I’m glad you liked it, Bill! Feel free to share the link with a friend. The video isn’t public but the link I sent to you can be shared, in case you have a friend who could benefit from it.
There is an FT8 configuration guide for the FT-710. It is available for annual S7 or S9 Patreon members. Annual S9 members can request both the FT8 guide and a menu optimizations guide.
This is some good info, thank you for this video! The one thing that I don't understand about FT8 still though is why? It seems like all you do is sit back and watch contacts come in, there's no human contact. It interest me, I just am a little confused about what the benifits of FT8 or really any digital mode would be.
FT8 is certainly not my preferred mode. I consider it a novelty. There is no conversation. It’s just your computer sending a signal report to another. It can decode down to around 24dB below the noise floor, so it competes with CW as far as weak signal communications. But I prefer CW. I don’t need a computer. It’s a useful mode during emergency conditions, when I might need to operate low power from a battery or solar power source. I only shot these videos while I spent time writing a how-to guide for the long-hauler members of my Patreon team who had requested help with setting up for FT8. Without them this RU-vid channel would have ceased in 2020. But, like I mentioned before, I prefer a mode that is useful in emergency conditions.
You have the right approach to how to use a HF radio. I really like your band stacking and can you do the same on the FT991A. I am asking because all the menus you have to change for FT8, winlink etc. IF can use band staking to move from digital modes then to SSB or CW. What I have seen everything move except the mic. Then that does not work. Great video as usual.
With the FT-991A, I would set everything up as memories. I operate my FT-891 that way. I have favorite frequencies, modes, filter settings, etc. programmed in for each band. If I’m operating on 7.251 LSB and I want to move to 15m FT8, I scroll through my menus until I see 21.074, and I’m ready to go. I have the FTdx10 programmed that way too.
I’m sorry. I don’t use Olivia digital. FT8 and FT4 are the only digital I use, but I don’t even use those very often. My interests are mainly CW and SSB.
Great video. But on mine, the moment you launch WSJT-X and it connects to the rig, it switches to VFO-A by itself. Yours seems to stay on VFO-B. Hmmm... 🤔
I just watch this video and I have the FTDx10. I have 2 questions first with my power slider it doesn't affect my power, it controls my audio to adjust the alc. The second question is I have noticed that the power out meter show that instead of going straight to set power it will go up to 10 to 20 watts drop to 0 then shoot back up to set power. Is this a setting, a feedback or a week old rig having issues?
The power slider doesn’t directly control watts out. It controls the audio level sent from the computer to the USB modulator, which affects watts out. You must balance the computer audio with the radio’s rear port gain and strive for minimal ALC deflection. I created a step-by-step tutorial for the FT8/4 setup. It is one of the guides I make available to annual S7 or S9 Patreon members.
The reporting tab in WSJT-X has a check box labeled, “Prompt me to log QSO.” I checked it. When the popup prompt appears, there is a field where we enter the power used. If I’m running 50W, I enter 50. This field is “sticky”, meaning that the next time I get prompted, it will show 50W again. It will continue to show 50W until I change it.
