Presentation given at the November 2020 Meeting of the Tallahassee Amateur Radio Society (TARS) on the JS8 digital mode and operational details and advance features of JS8Call.
JS8Call is a derivative of the FT8 protocol in WSJT-X. It provides for keyboard to keyboard communications using essentially FT8 style transmissions. It works well, like FT8 in weak signal situations.
JS8 call is the cat's arse. It has features such as being able to sync time that make it the go to in an emergency. The ability to message forward is also fantastic. I have tried most digital modes and its the simplest to integrate and get running. I really don't use any other mode now. I highly recommend anyone give it a go. I am sure you will like it out of the box.
Using it here in South Africa works well not across the pond yet hope contact other contries. 73 ZS5SID
JS8CALL is FT8 with a QSO with the same specifications (-27dB below the noise floor / 50 Hz)... Key board to Key board, about 20wpm... I was one of the first 50 users, it is great... NN2X, Tom
I like JS8, I have been using it occasionally for some time, the bad part is that it does not have the same "weak signal" capabilities of FT8, despite being a fork. On occasions prior agreement I have worked FT8 with a good signal level 8000-3000-1500 kms. and we have only gotten contact at 1500 kms., the interesting part is that it is conversational, and I like the radio beacon mode. It really is a good way ... 73 CD7CKU Cesar FE37eo
I am having a ton of fun with it. It is a chat mode like PSK31, but with the speed turned down it is better at weak signal work. If you get bored with FT8 because you want to have a bit of a QSO but still have the same general weak signal ability, you will like it. If you work PSK and want to try the new modes but don't want to give up the ability to "talk", you will like it. I tend to do both, but will leave JS8CALL running while I am doing other things to feed PSKREPORTER.
I am really going to have to give this mode another try. The last couple of times I have pulled up and monitored the bands I did no really see any conversational QSO's being made. Will spend more time monitoring JS8CALL in the near future. The message forwarding sounds interesting. Could someone elaborate a little more on this? If not I can find it in the manual I am sure. With several YouTube channels promoting it for portable/field use it is seeming more interesting. I almost have the GoBox complete. Look forward to giving it another go. 73 Chris Schulz NR9Q
Yes, you would use it to chat. It also has a function to save and forward messages but that has a little bit of a learning curve. It's worth installing and playing with it. Rob, W8MRL
