¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

ctrl + shift + ? for shortcuts
© 2025 Groups.io
  1. QRPLabs
  2. Topics

QDX caution

 

I guess I don't understand why you think js8call isn't documented.? It's fully open source.? In most open source projects, you do not get much more than this:

?

I guess you can claim it's not documented enough, maybe you can convince the author of the modifications to write more about it?? If I were at all interested I would read the code myself.? I did a little of that years ago with WSJT-X.? ?

But whatever... if it has secrets they certainly are open ones...?

My issue with js8call is there never seems to be a lot of people on the mode.? At least the limited time I have to operate.? I again miss the glory days of psk31 but I do understand why these modes are technically superior.?


On Mon, Jun 13, 2022, 8:49 PM Ron, N6YWU <ron.nicholson@...> wrote:
Not really.? The JS8 encoding was changed in several ways such that an FT8 decoder can't decode it at all.? And AFAIK currently the modifications aren't all documented sufficient to allow interoperable radio communication.? I prefer to use modes that are publicly documented sufficiently that they can't possibly be considered obscured in any way.? Such as FT8, where a full specification was published in QEX.
73, Ron, n6ywu

 

See this design doc:

--
Jeff N0?MII
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Even though I am not excited about the digital modes I too have a QDX on the way and will have fun building and getting it to work¡­.. then pawn it off on some unsuspecting newbie to see if they are ¡°immune¡± or not. ?If they catch the disorder they will have fun and we all will be happy (or at least content). ?The ones I really worry about are those that build a super light weight transmitter, attach it to a balloon, and then throw it away. ?After that had been done a couple of times what¡¯s the point? ?Ha!

Dave K8WPE

David J. Wilcox¡¯s iPad

On Jun 13, 2022, at 5:55 PM, Gary Bernard via groups.io <garybernard2@...> wrote:

?
I'm like Dave. The digital modes don't interest me at all.? I've been a ham since 1954 and pretty much active since then. I'm really old, 81. I agree, if it brings new people to the hobby then it's great. I am still active on CW and SSB and also believe that personal communications are the basis for our hobby.??
Computer to computer contacts, not my cup of tea.
Gary W0CKI

-----Original Message-----
From: David Wilcox K8WPE via groups.io <Djwilcox01@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Mon, Jun 13, 2022 3:21 pm
Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] QDX caution

I must be old enough to be immune to FT8, etc. ?Built two digital xcvrs, played with them during the winter in Florida a year ago, got bored and have both ready to be given away to any club member. Most already have their own versions so they sit there. My fun is building kits, figuring out why they don¡¯t work, making a few CW contacts and then on to the next kit. ?Been doing that for more than 50 years. ?FT8 and other digital modes are ¡°contacts¡± but no more than that. ?Just aren¡¯t fun. ?But quite a few hams in my coffee group are having a blast¡­.. more power to them. ?

Dave K8WPE since 1960

David J. Wilcox¡¯s iPad

On Jun 13, 2022, at 12:26 PM, Larry VE7EA <lagagnon@...> wrote:

?Absolutely, FT8 can be addicting. It is a boon to those running QRP and/or with compromised antennas and/or high levels of QRN in urban environments. However, it is a bit like shooting fish in a barrel and after about 45mins I get bored and head back to CW. ;-)

 

This is an interesting article that attempts to answer the question ¡°is FT8 growing at the expense of other modes¡± ?in a scientific way looking at contest data.?

The authors concluded that FT8 is bringing new hams into the hobby not at the expense of CW/SSB.
 

Response to an earlier post. But under this subject heading.

I¡¯m a long time and old amateur. I learned CW to get my ticket. Switched to SSB when it was the new best thing and then came back to CW when I came back to radio in my retirement.

Like others who have written on this thread I just didn¡¯t get the digital modes. Could not see the challenge and felt no connection with the guys on the other end of the qso. So I stopped doing digital.

±«²Ô³Ù¾±±ô¡­¡­..

Hans came out with the QDX. I still didn¡¯t really carr about digital modes but I DID want to build another of Hans¡¯ kits before I get too blind and feeble.

I missed out on the first two runs of QDX but this time fear of missing out (FOMO) had me in line a few minutes after the appointed hour when Hans opened the ordering. I got one and it arrived a couple weeks ago. My intention was to build it and then sell after I played with it.

The build was fun and I finished it last night and put it on the air today. Although I¡¯m still not convinced about digital (or non alcoholic beer or tofu,
For that matter), it sure was fun to put something I built - that¡¯s no larger than a deck of cards - on the air and make contacts. So much fun!

So although I¡¯m gonna stick with CW, the QDX is fun. I can see bringing it with me to the field along with the other QC-trievers. And I may be keeping a little while longer.

So advice to other FT8 curmudgeons like me. Get a QDX, build it and play with it. You¡¯ll have fun. And if you don¡¯t like it, a built and working QDX has good resale value.

Phil K3UT
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Jim,

One is a Phaser for 40 meters and the other is the QRP Guys unit with plug in modules for 40, 30, and 20 meters I think. ?They all were working then last time I used them a year ago. ?The Phaser has the case kit too but I never built that.

Give me a little more history and where to send them..

Please use Djwilcox01 at g mail dot com¡­.. as I monitor that more than the yahoo account.

Dave K8WPE?

David J. Wilcox¡¯s iPad

On Jun 14, 2022, at 1:49 PM, Jim Manley <jim.manley.mscs@...> wrote:

?
Hi Dave,

If someone else hasn¡¯t already taken you up on it, we would love to obtain for our school ham club station the digital xcvrs you appear to be offering.

My address for the Summer while school is out (but I run mobile Summer STEM programs around Montana) is:

Jim Manley
126 Henderson Road
Cut Bank, MT ?59427

Thanks and?

Jim ?KJ7JHE


On Mon, Jun 13, 2022 at 3:21 PM David Wilcox K8WPE via <Djwilcox01=[email protected]> wrote:
I must be old enough to be immune to FT8, etc.? Built two digital xcvrs, played with them during the winter in Florida a year ago, got bored and have both ready to be given away to any club member. Most already have their own versions so they sit there. My fun is building kits, figuring out why they don¡¯t work, making a few CW contacts and then on to the next kit.? Been doing that for more than 50 years.? FT8 and other digital modes are ¡°contacts¡± but no more than that.? Just aren¡¯t fun.? But quite a few hams in my coffee group are having a blast¡­.. more power to them. ?

Dave K8WPE since 1960

David J. Wilcox¡¯s iPad

On Jun 13, 2022, at 12:26 PM, Larry VE7EA <lagagnon@...> wrote:

?Absolutely, FT8 can be addicting. It is a boon to those running QRP and/or with compromised antennas and/or high levels of QRN in urban environments. However, it is a bit like shooting fish in a barrel and after about 45mins I get bored and head back to CW. ;-)

21 - 26 of 26