New digital mode FT4 Joe Taylor K1JT has announced a new digital mode, FT4, which is 2.5 times faster than FT8 FT4 is an experimental digital mode designed specifically for radio contesting. Like FT8, it uses fixed-length transmissions, structured messages with formats optimized for minimal QSOs, and strong forward error correction. T/R sequences are 6 seconds long, so FT4 is 2.5 × faster than FT8 and about the same speed as RTTY for radio contesting. FT4 can work with signals 10 dB weaker than needed for RTTY, while using much less bandwidth. FT4 message formats are the same as those in FT8 and encoded with the same (174,91) low-density parity check code. Transmissions last for 4.48 s, compared to 12.64 s for FT8. Modulation uses 4-tone frequency-shift keying at approximately 23.4 baud, with tones separated by the baud rate. The occupied bandwidth (that containing 99% of transmitted power) is 90 Hz Further information on FT4 is at http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/FT4_Protocol.pdf http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/april/new-digital-mode-ft4.htm
2.5 times FASTER!?!?!? Now I can contact all 50 states in (running calculator) in 23 minutes! WOOHOOO!
The way I see it... the more modes there is the more options you have.. BUT... the bigger the chance you will miss that QSO because your not using the right mode. Soon, EVERYONE will have their own mode.. and no one else will use it... and communication will stop... well.. QRZ.com will be where everyone complains about it. To each ... I guess.
