guess it’s good we’re all allowed opinions, but that they don’t make rules off them all.
There is a different set of skills needed for digital modes. And those skills vary for the modes. Yes the computer takes care of signal generation but getting that signal across the RF link is not 100% reliable. I've had a lot of failed FT8 contacts.
The real reason four digital modes is to annoy hams. There are three different competing standards, and there is no single radio that covers more than one standard. So that means you need to buy a different radio for each standard that you intend to use. There is no reason for this other than little fiefdoms. There is no technical reason this can't be done other than maybe a little bit of licensing.
Digital modes are helpful for us people that have had strokes and don’t speak well enough for voice anymore too.
Well, some do. But a lot use them because they don't WANT to talk on air. They CAN speak just fine, but don't want too. Yet they still want to call themselves "hams".
@@Robbie-sk6vc and weather you agree or not they ARE hams. I have absolutely no problem speaking into a mic. Most of the time people usually get sick of me talking lol, but the digital guys( this includes me too) are setting up a transceiver and antenna and they are transmitting and receiving RF signals in the ham bands…therefore they are a ham. C’mon over to this dark world of digital it will make your day brighter 😅
Digital is a great additional mode for Ham's to enjoy - thanks for the informative video
I'm pretty new to amateur radio and even newer to digital but I really enjoy all of it. I love the fact that with an HT, I can talk to someone across the street or to another continent and all it requires is either a repeater or otherwise an internet connection. Most cellphone providers either don't have international calling or the costs could be prohibitive.
Love the video on digital modes. I got my Radioddity QT 60 doing 10 and 12 meter FT 8/FT4 / JS8 call / SSTV and many outher digital modes. I did a digital POTA . and was 10 and 12 meters back in early spring when the bend was great . Digi Rig gets so many radios to work digital modes. Even SSTV on CB 11 meters. A smart phone app does as well. 73
Digital is the most appealing aspect of amateur radio to me. Being able to share key data without relying on the Internet is both fun and practical.
Hey Josh, I appreciate your time and expertise explaining that which is confusing to many of us. Reading about the different digital modes can be very confusing and obtuse, but you have a way to make it easier to understand. 👍
Thank you! I’m glad it helps.
Everytime I listen to you I learn how little I know about all this. Thank you
Hey Josh, I have not gotten into Digital HF radio yet, it seems fun. I really do not know how to get it all set up. For now, SSB is doing me just fine. Great video Josh very informative!!!!
Thank you!
Studying for my technical, really enjoyed this video, thanks!
You can do it! Get that ticket!
Just upgraded to General license. Great video. Love the basics son I can prioritize what I want to invest time into
Hey Josh, great update on digital. I am just starting to explore the digital realms, Thanks W8KSC
Need more ham content uploaded on Rumble. Ultimately trying to boycott youtube due to censorship issues. I no longer want to view content on TH-cam, Rumble appears to have been growing rapidly in recent weeks. Many electronics repair content also uploading on Rumble. I hope to see you there soon. Tom
MP3s... now I feel old! Great video, vindicating topic!!!
CDs and MiniDisc are older then MP3. Do you feel older now? 😂
Very helpful video. Thank you for the info as I am still learning the basics. 73
Big fan of FT8 and C4FM. I've been thinking about getting on JS8Call but got hooked on POTA so there's only so much free time to spread around. I know its not radio related but watching that traffic in the background while you're on auto-pilot...scarred a couple years out of me!
Nice Rangeman Watch! Good info. Thanks
Heck yeah. I love this watch. Years of great service and reliability.
Great explanation!
Good information again Josh thanks
Your first example of SSTV isn't actually a digital mode. It's FM. But, good video just the same.
That was my first thought on that example too!
Josh showing baller status - throwing all the technical info while riding in the fast last with his truck driving fully autonomously. 😊
I really want a Rivian Truck also. I read they get a 10 out of 10 in Car and Driver. Anyway thanks for the video.
I’m in a Lightning. Rivian was too much like a Tacoma with a bad quality rating. Rivian isn’t ranking well in quality reviews.
I've only been a Ham for 7 months, so my opinions are still forming. Take it with a grain of salt. Re: digital modes. A lot of my friends love ft8. They make a metric crap ton of contacts. Their logbooks are overflowing. I'm less enthusiastic about it, though i do appreciate it for what it can do. Just not what it usually is used for. A minimum contact, typical callsign/signal report exchange is not really communication to me. It's contact Pokemon; "Gotta catch 'em all!" I don't contest for the same reason. I want to talk for a minute. Share something more than "59. 73." There are some really cool Hams around the world with unique stories to share. Now a PBBS or something along those lines, that can be a lot of digital communication fun, but it's not about the mode. Any mode. It's about investing time in each other. Just my amateur opinion. 73 de AI7UQ.
Agreed. Radio is antenna to antenna.
Points out some things I had not thought about!
In our ARES Group, we are starting to identify these digital modes. This video specified many of the digital modes. I plan to create Endorsements for each of these modes.
good video, passing it along
Wow...autonomous on the express lane!
Yeah it’s pretty awesome. Been using it over a year now.
Varac is where its at, im only a county over hope to see your callsign show up soon!
Thanks for the information.
Excellent I am just trying to learn
Thanks for the info!!
I’ve not really played with FT8, VARA, or PACTOR. As far as these digital modes are concerned, I’m not sure whether those modes are purely alternative communication to other things we already have that an ISP can give us.
I’m more interested in the traditional aspects of ham, wanting to do voice, SSB, and eventually into CW.
Great explanation
Around here FM analog is quiet, so only the Hamsexy´s are on digital to ¨keep off the scanners¨
Very nice informative video.
Our cell tower went down today, and it doesn’t have back up in event of power failure. If everything does go down- what do you think is actually needed in that situation for communications?
Great video Josh! 👍
General questions to the group, are these ditigal modes, very different than DMR radios. To my limited knowledge is, these modes are sending digital data, that gets decoded by the computer and its software to use. DMR radios, take your voice signal, convert it to digital, send it as such to another DMR radio, and is converted back to voice. This works for HTs to base stations for groups to communicate across. Which these modes would not work well for that type of communication.
??
and to be clear, HT to HT etc.
What bothers me is how powerful technology is now. But none of the big four Japanese brands make an HT That runs all the desktop, digital modes, right on the radio. Not talking about their proprietary SSTV or messaging system. But regular standardized SST right on the radio screen. Or something like Rattlegram and JS8. I would also mean that you and your friend don’t need to have the same radio so I talk to each other or send each other images. Like if I had one of those modern radios, and my friend didn’t, he could still receive the image through his phone using QSSTV. And if both of us had one of those advanced radios and we could do everything completely wire free. If the radio had FT8 on it, you could even use it as your CAT control for your HF radio. I feel like it would take a lot of development, but it wouldn’t be very hard to pull off and it would completely destroy all competition for whoever does it first.
I must have a TON of digital radios in my area cause all i ever catch when i scan is that noise that sounds like an open channel like someone driving with the window down or water running or something.
thanx very informative
Digital clearly has many wonderful attributes that far outperform analog. Having said that, many repeaters have upgraded to digital and rendered analog HT's useless on their system. Just like the VHS vs. Betamax mess we went through (or AM stereo for that matter), there needs to be a standard. One should not require multiple VHF/UHF radios to speak with each repeater that uses a different system of digital encoding that is not compatible with each type. Just my opinion. 73
I do not disagree. But there will likely never be a standard for digital voice modes
DMR supposedly saves on resources. I listen to one of W6TRW's (70cm) repeaters which uses DMR. To me voices sound muffled and I have noticed if a person's voice exceeds the lack of headroom intelligibility breaks apart.
I want to "ragchew" (via either voice or keyboard), not just do a proof-of-concept contact as with FT8. What digital modes are designed for longer contacts on HF?
They are just another mode to use the others are still there to use at one time we only used am or CW
Thanks!
Thank you!
Kids today have super-fast 10 gigabit internet, so they won't get why people send pictures over ham radio, one sound at a time.
I think that might be selling kids short. They like to learn “how” things work.
Technically, "MORSE" is a digital mode.
Can you say... Modem :) Doing this back in the early to mid 80's
Awesome
Which should I buy digital or analog???😊
Nearly all radios that offer a digital mode also operate as analog transceivers, so if want the digital capabilities they offer you aren't giving up analog. Analog only radios tend to be cheaper, but obviously restrict your options.
A more difficult question is which digital mode to choose, DMR, D-Star, System fusion or some other digital voice mode. To answer that question I suggest look around your area and see what the repeaters you might want to use are using.
Honestly? I mostly use analog and simple packet for vhf/uhf. I don’t find that digital voice modes as interesting as just talking on simplex.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse thank you for answering my question!!
Just clicking on this hoping there's a way to listen to PD who stream on digital with my Baofeng UV17R Plus, even though it, itself isn't digital.
There is not.
1.21 digi-whats?!
See I suppose being a computer science nerd digital modes are computers talking to each other over the air which is cool... that is why .. hehe
2:05 My car doesn't have autopilot yet I can also brake without using my hands :)
New here ( where one go to get license in Nevada?) or learn here?
Watch my Technician license series on my channel and test online.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse ,(Copy that)
1:04 No you are not correct. Analog vs digital it is like audio tapes music vs optical disk music. Or like CD vs Vynil. But not mp3. Mp3 is only about compression. So you had CDs with 10 songs, then you got Mp3 CDs with 100s of songs. But both are digital tech. Audio tapes are analog technology.
Yes! 💯 another commented this and you’re both right. I was thinking vinyl, but there you go. 😅
@@HamRadioCrashCourse what about other the video is very interesting. Thank you.
And slowly the picture gets filled in ... there is not enough time for exploration, need more time. Thank for increasing the knowledge. I just started with digital modes.
Because "steak" is too expensive 😅
I just can’t get past the fact that internet is involved. To each his own, but that ain’t radio. To me, radio is antenna to antenna, but I certainly don’t begrudge others for enjoying it.
I feel like I have to clarify this every time I mention digital voice. You don’t need the internet to use it on a repeater or on simplex. You do have the ability to add features with the internet, but it’s not required.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Well said. Keep up the good work.
@@Martin_Lynch Thanks all! Love your videos!
I wish I understood half of what you are talking about in your videos.
why all hams talkign a lot of stuff and dont show it in a easy way
Digital modes is not Ham radio, not for me ! IThis is computer to computer "talk" and has nothing to do with operator skill ! But if you dont want to learn Morse code, this is for you !
You must work litle bit hardwe to get Dx Qso on band ! this almoust like smartphone "qso" ! Everybody can do it....I am licensed since 1974, and and know what I am talking about !
Being stuck on one mode of operation isn’t ham radio for me. I think hams should be well versed in all modes to call themselves good operators. Guess it’s good we’re all allowed opinions, but that they don’t make rules off them all.
There is a different set of skills needed for digital modes. And those skills vary for the modes. Yes the computer takes care of signal generation but getting that signal across the RF link is not 100% reliable. I've had a lot of failed FT8 contacts.
The real reason four digital modes is to annoy hams. There are three different competing standards, and there is no single radio that covers more than one standard. So that means you need to buy a different radio for each standard that you intend to use. There is no reason for this other than little fiefdoms. There is no technical reason this can't be done other than maybe a little bit of licensing.