JS8

31 Dec JS8

JS8Call is software that uses the JS8 Digital Mode providing weak signal keyboard to keyboard messaging to Amateur Radio Operators.

JS8Call is an experiment to test the feasibility of a digital mode with the robustness of FT8, combined with a messaging and network protocol layer for weak signal communication on HF, using a keyboard messaging style interface. It is not designed for any specific purpose other than connecting amateur radio operators who are operating under weak signal conditions. JS8Call is heavily inspired by WSJT-X, Fldigi, and FSQCall and would not exist without the hard work and dedication of the many developers in the amateur radio community.

The idea with JS8Call is to take the robustness of FT8 mode and layer on a messaging and network protocol for weak signal communication on HF with a keyboard-to-keyboard interface. JS8Call is heavily inspired by WSJT-X, Fldigi, and FSQCall and would not exist without the hard work and dedication of the many developers in the amateur radio community.

From the JS8Call website….

JS8Call is a derivative of the WSJT-X application, restructured and redesigned for message passing using a custom FT8 modulation called JS8. It is not supported by nor endorsed by the WSJT-X development group. While the WSJT-X group maintains copyright over the original work and code, JS8Call is a derivative work licensed under and in accordance with the terms of the GPLv3 license. The source code modifications are public and can be found in js8call branch of this repository: https://bitbucket.org/widefido/js8call/

JS8Call is and will always be open-source and free software.

You might be asking…why is this named JS8Call? Why was it renamed from FT8Call? Why not something else, like BACON or HF Messenger? Good question! It is named this way as an homage to its heritage:

• JS8Call was previously named FT8Call.
• JS8Call uses a custom FT8 modulation called JS8 (Jordan Sherer designed 8-FSK modulation). This is the base RF transport.
• JS8Call has a “directed calling” protocol laid over top the base RF transport to support free-form and directed message passing.

Hence JS8 + Directed Calling = JS8Call. And in case you didn’t get that:

The app is: JS8Call, the mode is: JS8

The software for JT8 can be downloaded from the JT8Call site.