FT8 Time Synchronization with JTSync
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- Опубліковано 24 сер 2024
- #hamradio #ft8 #digital #mode
The annual S7 (Executive) and S9 (VIP) level Patreon support team members who subscribe annually are privy to some perks, some of which include downloadable PDF documents that cover such topics as common amateur radio terminology explained, a basic understanding of everything from how SSB works to understanding propagation, Q signals, an explanation of the knobs and buttons on the typical HF transceiver, how to get started with Summits-On-The-Air (aka SOTA), plus menu optimizations for such transceivers as the FT-891, FT991A, FTdx10, and FTdx5000MP.
I've been compiling another perk for the annual S9 (VIP) Patreon support team members who subscribe annually. This downloadable PDF will cover FT8 operation with the Yaesu FTdx10, including every menu setting in the FTdx10 related to PSK/DATA, and specifically FT8, plus the settings for the WSJT-X software and a brief tutorial to help a newcomer to FT8 get started making contacts.
If you are an FT8 enthusiast, you know that your computer's clock and the station you are trying to communicate with must be accurate to within +/- 1 second of one another. There are several ways to ensure this. One of the S9 (VIP) Patreon team members, Curt, KB9JQU, recommended JTSync (dk5ew.com/2019/.... JTSync can synchronize your computer's clock without an Internet connection, using the signals your radio is receiving via WSJT-X. I downloaded the free JTSync software. In this video, I show how to interpret what it is showing you, how to use it to set your system clock to exact accuracy, even with no Internet connection, and how to verify the accuracy against www.Time.is.
Note that both you and the other station can be off by a minute or two, or even an hour, as long as you are within one second +/- of one another. It’s because FT8 transmits for 15 seconds and receives for 15 seconds. You must be receiving while the other station is transmitting, and vice versa, within +/- one second of one another. FT8 is able to decode signals well below the noise floor because it knows what type of information it is looking for at any point during a receive cycle. You could actually work a station that is more than 1 second off or more, as long as you can synchronize your computer clock with theirs. JTSync can do that for you. Then, after you complete the contact, JTSync can help you return to UTC.
I hope you enjoy this video and find it helpful. If you find my channel informative and entertaining, I hope you will consider joining my support group by clicking on: www.patreon.com/N4HNH There are 3 levels of support, including exclusive content.
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73, de N4HNH
Great information, Doug. I did the registry hack.
I’m glad you find it helpful, Wendell. Curt told meme about this software.
I have been using the FTdx10 mostly for CW but also for FT8 without problems. Now, during meteor scatter season, my WSJT-X software could not decode the meteor scatter signals, despite being able to decode FT8 signals. But after following your PDF document for FT8 settings, I now decode meteor scatter without problems. Thank you, Doug!
I’m glad to hear that, Ralph! The FTdx10 really shines at CW and FT8.
Did you see this time sync video before it got queued for this Friday? No harmonic distortion and perfect timing are essential for maximizing your chances of making reliable contacts.
73, Doug
When I tried FT8 a while back I had difficulty making contacts. I thought there was a problem with my transmit/receive setup. I've added JTSync and will try FT8 again. Thanks Doug.
Hopefully JTSync will take care of it, Martin. Please keep me posted.
73, Doug
Thanks for the Shout Out Doug! Not sure I qualify as an expert, like you, I just read the manual and made a lot of contacts. You do such a good job of diving deep into a topic and explaining it so well. I learned new things in this video about JTSync, WSJT-X and time.is and I've been using them for 10 months. The POTA and SOTA activators will love this tool for syncing there clock when out in the field.
Thank you for the tip and the inspiration, Curt. You are a credit to amateur radio.
73, Doug
Great video. I just recently purchased a windows laptop that I'm going to bring in the field and attempt some digital modes for POTA. This will definitley come in handy... I still prefer SSB, but on those days where the conditions aren't wonderful, this may be a way to turn my frown upside down. I know what you're going to say, and I haven't learned CW yet, but trust me it's on my to-do list. 73 de KD2TJU
I wasn’t going to say it, Todd, but I do highly recommend CW. I’ve done some FT8 lately myself, mainly to write the guide for the Patreons and for those who wanted to log an FT8 contact with me.
73, Doug
Not relevant to topic , but where in wsjt-x do you find the dark mode that is shown in this video?? Dougles.
Dark Style is what they call it. It’s in section 4.9 of the WSJT-X User Guide, version 2.6.1. I covered dark mode in this video: ua-cam.com/video/_0k11GzgqO4/v-deo.html
Thank you for the info on this program Doug. Doing Pota with no cell phone coverage has been a slight issue but man this is going to make that small problem disappear. Thanks Tommy KO4KFS
You’re very welcome. Tommy! 73, Doug
If you are operating on hf, NIST transmits time code on 2.5, 5, 10, 15 , 20 MHz
If everyone would Tx (calling CQ )on even and RX on Odds it would make things easier. I don’t know why they just don’t do that. By the way great videos.
Thanks! I understand your point. This video is just pointing out the importance of time alignment. That said, when someone starts transmitting in the portion of spectrum I staked out, I just switch to odd.
Thank you very much for this video. Ive been trying to get it running for a few months. I keep putting it down as you tube vids make things either more confusing or usually start much farther along than I am in every "set up " video. Still not working. Im surprised you're getting anything without the time being correct. Im actually not getting anything at all and have no idea which button I need to press to get it working. Hopefully soon
I’m getting contacts because I use JTSync to keep my clock synchronized.
I simply use an inexpensive gos dongle at the start of my session and that’s good enough, of course this is free
Hi Jerry! What I like about JYSync is that I can use it to temporarily force my clock to match a station whose clock is off by more than 1 second, just so I can work them. Then I can let this program recalibrate my clock back to exact. Comes in handy when the other station is rare DX but there clock is out of calibration. 73, Doug
Thanks Doug !
Thank you, David! I really appreciate you. People like you keep me motivated.
Thanks! Great utility
You're welcome! 73, N4HNH
I just tried FT8 and i’m finding that GridTracker and JTSync cannot run simultaneously as it could not both listen to the same port… is there a way to send the same signal from WSJT-X to separate ports so they can run simultaneously??
Maybe someone else can jump in and answer that. I don’t run Gridtracker. But JTSync isn’t absolutely needed unless you are concerned about the accuracy of your PC clock or you want to intentionally adjust to a station that is more than one second off but you really need them in your log. And of course you can synchronize your PC time via Windows.
@@n4hnhradio i liked the idea that you can sync using radio time. Having said that, it was rare that I had to resync since my pc time does nit deviate much. I use it to spot check every now and then expecting grid tracker will act up then I close JTSync and all is back to normal 👍🏽
@spysweeper JTSync is helpful when you have no Internet connection (portable off grid) or if you want to intentionally throw off your clock to match the timing of a rare DX station that is off by more than one second. Otherwise, you can leave JTSync off.
My JTSync is not loading info from WSJT-X. I have tried changing settings to UDP server and port listed in WSJT-X and get an error message when I try them.
And you clicked the Listen icon?
@@n4hnhradio Yes and got a green light.
@robertfarrow2826 you might need to contact JTSync for that. It just installed and worked for me. I didn’t have to troubleshoot. I’m sorry I can’t help more. 73, Doug
@@n4hnhradio No sweat. I'll contact him.
Please post the resolution here. Others might benefit from it.
Mac support? Sorry may have missed it.
I don’t think so. I can’t find any mention of Mac on the JTSync page. 73, de N4HNH
In Windows 11, you can go to settings, date and language, date and time, sync now button. Works for me.😁
Hi Larry! All versions of Windows that I’ve used have that, but it needs to be manually clicked, quite often, or use the registry hack to force the SpecialPollInterval to 3600 seconds, (update every hour) or 1800 (update every 30 minutes). The issue isn’t whether you are within +/- 1 second of UTC. The issue is you must be within +/- 1 second of the station you wish to have a contact with. You can both be off from UTC by 2 hours and 10 seconds, as long as you are both within 1 second of each other.
73, Doug
@@n4hnhradio Gotcha, thanks.
I know it seems strange, but it isn’t about logging, it is about data. The decoder expects specific data at a specific time during the 15-second cycle. That is how FT8 signals can be decoded from well below the noise floor.
73, Doug
I use Meinberg, but this looks easier
I just use Dimension 4 no problem refreshes every 15 mins
I’m not familiar with that one. You don’t actually need a third party program to keep your own PC accurate to within +/- 1 second. Windows checks once a week. But you can use the registry hack I showed in the "Configuring the FTdx10 for FT8" PDF that is available for Executive and VIP Patreon members to force Windows to synchronize more often. You set the SpecialPollInterval to something like 300 (5 mins), 600 (10 mins), etc. But the important thing is that you are within +/- 1 second of the station you wish to contact. If he/she is off by 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 9 seconds, you need to match that in order to make contact. That’s one of the features I showed in the video that JTSync offers. It can temporarily synchronize your clock with any other station, to make contact. Then you can use it to set your computer back to actual time.
73, de N4HNH