[SFDX] Sending regular text messages with an FT8 message characteristics

[wb4ehg]

I've recently learned about these additions to the WSJTx.

You can stop reading here if you have no interest.

*Short version*: WSJT team is creating a version of FTx that sends any 
message of any length that you want.

*Long version:*

A problem with the WSJT message types (FT4, FT8, FST4, Q65, MSK144) are 
that they can't send an arbitrary message (any text message and length 
that you want).

RTTY and PSK can send any text that you want (with the new radios it is 
trivial to send/receive RTTY, the tuning is shown and the radio itself 
decodes the messages) but they are slow and create (compared to WSJT) 
large messages.

The WSJT team is creating a version of FTx that sends any message you 
want, it's called JRTTY.

The description below is from the Google AI

--------------------------------------------------------

*JTTY* is an upcoming digital protocol being developed by the *WSJT-X* 
development team, the same group behind FT8 and JT65. Its goal is to 
provide the familiar keyboard-to-keyboard chat and fast contest feel of 
traditional RTTY, but with vastly improved weak-signal performance and a 
significantly lower error rate.[1 
<https://wsjtx.groups.io/g/main/topics>, 2 
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSKz4hjcErY>, 3 
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WSJT_(amateur_radio_software)>]
While *standard RTTY* is a legacy mode most often seen during organized 
contests like the ARRL RTTY Roundup, JTTY is aimed at bringing modern, 
efficient signal processing to that conversational and contesting 
style.[1 <https://wsjtx.groups.io/g/main/topics>, 2 
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHWKXh6UBn8>, 3 
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrtpaSAvQ6s&t=8>]
What to Know About JTTY:

  * *Release Status:* JTTY is currently in active development by the
    core WSJT team and is slated to debut in an upcoming WSJT-X release
    candidate.[1 <https://wsjtx.groups.io/g/main/topics>]
  * *Operational Goal:* It is designed specifically for fast RTTY-like
    contest exchanges and general keyboard-to-keyboard QSO chatting,
    functioning similarly to older standards but with superior error
    correction.[1 <https://wsjtx.groups.io/g/main/topics>]
  * *Third-Party Support:* Companion apps like JTAlert will need time to
    integrate JTTY's free-form or variable-length message structures
    once the mode officially rolls out.[1
    <https://hamapps.groups.io/g/Support/topic/jtty_mode/119681620>]

You can track the development and release of JTTY by checking the WSJT-X 
GitHub Repository <https://github.com/WSJTX/wsjtx> or the WSJT-X 
Development Pages <https://wsjtx.github.io/wsjtx/about.html>.[1 
<https://wsjtx.groups.io/g/main/topics>]
Special & Enhanced Message Types
These types are reserved for non-standard callsigns, contests, and 
specific activities:

  * *Type 6:* *Arbitrary Text / Telemetry*. Allows for custom
    alphanumeric messages up to 13 characters (e.g., |W1AW GIVING 73|).
  * *Type 7:* *Compound Call Signs*. Encodes non-standard
    prefixes/suffixes (e.g., |/P|, |/R|, or DXpedition formats).
  * *Type 8:* *DXpedition / Fox & Hounds Format*. Used specifically for
    rare DX stations managing heavy pileups.
  * *Type 9:* *Contest Exchanges*. Sends brief report codes or serial
    numbers depending on the specific contest (e.g., ARRL Field Day).
  * *Type 10:* *QSY / Message System*. Used to command or request a QSY
    (frequency change).[1
    <https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.7.0-rc8.html>, 2
    <http://www.g4jnt.com/WSJT-X_LdpcModesCodingProcess.pdf>, 3
    <https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/Work_the_World_part2.pdf>, 4
    <https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.6.0.pdf>, 5
    <https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/FT4_FT8_QEX.pdf>]

For a complete look at bit-field structures, check out the FT4/FT8 QEX 
Article <https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/FT4_FT8_QEX.pdf> or review the 
protocol specifications in the WSJT-X User Guide 
<https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.7.0.html>.[1 
<https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.6.0.pdf>]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*More details on FTx:*
Standard Message Types (FT4, FT8, FST4, Q65, MSK144)
These types are used for everyday contacts:[1 
<https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-main_en.html>, 2 
<https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.5.4.html>]

  * *Type 0:* *Standard QSO* (e.g., |CQ W1AW FN42|). Used for
    directional CQs and standard callsign exchanges.
  * *Type 1:* *Grid Locator Exchange* (e.g., |W1AW K1JT FN42|). Used to
    send your Maidenhead Grid Square.
  * *Type 2:* *Signal Report* (e.g., |K1JT W1AW -15|). Used to exchange
    signal-to-noise ratios (SNR).
  * *Type 3:* *Acknowledgment* (e.g., |W1AW K1JT R-15|). Sending a Roger
    (R) along with the signal report.
  * *Type 4:* *Roger-Roger-Roger* (e.g., |K1JT W1AW RR73|). Indicates
    all previous reports have been received successfully.
  * *Type 5:* *73* (e.g., |W1AW K1JT 73|). Used to end the contact
    formally.[1
    <https://groups.io/g/RFzero/topic/ft8_encoding_for_automatic/81690668>,
    2 <https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-3.0.0-rc1.html>,
    3 <https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/FT4_FT8_QEX.pdf>, 4
    <https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.6.0.pdf>, 5
    <https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/Work_the_World_part2.pdf>]

If you stuck with reading this to here, thanks!
I'm particularly interested in the RTTY part, I operate RTTY contests 
because they are so easy with an IC-7610 and I had a teletype machine in 
the late 1960's & early '70s. Some other guys in my town and my age had 
them, we built Terminal Units (modems but not called that then) and used 
it on 2m AM with <10W crystal controlled radios that Civil Defense gave 
us for our emergency work.
73, Rich wb4ehg

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