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[W4HIJ]

Due to a variety of reasons I have not had my ham station up and running and been active for the last few years but I'm trying to change that.
 When last I was active, I worked many digital modes but I had mostly settled in using the JT-65 HF program and running WSPR when I wasn't otherwise active.
 I've kept up enough to know there have been some advances and changes with things like FT-8 but I haven't delved deep into any of that yet.
 My question is about software, what's the choice these days? I'd like to start back slow, maybe just doing a little station testing with WSPR but my impression is that I might have read about a complete digital software suite with several modes. What's out there?
73,
Michael, W4HIJ

[K4QE]

Michael,

WSJT-X has (mostly) replaced WSJT.  It is a Swiss Army knife with many protocols including WSPR, JT65, FT8, and FT4 to name a few.

https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

JTDX is a WSJT-X fork with a focus on DXing.  It's UI is similar, but the differences are interesting.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/jtdx/

MSHV is not a fork of WSJT-X, but it does provide FT8 and many of the same protocols as WSJT-X, and it has a very different UI.  Try it!  You might like it!

I hope you enjoy your return to ham radio.

73, Tony K4QE

[K6SDW]

Morse Code, AKA: CW....it hasn't lost its charm. No software needed, just a transceiver and key/paddle...oh, and an antenna in the air. Don't even need the stinkin' Internet...HI HI

Welcome bk, GL/73

[N2TO]

Hi Michael,

Welcome back! I like WSJT-X for FT8 and FT4. I like Fldigi for PSK31. I have not seen much activity in other digital modes these days except PSK31 and that has taken a back seat to FTx. A huge back seat. Fldigi works well with a lot of modes.

WSJT-X, some good tutorials available:
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

Fldigi:
http://www.w1hkj.com/

I love the old-school digital mode too CW.

GL

73 Kevin N2TO

[G4AON]

A few of us have returned to old school digital and have real keyboard QSOs, none of this “click a mouse button and let the computers exchange a report” stuff.

We use a variety of modems, KAM, SCS, PK232 and Hal units. These can be sourced for next to nothing from fellow hams who see no use for them. Software to drive them is not an issue, I have some tips on using these modems on my site:
https://www.qsl.net/g4aon/amtor/

All you need is another ham to arrange a regular sked with, or better still several! There are a few of us QRV in Europe, I’m not sure about elsewhere. There is an active forum running on Groups.io, it might have Pactor in the title, but users run Amtor, Clover and Gtor too:
https://groups.io/g/pactor

73 Dave

[K2FW]

Morse Code, AKA: CW....it hasn't lost its charm. No software needed, just a transceiver and key/paddle...oh, and an antenna in the air. Don't even need the stinkin' Internet...HI HI

Welcome bk, GL/73

You do need a volume control & either headphones or a speaker.  Items that make it "real radio" unlike FT8.

[K0UA]

As you can see here, there is much "hatred" of FT8.  However it is the most popular digital mode by AT LEAST an order of magnitude over ALL OTHER digital modes put together.  Yes, FT8 is the current mode to hate, but it is the most popular by far. Just exactly what that tells you I am not sure.

[K2FW]

As you can see here, there is much "hatred" of FT8.  However it is the most popular digital mode by AT LEAST an order of magnitude over ALL OTHER digital modes put together.  Yes, FT8 is the current mode to hate, but it is the most popular by far. Just exactly what that tells you I am not sure.

I don't hate it.  Was simply pointing out a few facts, not opinions.

[AA6YQ]

You do need a volume control & either headphones or a speaker.  Items that make it "real radio" unlike FT8.

So RTTY isn't "real radio"?

de AA6YQ

[W1VT]

hamspots.net has  chat function that can be used to set up schedules.
This may be the most practical way of working modes like PSK31 on 40 meters where there seems to be very little activity.

[K2FW]

So RTTY isn't "real radio"?

de AA6YQ

Why don't you explain why FT8 has exploded as the mode of choice for DX & RTTY never did?

[AA6YQ]

So RTTY isn't "real radio"?

de AA6YQ

Why don't you explain why FT8 has exploded as the mode of choice for DX & RTTY never did?

You ducked the "So RTTY isn't real radio" question, but I'll respond anyway.

RTTY was the digital mode of choice until ~2000, when Peter G3PLX introduced a PC-hosted PSK31 application. PSK31 is narrow enough to enable panoramic reception, first exploited by Skip KH6TY in Digipan. Being able to tune to a band's PSK31 watering hole and quickly see the callsigns of the multiple stations QRV there was attractive to DXers and general operators - so much so that the ARRL extended (and renamed) its DXCC RTTY award to include PSK31 QSOs (and those in other less popular digital modes). PSK31's improved sensitivity over RTTY was also an attraction, but the use of lengthy macros in PSK31 QSOs dramatically reduced the QSO rate, causing DXpeditions to avoid it.

FT8 is also narrow enough to enable panoramic reception, and is significantly more sensitive than RTTY, PSK31, CW, and SSB - to the point where ops with limited HF antennas can work the world with FT8. There are no time-consuming macros in FT8, so DXpeditions can and do achieve good QSO rates in FT8. While  it does not support interactive QSOs, FT8 is an excellent replacement for the perfunctory "599 tu" QSOs used in DXing and contesting - hence its explosive adoption. Ops seeking interactive QSOs can gain some of FT8's benefits by using JS8.

[K0UA]

^ and excellent and factual history of digital comms as used by amateurs in the past and today.

[AA6YQ]

A plot of QSOs by mode and year using data from Club Log, with solar flux by year. Note that the the Total QSOs submitted to Club Log likely increased from year to year as Club Log became increasingly popular.

[N6YWU]

While  it does not support interactive QSOs ...

WSJT-X is not designed for interactive QSOs.  But FT8 itself is a digital mode, completely separate from the WSJT app, that (on a completely clear frequency, not in the busy watering hole) can exchange 13 characters of free text, duplex every 30 seconds.  So FT8 does support QSOs, in 13 character chunks, that is if you don't let WSJT-X force you into using only contest exchange pre-built macros.