[TMRA] New WSJT-X Digital Mode - FT8

[Robert Hall]

For those interested, Joe Taylor (K1JT) and gang have been at it again and
have created a new digital mode (FT8).  You will need version 1.8.0 of the
software which can currently only be found on sourceforge for download
(somewhat beta version yet as it does have a few bugs yet).  The official
release on their website is supposed to have a few of the remaining bugs
worked out.  However, if you are like me, and don't want to wait, you can
find it on sourceforge.com .

A few notes on my experience with FT8, while trying it over my lunch hour
today.

1. There is no time between transmissions because they are so fast (15
seconds). You just get a response in when you can and it will start right
away if you are quick on it It appears to work well.  My transmitter unkeys
before the tones are done, but it doesn't appear to impact anything.
 (anyone else getting that phenomenon as well?)

2. At least in Windows 10, my signal strength bar is way off now. It is
much higher for the same signals than it used to be and shows "red" a lot.
Hopefully they fix that.   (Anyone else experience that?)

3. This software has mixed up a few of the frequencies where some of the
modes are now found. FT8 is found on 14.074 where it controlled my radio to
(different from what JT first mentioned), which is also where folks are
using it on 20. However, on 6 meters, it moved JT65 to using 50.310?
Really? Nobody is using it there.   I'm wondering if there will be
corrections/changes.:)

4. Contacts came through, and decodes worked quite well. I was able to make
a few and there is already some DX working there.

5. QRZ.com
<https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FQRZ.com%2F&h=ATPgaRfwFCY27_uhK2fyshaRle0QgshZlvU7QuGF0E1gziSto1OLLVtA1AA_sOygE27FUFBKzhye8VfihtY0ooQrHkBy0ctRaehTuvBsAlXyvVeYKXOiOWPZGwbVZX43Km-Y_EvKxA>
 does not yet include an FT8 mode to log with, so I have no idea what to
log these contacts as. I notified the folks at QRZ.com to ask if they plan
to add it. I'd imagine other software packages are in a similar boat. All
in all, it worked good though!

73 - Rob KV8P