Goodbye FT8, Hello Olivia, The Magic HF Digital Mode 

This is my favorite digital mode because of the rag chew component and the accuracy of copy. I wish more hams would use this especially with the band conditions so bad.

This mode actually looks much more reasonable. People actually talking, not merely exchanging grid squares and then moving on.

Olivia is one of my favorite digital modes. One time on 80M I had a "phantom qso" where I couldn't see it, couldn't hear it, but FLDigi still managed a full copy decode during our rag chew. FT8 can't touch that.

Eric, I saw you video 4 days backs and have been calling CQ for last 3 evening with no joy. Late this afternoon on 20m 32/1000 OLIVA I got RFID and decoded HB9BDM, but no response. Suddenly HB9HAE came back to my CQ and we had a great chat for almost 1 hr between Brisbane Australia and Chur, Switzerland!!! I had 100 copy, he had a fair copy. TU for inspiring me to try OLIVIA digi mode. Just saw your Contestia is available so will be watching that vid and I'm sure trying out that digi mode as well. Love your vid content and energy!!! De Mark (VK4TMZ)

I love the videos you make. You take the time to explain things. I try to watch every video you have on the different digital modes. I'll be trying out this mode soon.......Keep u the GREAT work. 73 :)

I haven't been on HF in a while. Back before my rig was stolen, I spent some time on *_JT65._* FT-8 sounds a lot like it. It was great for making DX contacts without needing to have much to say. At the time I lived in a condo ruled by the _"HOA Gestapo"._ My antenna was a loop running under the eaves. I accidentally discovered NVIS. 😀 I tried _Olivia_ and even _MT-63_ without much success ...

One should try as many digital modes as possible. There are many flavors out there and all of them are interesting. Fldigi has tons of really fun modes to try and its Free !!

Well done. Frankly using FT-8, and JT-65 and similar digital modes are like watching paint dry or watching the Sears truck unload (My opinion). Glad you are showing these Amateur Op's other well established older tried and true Digital modes, where you can actually communicate and not just exchange grid squares, say hi and bye mode (FT-8). I love Olivia mode. So yes, I am biased. 73, WA6TWJ Dave Mauldin USA

I was big into AMTOR through a Heathkit HK-232, then went silent for about two decades during my stint the Army Signal Corps (ironically) and living in places that were too restrictive on antennas. Now I have started getting back in and was so stinking LOST for a while. These kinds of videos helped a lot.

Thanks for video on Olivia. Liked FT8 but prefer to actually talk to people as opposed to report and move that's why contests are not really my cup of tea. So maybe we will c u on Olivia soon. 73 Tom WDØBFO

Eric, thanks for the video on another digital mode to try out. I’m old enough to remember how excited you were when FT8 came out and you made a video about it. Your enthusiasm permeated throughout the video. I still find it amazing how I can reach another station thousands of miles away with my simple setup, (IC-7300 and MyAntennas EFHW 8010 at only 20’ elevation), using only 5-15W. I’m relatively new to the HAM world and I know that some of these modes, like Olivia, have been around for a while, but I always appreciate learning new techniques and ways of communicating. 73. AE0IT

Great video. I enjoy working OLIVIA too when I could find someone to work. I like this mode because it's great for weak signals and it can actually be used to ragchew unlike JT65 and the like. I've been off the air since August 2016 when my house flooded, so I've never tried FT8. My equipment survived but I had to dismantle my station to repair the house. It's pretty much repaired and I'm back home and now just need to get my station put back together. I have an old ASUS laptop running Linux and I use FLDIGI and it works pretty well with a Signalink interface. Thanks for the great video, keep up the good work.

Thanks. Very helpful learning tool.

I got my ham license last summer... I spent Winter Field Day with a local club and got my first taste of digital modes. I now have the parts ordered to make a digital interface cable for my TS-940S/AT... The club I was with was only using PSK31 for WFD, and your video is the first I have seen regarding Olivia. Now if only China shipping was faster so I can get on Digital sooner! LOL 73, AD8BU

Eric, good video. Thanks for increasing awareness of Olivia. I have operated digital modes as well as CW/phone for years now. Of all the modes tried so far, I reckon Olivia is the clear winner in terms of a digital mode for chatting under condx where even CW would be difficult or impossible. I cannot understand why Olivia it is not more popular! Especially with modern rigs that USB link straight to your computer. Most hams probably already have a PC in their shack - all you need is a USB cable and download of free software. You can be set up and operating digi-modes in minutes! As you say, with a basic antenna and low power you can work the World, lots of interesting DX, have QSOs under very poor band condx during sunspot low. Digimodes just add a whole different additional dimension to the hobby for me. I have even had QSOs with hams who don't speak English using online translators. Some of the best chats I have had on air have been in digimodes.

I used DM780 and Olivia long before WSJT-X and FT8. 😉 Had many a good ragchew on 60m with Olivia.

Olivia, Contestia, Domino, MFSK, Thor and PSKR are all good modes for weak signal communication. I have used Olivia 8-1000 with near perfect success!

Got into JT65 back in April 17 because it wasn't rag chew. Could make contacts and move on. Almost had WAS and half of DXCC when JT65 all but dried up and FT8 became the craze, so I jumped on that bus. I applaud the use of Olivia!! Thanks for making the video!! I will be looking for Olivia signals before anything else from now on.

The downside, Ten FT8 signals can fit in the bandwidth of that one Olivia signal so if anyone is going bye bye, you know who it will be. Oh, and that little squiggle just to the north of that band hogging Olivia signal is FT4, another very efficient mode. Amazing how efficiency improves in two years.

This looks like an interesting mode. Looks like I'll be trying it out tomorrow.

Have done this mode year's ago and had a few good rag chew's as well as the usual back and forth ,Good Mode

I might just try this one out. I have kept away from the data stuff, looks like I will give it another shot.

Tnx for posting the video. I was using FT8 for a month and am bored. The only thing you need for FT8 are good reflexes to click on a callsign in a short time between periods. The rest is made by the computer. Tried SSTV yesterday after many years and had great fun with it. Hope hams will get back on CW, SSB and digi modes where you have to do something.

I see quite a bit of Olivia signals in my part of Texas. Count me in. Bring back the old!

My first digital mode was feldhell which is one of the oldest modes around. I then discovered Olivia and used it for awhile and like it. I need to get back to it.

Great job on the video! Thank you for posting on RU-vid !! SBF

Great .. very interesting and yes newly on ft8 ..you played a good part in that, looking for pastures new, Olivia fits the bill, magnetic loop in my ground floor flat from 7mhz to 10 mhz limit 10 watts

Great video's here. I repost them on my web site. Keep up the good work.

I played with Olivia 2 years ago. It is a fun and interesting mode. Decoded a signal that was not there in the waterfall. Glad to see you are getting into it. I just got a Yaesu FTDX-3000 and have a homebuilt 40M inverted-v. Not a great setup here as I had to bend the legs some to fit in the back of my apartment and not to mention the QRM I am having and need to track down. Great video as always and hope to work you someday. 73, ad0am

Great video, I will start hunting around for some Olivia contacts!

I know they are extinct now but the old "linked" modes, such as Pactor & Amtor ARQ, Clover, etc, were much more fun.

love it,, so true and so to the right point,, awesome video

Thanks for video.

Did some 16/500 olivia on 10 meters with a guy. I literally just held my android phone near the speaker (few inches away, running AndFLmsg) and played the tones into the mic while TX’ing, and we chatted a good 150 miles with zero conditions to assist. Cool stuff

Alright - you got me. First Olivia 8/500 ragchew QSO in the books, 25 minutes on 40m tonight. Great video and thanks for the info. 73 AE2L.

Thanks Eric, had no idea what Olivia was before this video. What an awesome digital mode, seems like being in a chat room just via HF, a lot more exciting than JT65 Or FT8. Good video as always. 73 K4GRN

Olivia is nice when you can find someone anyone operating in that mode. I found someone on Olivia about two years ago. No one since.

Good video. I appreciate the explanation of the benefits of Olivia. I last used PSK31 many years ago using Digipan and am trying to get back into it. Things sure have changed. Telling what kind of signal you hear is sometimes a problem. The tip on the RSID was very helpful and something i'll try out. I've been trying to get FLDIGI working and haven't had much success. It's looking like the little USB sound card I had was bad. Just got a new one and am about to try it. 73 Al AE2T

Tried Olivia 8-250 for the first time today. Entirely due to setting up RxID for the first time. I really like it. Was struggling with psk31 earlier, and then wham bam armchair copy. I’ll be back.

Looking to try this out, new to digital Ops so sometimes have to spend many hours trying to configure the equipment out, LMAO. I will be getting a Flexradio 1500 in a few days and will attempt Olivia. BTW I am not too far from you here in Orlando. Thanks for the Vid!

Tnx for the info on Olivia. Good video. The only two things that bug me about Olivia is its wider bandwidth and its slow. And occasionally I see some Olivia knucklehead popping up around 7.070 (and also sometimes splattering wildly), wiping out numerous PSK31 QSO's.

Most DX and contests do not give much more information than FT8. Also, many people even have macros preprogrammed for other modes to just give this information.

How come Eric gets everything working for him, an I can't get even a Hotspot or a Ft8 call to work, but he does a great job on his videos!!

Well THANK YOU! The FT8 thingy got me bored real fast, I'll try this instead and see if I can get anyone! Cheers

I enjoyed the video. I should be on Olivia soon.

FT8 is just a natural progression of voice HF. It's hard to find anyone to rag chew with. My best estimate is 80% of voice contacts is just an exchange of call letters and signal reports from my experience. I guess this is just an extension of contesting. I've discovered FT8 and I like it. I have a busy work schedule and I just get on in a few minutes and make some quick contacts. I'm tired of shouting into a microphone competing with the kilowatt stations. I actually unplugged my microphone from my rig and put it in the desk drawer.

I admire those that advance above the crowd having heard Olivia mode.

I just got my G90 and am gong to try Olivia right from the start

I am already sick of FT8 gonna take your advice and get on Olivia thanks great video 73 de K8JCR

Hey Eric. Great video. I'm burned out on FT4/8. This sounds like fun. Gonna try it with my son K1CGJ. 73 John K1RC

Olivia used to be a good mode when ham radio operators actually USED IT!! There is a guy who runs a 30 meter net on Olivia on Saturday afternoons. He is the only guy who shows up most Saturdays. Last Saturday there was one other station there but they couldn't copy each other due to conditions.

Thanks for the vid. Got me thinking about a few things. I was surprised when you said PSK31 would only be 31HZ wide. Much narrower than I thought. After looking into it a bit more - sounds like 31.25HZ is the symbol rate - not the bandwidth. However, bandwidth requirements are as little as 60HZ, though. Cool stuff.

Make sure you have good cooling or keep your transmissions short. I added a whisper fan from an old PC wired to a 12-volt 300 mA wall wart on my power supply's heat sink to help it cool even better when using 100% transmit duty cycle modes. Now it runs as cool as can be. Before I added the additional fan the heat sink would get very hot. That was on an old Icom PS-55 power supply. Yaesu says to use a 25 amp supply with the FT-991A, but I ran it off a 20 amp for a while, and after purchasing a Jetstream JTPS32MAB 30 amp switching power supply Labor Day weekend at the 2021 Shelby, NC Hamfest I checked the built-in ammeter just to see how much current the FT-991A does draw and it only draws 18 amps in AM mode and less on all other modes so I wasn't hurting the 20 amp supply at all. I guess Yaesu says it requires a 25 amp power supply in hope that you will buy a new power supply from them. My switching supply is working great and generates no noise in my receive whatsoever. They do have a Shift knob that's there to eliminate that issue if it happens. It never did with me so I never touched that knob. A 30-amp power supply for only $90 is a super price! "Very 73 de KU4GW"

Sweet, Sweet Olivia. I want to get onto HF Digital, but I have limited amount of space, so I'm thinking of going on the upper HF bands, say 15m and up. Any suggestions? KI7DBV, 73

Keep up the good work Eric. Thanks for the videos. EI4DCB

IV listened to FT8 and don't see what the attraction is. I use Olivia but find very few stations these days

I have a question..... i have an FT817 radio and a wolphylink.... will the wolphylink work in same way the signal link or some other module between the radio and computer will work ???? what would you recommend someone use??? I also want to be able to attach this to a tablet that is dual boot for windows 10 and android. I do have HRD and i can run FLdigi as well.

Excellent video.... researching FT8... seems boring. Now I'm looking at Olivia!

FT8 is for FD/Contesting. PSK-31 was great 5 years ago but lacks FEC. Goodbye Olivia. Hello JS8Call.

I am interested in Olivia but cant figure out how set up the software i have fldigi and hrd I am very new to digi modes I did ft8 its fun but i need a little more meat in a contact ur video was helpful

My question is, how does one know what mode and version/size is being used?

can i use a president lincoln 2 for olivia or do i need a different type of radio

I've been essentially silent for a few years, but have had thoughts of getting back on this fall. Is there something about FT8 that makes it impossible to chat? I used PSK31 a few years ago and was impressed with the QSOs across the Atlantic I had been having. Is anyone still using PSK31? I noticed that in your demonstration that it takes a long time for the decoder to convert Olivia code into text (in my experience, PSK31 decoded on real time). That seems like Olivia introduces waits during a QSO and brings up the likelihood of two groups unwittingly (without malice) QRMing each other.

I have never found an olivia signal, looked many time but can't find one

I am just setting up an HF system (should be done in a week or so) based on the IC-7300. I am looking forward to making digital contacts but FT8 holds no interest for me since it is so impersonal and just a robotic exchange. I guess if all you are interested in doing is filling up a log book and earning awards that mode is perfect for you. I want an exchange of information between two human beings and Olivia seems like it would be a great solution. I might try FT-8 just to see it work, but it certainly hold no interest beyond that. Keep up the great work. Your videos are really helpful in getting me up to speed on HF. I have been a ham for about 30 years but stayed on VHF/UHF supporting my efforts for a Search and Rescue unit. Now I want to become a "real" ham.

I like that Olivia has real-time interaction. FT8's pre-programmed messages are NOT communication; they are little more than beacons acknowledging each other. I commented just last week, that my impression of FT8 is, "yawn. Oh, look. My computer is talking to another computer." Maybe I missed it in the video, but does Digital Master give you information you can turn into a signal report?

Olivia is really slow! You’d need a lot of patience to do any rag chewing! Several decades ago when I was on HF, I used AMTOR. AMTOR could get through when other modes couldn’t. It was more robust than CW. AMTOR has handshaking so that it was error free. You could easily determine the band conditions by turning down your power until just before the data rate slowed down. Sometimes only 5 Watts was needed. No one seems to use AMTOR anymore, even though it was probably the most reliable mode. Today’s digital modes lack the handshaking error correction. Have you ever tried remote controlling your Icom 7300?

Excellent video, Eric. Thanks for sparking my interest in Olivia! I hope to try it this week! KD2JPV

Thank you for the video. At 5:10 you mention "sound card interface". Is that the computers sound card ? I've been trying to find an interface that will work with my Comp. Spkr/Mic combo port. Ideas ? Will a USB spkr/mic splitter work ? So far I've only ran wspr with my signalink.

Non HAM here, just came across this video. What is that blue scrolling stuff representing? I take it it's some sort of graphical representation of whatever sound is being produced by your radio RX?

Looks interesting, although very slow decode, which I guess is a fair trade for the extremely weak signal possibilities.

FT8 is like getting nothing by giving nothing. Its a good indicator of propagation, but thats all.

Nice video.

You really have to be patient to use Olivia 8/250, or maybe you don’t have much to say! Olivia 8/500 is much faster, but the signal starts getting pretty wide. You can get the same data speed of Olivia 8/500, but the bandwidth of Olivia 8/250, if you use Contestia 8/250, but then you have to give up mixed case letters. I’d like to see a digital mode that has ARQ for perfect error free copy, with cheap sound software and a cheap interface, instead of an expensive TNC interface box. Dave KY0L

I love Olivia ! Great MODE 500 /8

I am in the UK and have used Olivia. I would like to see Amtor/Pactor make a come back. FT8 is OK if you are limited to low power and small antennas.

I think JT65, FT8 are like WSPR, just to test antenna performance ...theres no charm in the QSOs....will definitely give it a try to Olivia

It's not a Digital Mode it is a data Mode, you use an analogue signal to transmit it!

Hi, any time I use FT8 it knocks out my broadband. Voice and CW no issues. Very strange.

FT8 and other weak modes leave out so many benefits that Olivia and such modes have - including the older Packet and PActor /Amtor .Everyone flocked to FT8 and these modes- I find them really boring and are simply there to fill the log book .

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FT8, and all the JT modes, are weak signal modes, but that does not mean that they are QRP modes. You can run 500W, and still be a weak signal at the other station's Rx, depending on the distance and the band conditions. I run only as much power as is necessary to make the contact, and depending on conditions, that may require running more than 100W. And as far as signal distortion through an amp, that can be avoided by setting our radio's ALC properly, and backing off the input drive to your amp so that you are sure that you are operating within the linear range of the amplifier. I have measured my IMD when running an amp, and it is better than -30 dB. As far as Olivia, I have tried it, and it is a nice keyboard to keyboard mode. But, it is so s..l..o..w.. de AC6BW

Enjoyed your video! Olivia is a superb mode. Contestia is good for nets and multi-station QSOs, it often is sharing the same Olivia frequencies. -Bonnie KQ6XA (founder, HFLINK.COM)

Running over 30W will not necessarily distort. I can either have my rig distort with 30W output or to be perfectly clean with 100. It's all in the setting up. 73.

Quadriplegic. Paraplegic only has non-working arms or legs, but not both.

JS8call is my love

Eric, Great video interesting and informative as always. 73 de Roger W8RLP

Best digital mode is still JT9. Very small in bandwidth and very sensitive 73 de PC4T

I have been experimenting with CLOVER on a 386, DOS, HAL P38 card and software. Kenwood TS-820, VOX mode. Not to many people out there doing CLOVER LOL. Would love to see some DOS based digital videos. Lorne VE7ZWF.

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I'll certainly give this a go. 73 de VK4KK

Great video. I will try it on the weekend. 73 de VK4KK

Zombie Apocolypse ? Oh Yeah !!!! Cant do it man' For years I promoted D-Star voice, was told ITS NOT RADIO OMG and FT-8 now taking over the HF bands WOW, At least with Olivia you can talk to someone. Its all new though and fun for hams, hope it lasts Pete VK3TQ

hellscriber is nice as it can use a stable cw rig on tx// amtor needs a rig that has an independent power supply for the VFO so it does not dance all over the band Olivia is nice for weak signal work CB RADIO STILL WORKS GOOD IF YOU USE SSB on AM forget it and yes the digital modes can be heard on CB channel 40 heard Olivia there several times

Totally understand the point of views about Olivia vs FT8. I recently experimented with FT8 as my first digital mode. The reason being completely unfamiliar with digital modes and obviously FT8 discussion is all over the internet. Likewise on the HF bands as well. FT8 does have its advantages though. Since so many people use it, I can use it to determine which bands are open, like 10 meter. While it is relatively easy to make contacts, you can still make it challenging by running extreme low power and see who you can reach! It's also great making contacts with people in countries where you would not be able to due to language barriers since it does not involve an actual conversation. That brings us right back to the obvious downside to FT8, not being able to carry on a conversation. I still like doing FT8 when the band is really bad and I can't make any voice contacts. I'm still struggling to get other digital modes working yet. I got FSQ to work, but not very reliably. I will be trying Olivia next though now that I found this video!

FT8 is truly a zombie mode. Thank you for posting this!

I think FT-8 does a better job at pulling signals out below the noise floor. It does let you make a nice clean contact. Not as slow or as sensitive as JT-65, but so far only being used for a slow speed "contest type" contact. It could be used for more but nobody seems to want to do that. And for most true contests the only digital modes ever allowed are CW and RTTY. Olivia has always been one of my favorite modes since it is a little below the noise floor and seems more robust than PSK. I think it has not gotten wide use because there are so many combinations of tones and bandwidths. People do not know which one to use or how to detect what they are hearing when they can not always see it. 16/500, as you demonstrated, is a good compromise with enough accuracy and speed to be useful and only using 500 Hz. But I expect FT-8 will be the dominant mode until the solar cycle picks up. None of these modes are as much fun for me as CW or SSB, but even when there are no bands "open" I can still make contacts with digital modes. They are also great for handicapped hams and as technology demonstrations. 73 de AJ4XM

I really like Olivia although the ease of use for ft8 is just a little better

Not everyone wants a conversation for every contact: my son, for example. Thus, FT8 is great for such cases and Olivia isn't. That being said, if you enjoy conversations, then use the other digital modes: PSK31, Olivia, etc.

Can it be used with a slow computer such as a tablet with keyboard? I’m thinking portable and would take a small computer if it will work.