Video of FT4 talk by Joe Taylor K1JT On March 15, Joe Taylor K1JT gave a talk on the new digital mode FT4 to the Fair Lawn amateur radio club "Soon after the "FT8 Roundup" held on December 1-2, 2018, we started serious work on a faster, more contest-friendly digital mode that can compete with RTTY-contesting QSO rates while preserving many of the benefits of FT8. The result is FT4 -- a new digital mode specifically designed for radio contesting. Over the past month a small group of volunteers have been conducting on-the-air tests of FT4. The early tests were very successful and helped us to make a number of important design decisions. We believe FT4 has considerable promise for its intended purpose. We'll soon be ready for testing by a larger group. If you might be interested in participating and offering your considered feedback, please read the descriptive document "The FT4 Protocol for Digital Contesting" http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/FT4_Protocol.pdf We plan to post downloadable installation packages for WSJT-X 2.1.0-rc5 on April 29. The document linked above includes - Instructions for installing WSJT-X 2.1.0-rc5 and FT4 configuration - Operating instructions for FT4 - Basic description of the FT4 protocol, modulation, and waveform - Detailed sensitivity measurements for FT4 under a wide variety of simulated propagation conditions - Schedule for upcoming test sessions Please consider helping us to make FT4 a successful mode for digital contesting With best wishes and 73, -- Joe K1JT, Steve K9AN, and Bill G4WJS" Watch Dr. Taylor - FT8 & Beyond: FT4 - Finale, this mode is 3x Faster than FT8 http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/april/video-of-ft4-talk-by-joe-taylor-k1jt.htm
Found the comment: "At about 20 minutes into the video presentation, Joe describes FT4 as being asynchronous, meaning that you can start transmitting any time you wish, rather than being synchronized to an accurate clock. That asynchronous method did not work out as well as expected in on-the-air testing, and was abandoned. The version of FT4 that will be coming out on Monday is synchronous, on a 6-second cycle, and requires a more accurate clock than FT8. One thing that you can do now, before the program release on Monday, is to make sure that your computer clock is as accurate as possible. The Meinberg NTP program is recommended by K1JT for keeping your clock accurate https://www.meinbergglobal.com/english/sw/ntp.htm You can check the accuracy of your computer clock by going to www.time.is Dave Hachadorian, K6LL" I was never a fan of Meinberg. I see no reason why D4, BktTimeSync, and others would not work.
As always, a fantastic presentation by Joe. The Pulsar story at the end was fascinating. -Chris VA3ECO
That's a shame. That said, it's a hard problem to solve well. A significant portion of the SNR of the modem receiver depends on good clock recovery.
The only real reliable way to keep your PC hyper-accurately synchronised is via the multiple constellation of atomic clocks whizzing around us in Low Earth Orbit.... i.e. The GPS Satellite constellation. Some say HAM's have their pockets sewn up when it comes to spending; By far the CHEAPEST and MOST RELIABLE way from my extensive experimentation in the area (for other purposes) to access accurate, consistent time synchronisation is with NMEATime2 ( http://www.visualgps.net/#nmeatime2-content ) and a $15 U-Blox module off EBay (i.e. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=ublox+dongle&_sacat=0&_sop=15 ). [ Minor correction: I note that some devices i.e. VK-172 [UBlox 7-based] can be purchased from China through EBay for around $US10 delivered ] No I am not a salesman for such products; these products just work - and work well - from my ongoing practical experience in both fixed and portable operational environments. ..... And I echo the sentiments of others in expressing gratitude and thanks for the plethora of new modes that are surfacing - the modes that some claim are destroying AR but really are invigorating and modernising AR and its thinking ! My thinking in many of these areas has changed ! I will admit to not being in favor of the "automation" in activity initially - but now I can see that it is mandatory and I am now sold on the concept.
And together with BktTimeSync, the user has the option of sync'ing to an NTP server or GPS. I have been using this combination for a long time now.
That is it! You grasped the difference between a protocol requirement, due to human reaction time limitations, and automation for the sake of unattended operations. The operator is still present and in control, deviation of purpose aside. FT4 apperas to make it even more of a requirement. The evolution of the JT modes from 1 minute cycles, to 15 seconds, and now 6 seconds determined the need for the so called 'automation'. One is fully within his/her rights to shun this development. Enjoy the hobby any way you see fit.
I'm an old buzzard operator....YA AM and slop bucket and cw. ft8 is ok for some, but not me. too quick. I'd rather put people to sleep and keep the others interested. The computer clock and the clock in the program had to be calibrated every other day or sometimes everyday if the computer was not connected to the internet every day. So when you operator your station without a internet connection, the computer goes off snynozation.( can't spell very well ). So rather than have to keep taking the computer in the house every day along with dinner pale,breif case,coats and hats, I rinely said the hell with it and deleted the program and went back to AM,CW AND PSK.
I hope the JS8 program coming out is like HAM RADIO DELUXE only hope it boots up faster and takes less time.
