Interested in Amateur Radio Digital Mode FT8 Operations?

I agree with your comments. I opened up this video because I'm genuinely interested in what people see of interest in this pastime, and would have potentially used it to kick start at least a try from my end.. But this video with weird noises and mystery hard-to-read screens doesn't do anything for me.

 

There are plenty of step-by-step “how to” videos on YouTube made by fellow HAMs. They do a great job explaining the setup and use of FT8, along with other modes.

 

Thank you -- if you've seen one using the Mac, a link would be much appreciated. Regards, Dave W7DGJ

 

See if this helps: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=macintosh+FT8
I have not reviewed these videos but several matches were present...can't vouch for the quality of them. I used to use a Mac for AMTOR, PACTOR, etc. with the AEA PK-232 but that was a long time ago.

 

I love this site and the ham radio attitude of helping others . . . I will return your favor of assistance in kind, to someone else on a matter that I can help them with. Dave

 

I haven't searched directly on Mac computers and FT8 as I don't have a Mac, but a couple of YouTube video creators to check out are KM4ACK and K0PIR. These guys put out a lot of great content without a lot of fluff, so even if the subject isn't directly Mac related the concept and information is very good.

KM4ACK - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSQhXfGo_68Ta8-2wStAWkw

K0PIR - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCarHONUhA7Z9iqvblt0GBYQ

Here is a K0PIR video on installing WSJT-X on an iMac. WSJT-X is the application you need for FT8.

 

I tend to agree with a lot of guys out here in that FT-8 DOES NOT IMPRESS US ONE IOTA NOR IS A WHAT MOST OF US ARE HAMS FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE, "A CHALLENGE PLAIN & SIMPLE!!!

 

Exactly.
Only a newbie thinks 'what could be easier, pick a mike and call'. Hard to imagine a thing that is farther to the truth.

 

Any made by fellow hams?

 

Almost any video made be non professionals (from some skilled amateur individuals to most big production studio) are unbearable boring and watching them is obviously wasting your time. I would suppose fellow hams are good people but to be a good man not necessarily means to be good video producer.
Another thought. With a video the watcher/listener is strictly limited to video's tempo so cannot pass not interesting parts, cannot efficiently slow down interesting or hard to understand parts, and cannot watch illustrations in details except with 'pause' on the video. With the plain text and some necessary pictures one have unlimited freedom to read as fast as comfortable, skip unnecessary, watch the illustrations as long as needed. Sure there are many situations when video is the best way to explain something. Meanwhile there are many situations when video is the worst way to explain something but authors still do useless videos instead of useful text, maybe with pictures.

 

DMR does in fact work without the internet.

 

Even more: DMR does in fact work peer-to-peer like any ham and most commercial radios, without a relay.

 

Please look posts above your last post. ☝️

 

When the normal HF bands (40m, 20m today) are empty and no one answers your CQ, FT8 and FT4 ,(to less extent), are active. Plenty of DX. Last these modes require one party to answer a CQ. Sometimes you connect, sometimes not. Stations calling CQ need to pick a clear frequency. Be careful, it can be fun and addictive.