FT2 Data mode

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Is anyone using it yet? One that needs its own app I feel?

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I hope this moves foward in leaps and bounds, and that DL8MRE takes note to add it to the great application he developed, SDR-Mobile.

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“Fastest Digital Mode Ever Created” : a very misleading title.

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It blew my hyperbole fuse… :wink:

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I tried to get it running but it wouldn’t work. I’ll try again when there’s a better installer, or gets integrated into the usual bits of software.

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A comparison to PSK31 might be useful. PSK31 was supposed to be the ultimate RTTY type two tone digital mode.

FT4 was Joe Taylor’s answer to RTTY contesting but with better sensitivity and more reliable decoding than RTTY or PSK31. It is about 10 dB more sensitive than RTTY.

I have used FT4 when conditions are good to grab a few fast QSOs. It’s good. But the extra 6 to 7 dB of sensitivity from FT8 is worth a few extra seconds wait.

FT2 could be 6.5 dB less sensitive than FT4, about 3 dB more sensitive than RTTY. It will also have to use more bandwidth than FT4. Is that useful?

As I see it CW is competitive for a short sharp QSO.

Early days yet of course.

73

Ron

VK3AFW.

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No rush in trying out this new superfast MGM mode from this station. The reflectors are full of hams who have rushed into installing it and they’ve beggared up all their WSJT-X settings for the other modes that previously worked well, hence they have had to reinstall again from scratch.

It won’t be a weak signal mode anyway, so not much use for SOTAists. The short duration is for quick fire contest or DX Contest QSOs. The MGM modes are not in what I would call “common use” for SOTA anyway, as setting up for FT operation up is more of a faff than it is for CW or SSB. Kudod to those that do it though, as I enjoy chasing the mode on SOTA very much.

I’ve only activated FT8 once last summer from a drive on summit (G/TW-005 Lincolnshire Wolds), and in terms of chasing I think I can count on two hands the number of SOTA FT Qs I have made in the last two months.

I always go after them if I see the spots, especially as there seems to be less CW in SOTA these days. For instance if I count the last 20 spots going back from 13:27 today there are 19 voice spots and just 1 CW spot.

73 Phil G4OBK

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