Turning your FT-891 into an FT8 digital monster!

With the addition of the Tigertronics SignaLink, a whole new world of communications open up to the FT-891 operators. This video describes the required menu, function, and SignaLink settings needed to operate the FT8 mode.
Links:
WSJT-x Download: jt65-dx.com/dow...
SignaLink Set-up Video: • Make your radio Listen...
Chapters:
00:01 Introduction
00:39 Menu Settings
03:04 Setting the Data Mode
03:24 Function Settings
05:39 Computer Settings
08:43 Download, install, and open WSJT-x
10:11 WSJT-x Settings
12:40 Demo of FT8 contacts
16:32 Logging your FT8 contacts
18:09 Summary and End Notes
------
Rig, Menu Settings, and Function Settings
Set Rig mode to DATA
Menu Settings
01-02 AGC MID Delay = 700 (default)
05-06 CAT RATE = Make Note
05-07 CAT TOT = 100 mSec
05-08 CAT RTS = Disable
07-12 PC Keying = OFF
08-01 Data Mode = Others
08-03 Other Display = 1500
08-04 Other Shift = 1500
08-05 DATA LCUT Freq = 100 Hz
08-06 DATA LCUT Slope = 18 dB/Oct
08-07 DATA HCUT Freq = 3000 Hz
08-08 DATA HCUT Slope = 18 dB/Oct
08-09 DATA In Select = Rear
08-10 DATA PTT Select = DAKY
08-12 DATA BFO = USB (Change to LSB if S/W requires that, but most don’t)
16-03 HF PWR = 50 (or less)
Function Settings
Function-1
TNR - as required
VOX - Disable
PRC - Disable
MON - Comfort level
SPL - Disable
IPO - Disable
ATT - Disable
NAR - Disable
NB - Disable
SFT - 0 Hz
WDH - 3000 Hz
NCH - Disable
Function-2
MTR - Recommend Set-up with ALC, then PO or SWR for operations
SCP - As required
AGC - AUTO
DNR - Disable
DNF - Disable
CNT - Disable
MOX - Disable
TXW - Disable
MEQ - Disable
QMB - Disable
Initial SignaLink Settings: TX - Mid range, RX - Mid range, Delay - fully CCW
For WSJT-x, Sync Computer Time and verify virtual COM ports
--------
Thanks for watching. Please remember to Like, Share, Comment, and Subscribe.
73 de Tom, ND3N

[@cchalfantusa]

Tom, first day on FT8 and data modes in general. Thanks for your video…. First 9 minutes I worked Germany, Slovenia and Spain from the USA on 10M with an EFHW lazily like 5ft off the ground.

[@ND3N]

Congrats.... You'll have DXCC before you know it.

[@mikesmith5139]

I really appreciate your videos. They are so clear and well produced. Thank you! Mike, M0MTJ 🎉

[@ND3N]

Thank you very much!

[@santossalinas7209]

Tom, an absolutely great video. I followed your instructions and I was on the air (FT8) with my FT-891 and Signalink. Thank you. 73 KI5KGT

[@k.howard5927]

Very informative and helpful video. Thank you

[@UR4LL]

Great video, very detailed, thank you.

[@ND3N]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ka1gdq]

Just a quick note: in Windows 10, the connection for the "Add clocks for different time zones" is where you will find that Internet tab he is talking about. This option to "add clocks......" is in the right upper portion, under "Related Settings" (2nd option).

[@ND3N]

Thanks

[@byron-w9bcm313]

@ND3N I didn’t see you adjust the volume setting on the mic and speaker for the drivers, is there a particular setting?

[@ND3N]

You do want to adjust your ALC to read between 1/3 and 1/2 full scale, and the signalink has a front panel adjustment for that…

[@CE4JDM]

At 3:34 you say TNR, but mine does not turn blue. How do I do that? Also, I'm trying WSJT-X on 14.074.000, but each time I TX, it transmits on 14.073.500. Why does it jump down like that to TX?

[@RobertDurden]

Have you looked at a Digirig interface yet? Any thoughts?

[@josephterry-tn7ic]

It works great on my 891

[@vk4foo]

👍👍👍👍

[@boatsyoung]

when I test my Cat I get absolutely nothing. I have checked all the settings exactly as you have them with the exception of I have COM3. Upon computer restart I got a Rig Failure from WSJT-X

[@ND3N]

I assume you've confirmed your com port settings in the rig, on the computer, and in your WSJT-x settings?

[@boatsyoung]

@@ND3N absolutely

[@petermajor4599]

Great👍

[@user-jk3sr6up9n]

Could not follow, too fast

[@danielvd77]

your alc is to high.. it should be on the border of no bar to one very smal bar. otherwise you are splattering

[@ND3N]

VARA HF recommends 1/3 of scale. I’m not quite sure of that, but I think 1 bar is too low. I’ve had a neighbor monitor me while sending and no splatter until you get much higher.

[@damanera181]

well done video, but honestly FT8 is the death of ham spirit.

[@ND3N]

I think there are plenty of modes available and while not conversational, FT8 does meet the basic requirements for a 2 way QSO. BTW - JS8Call (see my video on it here - czcams.com/video/N_Agbsywyi0/video.html) uses the FT8 waveform for rag-chews. Not a lot of people using it, but still... 73 de Tom, ND3N