JS8Call Field Day Tips

About JS8Call

JS8Call is an experiment to test the feasibility of a digital mode with the robustness of FT8, combined with a messaging and network protocol layer for weak signal communication on HF, using keyboard-to-keyboard style interface. JS8Call is heavily inspired by WSJT-X, Fldigi, and FSQCall and would not exist without the hard work and dedication of the many developers in the amateur radio community.

JS8Call is a derivative of the WSJT-X application, restructured and redesigned for keyboard-to-keyboard message passing. It is not supported by nor endorsed by the WSJT-X development group. While the WSJT-X group maintains copyright over the original work and code, JS8Call is a derivative work licensed under and in accordance with the terms of the GPLv3 license. Source code can be found in this public repository: https://bitbucket.org/widefido/wsjtx/ 

Jordan, KN4CRD has the following JS8Call Field Day Tips:

Here are some tips I use for operating Field Day with JS8. What other tips do you have to share?

  • Use “CQ FD” for calling CQ to help identify you are looking for Field Day stations
  • 40 meters is probably going to be a popular band for contacts. 20 meters will be close behind. You’ll likely find some others higher or lower depending on propagation.
  • If you’re not hearing stations, call cq. If you’re hearing cqs, try to answer them! 
  • It might be best to turn off heartbeating if the band gets busy. 
  • Add the @FIELDDAY callsign group to your configuration. You can then issue a @FIELDDAY SNR? command to see which stations can hear you.
  • Add your Field Day exchange to your Station Reply configuration, that way sending it is as easy as clicking a button. 
  • Add any other repeatable messages to the Save Messages so you don’t have to type them.
  • Set up N1MM or N3FJP for logging directly from JS8Call if you want to submit your log for a Field Day score. 
  • If you’re going out in the field, remember to have a way to synchronize your time (or use the tools built-in to JS8Call!)
  • Have fun and remember that JS8Call can send free-text-messages so it’s ok to have a QSO that’s more than 45 seconds long. 🙂

See y’all on the air! 

Best,
Jordan / KN4CRD

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