I’d spent plenty of time reading about JS8Call before finally deciding to give it a try. The software promised reliable keyboard-to-keyboard conversations using weak signals, but until you make that first contact, it’s hard to know what to expect. Like many amateur radio operators, I had a few questions before transmitting. Would anyone answer? Was my station working properly? Would operating JS8Call feel more like FT8 or a traditional QSO?
My first contact answered all of those questions—and taught me a few lessons I wish I’d known beforehand. In this article, I’ll walk through what happened, what I learned, and offer some advice if you’re preparing for your own first JS8Call QSO.
Today is dipped my toes into a whole new ham radio digital mode called JS8CALL. I recorded the transcript of the QSO below. As I did not know what I was doing, we did not get to exchange signal reports.
What is JS8?
JS8Call is a digital amateur radio mode based on FT8 that allows keyboard-to-keyboard conversations using weak-signal HF communication. Unlike FT8, JS8Call supports free-text messaging and more conversational contacts.
The mode is optimized for weak-signal communication and includes features such as automatic repeat request (ARQ), forward error correction (FEC), and message integrity check (MIC). JS8Call has become popular for use on HF, VHF, and UHF bands.
FT8Call is an experiment to test the feasibility of a digital mode with the robustness of FT8, combined with a messaging and network protocol for weak signal communication on HF, using a keyboard-to-keyboard interface.
JS8 QSO text
15:00:51 – (1041) – VE3CNU: STATUS IDLE 0M VERSION 2.2.0 ?
15:10:41 – (1039) – K4GMX: @ALLCALL CQ CQ CQ EM56 ?
15:12:29 – (1041) – VE3CNU: INFO IC7300 31′ VERT ?
15:13:42 – (1041) – K4GMX: VE3CNU GM, NAME IS KENT IN KENTUCKY. ALSO IC7300 EFHW AT 22WATT. ?
15:14:46 – (1041) – VE3CNU: HI KENT. RICK HERE. MY 1ST TRY AT JS8 ?
15:15:46 – (1041) – K4GMX: VE3CNU CONGRATS! PERFECT! ?
15:16:45 – (1041) – VE3CNU: YOUTUBING HW TO DO THIS ?
15:17:47 – (1041) – K4GMX: VE3CNU THAT WORKS, TOO, RICK. THERE IS SO MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT JS8. I’VE ONLY BEEN ON FOR A MONTH. ?
15:18:49 – (1041) – VE3CNU: K4GMX GOOD! LOOK FWD TO IT ?
15:19:43 – (1041) – VE3CNU: K4GMX SNR? ?
15:20:07 – (1039) – ……. I’LL LEAVE IT ON WHILE I ‘WORK FROM HOME’! 73 CU AGN ?
15:19:46 – (1041) – K4GMX: VE3CNU FREE TO USE AUTO……. I’LL LEAVE IT ON WHILE I ‘WORK FROM HOME’! 73 CU AGN ?
15:21:13 – (1041) – VE3CNU: K4GMX 73 – THX FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT ?
15:22:07 – (1041) – K4GMX: VE3CNU :) ?
There you have it – the entire QSO. Kent and I have a few things in common, we’re both 64 years old, and use an Icom 7300 rig for HF.
Interesting. It’s a kind of mashup of CW, FT8, and APRS. It has message forwarding, weak signal reception, and operators use short form words.
Rick Blythe
I have yet to find a lot of amateurs operating in this digital mode yet. But I suspect that many other hams, like me, will tire of FT8 and make the move. It’s actually a mode with a lot of potential. I like it.
ADIF log entry
JS8Call ADIF Export<eoh>
<call:5>K4GMX <gridsquare:4>EM56 <mode:4>MFSK <submode:3>JS8 <rst_sent:0> <rst_rcvd:0> <qso_date:8>20221031 <time_on:6>151657 <qso_date_off:8>20221031 <time_off:6>151752 <band:3>20m <freq:9>14.079041 <station_callsign:6>VE3CNU <my_gridsquare:4>FN03 <operator:6>VE3CNU <eor>
Views: 49
Awesome on 1st JS8 contact! Just to let you know, there is a lot of activity on 40m JS8. Looks like your QSO was on 20m, not sure if you’ve tried 40m yet. I’ve been on JS8 for about a year. Super great mode! The inbox messaging system in JS8Call is great for chess games!
Well done, thanks for sharing!