After watching this and setting up js8 call I was lucky enough to have breif Qso with Tom. :)
I see on 6 meters the js8 is using the same one of two in FT8. PS your last video on FT8 with the 991a was spot on, thank you so much. And yes I share your videos even with some that do not have 991a as your demos and comments regarding terms in usage.
Thanks for video! I tried FT8 but quickly grew bored of it's mind numbing and repetitive operation, as well as its non-personal nature. JSCall seems to be exactly what I was looking for.
Tom. Thank you, as always. A comment if I may. I note you start JS8CALL with the transmitter setting to ON.
I advise against that for a simple reason: Many of us might share one antenna between various radios. It is sooo very easy to forget to switch the antenna to the 991A. While yr green audio slider would be dead give away... It can happen and it did happen to me. Therefore... my suggestion to all is start JS8 in NON transmit mode and enable it by hand.. Might save yr finals one day.
Thanks for the video. JS8CALL is much misunderstood and many of its advanced functions re msg forwarding are (sadly) never used. It is an absolutely wonderful mode and I urge our fellow hams to give it a try !
Albert. EI7II.
Thanks for the advise. I do have multiple rigs feeding my HF antenna, so your comment would certainly apply to me. Future JS8Call videos will include this. 73 de Tom, ND3N
Tom, thank you for your dedication to help move jab radio forward. 73 Bret/AC0AE
Tom, forgive me. Another comment if you allow me. I am running the 991A and JS8CAll via the XCCCOMMS DIGI-4 interface. The minute you deviate from the standard USB A to USB B cable... the menu settings ARE NO LONGER VALID. Folks... please beat this in mind ! The reason I am running over the DIGI-4 is that while WJTX or JSCALL or Whisper is running in the background... Windows will KILL the audio from CZcams. With the DIGI-4 ( and other similar interfaces that use their own sound driver chips.) . that problem goes away ! The only time i revert back to the standard A to B interface cable is when I want to run my RT Systems radio (991A) programming S/W.
Thanks for you great videos Tom.. they are much APPRECIATED !!!.
Albert EI7II.
Tom - really enjoy your videos, both for general content but especially for setup on my 991a. You've successfully helped me get going with WSJTX and JS8. So, I took the knowledge I though I had and launched into FLDIGI to try those modes....BUT to no avail. It seems I got stuck on getting PTT enabled. Now, to be fair, I use MacOS so I did not use flrig as I use MacLoggerDx for logging and rig control. Any help you can be would be appreciated. I can usually use your Windows instructions and get them to work on Mac as Yaesu drivers and Mac Codecs work without issue. Thanks in advance. 73's. N4TDT Randy
I'll have to do a bit of research, but I think I can put something together. Are you planning on using it for PSK? 73 de Tom, ND3N
@@ND3N I'm new enuf licensed and with the 991a that I'm interested in all digital modes. Initially I was looking at RTTY but understand the fldigi does many more so maybe an Intro to fldigi and then details on hooking up the 991a to those you find most popular. also interested in CW on the 991a. Really appreciate your efforts on your channel. the easiest to understand for me. 73's N4TDT Randy
Did you know that JS8CALL has been out for about 3 years now. I have gone through several versions with my FT991A
And it uses the same settings as FT8 does and works good you will have better luck with
USB DIGITAL mode instead of USB my stop bits are 2 on my rig. And the procedure for setting ALC is critical so use the alc meter and the Dt gain setting and not the power slider , thats what you use when you don't have a way to set dt gain on older rigs.
Mine works best when the white line of alc meter just barely shows on the meter.
Also every power or band change requires readjustment. Have fun
AA4CP Chuck
Fort Pierce FL
Yes chuck I use digital gain for the alc,I have power bar on the software full and use digital gain,run 10watts and no alc ,works great.
Very interesting... thanks for the great video!! I have been enjoying FT8. Maybe they will let us use JS8 Call for field day??? Thanks Steve WO5G
I suspect it might be allowed under the general digital modes. but I'm not sure its popular enough to make it worth very many points, but it might be a nice demo station to get people to see what ham radio can do. 73 de Tom, ND3N
Very interesting, after seeing several of your videos I have not liked and subscribed. BTW, what was that Spanish style music during your conversation with other Ham? I love this style music, very upbeat!
Great video. But have one question...is it the RETURN key or what that keys the tx? I normally would use the return key at the end of each sentence so am wondering how to get the tx and rx timing.
Just like FT-8, it sends messages in 15 second increments…. However, it will continuously send those 15 seconds packets until whatever your sending is completed. It’s been awhile since I’ve used it, but it is pretty easy to use. Just get on and play and you’ll see what I mean
I have a 991a and FTDX-10 will that work on both
KQ4CD Paul ⚓️
Gret video Tom! Hey what was the song you were playing in the background - I like it! Thanks again!
Tom thanks for the video. You got me going, at least partially. Maybe you can help me with this. Every time JS8CALL transmits my 991a switches modes from DATA USB to USB. I’m seeing conversations but I’ve yet to get a response.
I generally don't use Data USB - Normal USB with a flat responce from 100-3000 Hz should work just fine. This is the same setting I use for FT8/FT4. 73 de Tom, ND3N
Thanks. By far the best step by step for JS8CALL with the 991A. Do you have one like this for FT8?
@@ND3N Thanks! By the way do the 991A settings for FT8 work for JS8CALL or vice-versa if you get what I am trying to say? Trying not to have to reconfigure my entire rig in the menu settings when I want to switch between the two modes. I finally have FT-8 working but not JS8Call... I would also like to go between the two modes easily.
I tried your settings between FT8 and JS8Call and they have to be different on my 991A in order for FT8 to work vs JS8Call to work. At least from what I can tell... I'll look you up on QRZ and email my settings so you can see.
What was all the music just when I needed to learn what you were doing? Video was great until that point. I'm all setup but don't know what to do after calling CQ.
i see you typing text, reminds me of PSK31 , which i enjoy, so how would JS8 be better/different ?
Great question. I’m also a fan of PSK, but the JS8 waveform has much better forward error correction, giving you a much cleaner exchange. On the flip side, it takes a lot longer to make those exchanges. It is also meant for much lower power levels. I’ve worked stations in Europe who were running 5 watts with 100% copy. Both PSK andJS8 have their pros and cons, and having the choice between the two just increases your ability to get messages across keyboard to keyboard. 73 de Tom, ND3N
@@ND3N I may give it a try then I like PSK much more than FT8, its more personal when you can have a real qso with someone. For me, that is what Ham Radio is about, a radio contact should be more than just a signal report IMHO.
It's free and not too hard to set-up. Give it a shot - you have nothing to lose and possibly will gain another mode to play with.
Use win 11 "voice access" to dictate text directly into the transmission panel. It's treated as though you just typed it in. It's a godsend for slow and no typing skills hams, also those whose hands tremble now. KJ5CLX
Great on the setup info. But it would have been a bloody big help if you could have should how a conversation took place rather than fast forwarding. I've no idea what happens after the CQ call, like how you go back to them and what are all the buttons in aid off. Rather disappointed, seem like to much left out.
What do you mean around the 27 minute mark in the video after calling CQ when you say, "I'm gonna just zap this"? What is zap and what are you zapping? Define zap!
Zapping to me means that I'm cutting out some of the non-useful content. In this case, I got rid of all of the unanswered CQ's before someone actually came back to me by editing (zapping) it out in post process.
Hi Tom. I guess you saw my request last week for JS8call FT991 . Thanks ! 73... N3YY
Thanks for the suggestion - Took me a couple of days of research and figuring out how to make it work, and wanted to spend at least a few hours getting familiar with the program. but finally finished it up today. 73 de Tom, ND3N
Thanks for a nice video. Got my FT991 working with js8 call!