The Digital modes category covers digital radio communication, weak-signal operation and RF data transmission technologies. It includes articles about FT8, JS8Call, PSK31, RTTY, APRS and other software-based or computer-assisted radio modes used by amateur radio operators and wireless technology enthusiasts. The articles explain how these modes work, what equipment and software are needed, and how digital communication is changing modern radio operation.
The recent introduction of FT2 represents a further step toward shorter transmission cycles, reduced latency, and higher QSO throughput in weak-signal digital communication. FT2 pushes optimization toward speed and time efficiency. This naturally raises a strategic counter-question: instead of moving toward even faster exchanges, would it make sense to move…
A new experimental digital mode, FT2, has entered early on-air testing—and as expected, it has already triggered debate. Promising full structured QSOs in as little as 7–11 seconds, FT2 aims to push the limits of what timing compression can achieve within the WSJT digital ecosystem. This is not the first…
The IP400 project is a new amateur radio development aimed at bringing a high-speed mesh networking system to the 400 MHz band. Its core idea is to combine modern, IP-based networking concepts with spectrum that is traditionally well suited for wide-area coverage, good building penetration, and mobile operation. Instead of…
The world of amateur radio has undergone remarkable transformations over the past two decades, largely driven by the explosive growth in digital communication modes. At the heart of this transformation stands WSJT-X, a free and open-source software package that has revolutionized how radio amateurs engage with weak-signal communication. Now, with…
In recent years, one of the most dynamically evolving areas of the amateur radio community has been digital modes—with FT8 becoming exceptionally popular. Originally not designed for contesting, FT8 contesting has now become widespread worldwide. In this article, we’ll explore what FT8 is, how it works, how to participate in…