JS8Call

“The idea with JS8Call is to take the robustness of FT8 mode and layer on a messaging and network protocol for weak signal communication on HF with a keyboard-to-keyboard interface. JS8Call is heavily inspired by WSJT-X, Fldigi, and FSQCall and would not exist without the hard work and dedication of the many developers in the amateur radio community.”

Welcome to JS8Call

JS8Call is software using the JS8 Digital Mode providing weak signal keyboard to keyboard messaging to Amateur Radio Operators.

JS8Call is an experiment to test the feasibility of a digital mode with the robustness of FT8, combined with a messaging and network protocol layer for weak signal communication on HF, using a keyboard messaging style interface. It is not designed for any specific purpose other than connecting amateur radio operators who are operating under weak signal conditions. JS8Call is heavily inspired by WSJT-X, Fldigi, and FSQCall and would not exist without the hard work and dedication of the many developers in the amateur radio community.

JS8Call stands on the shoulder of giants…the takeoff angle is better up there.

You can view a presentation of JS8Call by Jordan Sherer on youtube – https://youtu.be/mZKhVcFOljY

JS8Call

JS8Call is a derivative of the WSJT-X application, restructured and redesigned for message passing using a custom FT8 modulation called JS8. It is not supported by nor endorsed by the WSJT-X development group. While the WSJT-X group maintains copyright over the original work and code, JS8Call is a derivative work licensed under and in accordance with the terms of the GPLv3 license. The source code modifications are public and can be found in js8call branch of this repository: https://bitbucket.org/widefido/js8call/

JS8Call is and will always be open-source and free software (free as in beer and free as in speech, do with it what you like, for sum of exactly $0).

You might be asking…why is this named JS8Call? Why was it renamed from FT8Call? Why not something else, like BACON or HF Messenger? Good question! It is named this way as an homage to its heritage:

  • JS8Call was previously named FT8Call.
  • JS8Call uses a custom FT8 modulation called JS8 (Jordan Sherer designed 8-FSK modulation). This is the base RF transport.
  • JS8Call has a “directed calling” protocol laid over top the base RF transport to support free-form and directed message passing.

Hence JS8 + Directed Calling = JS8Call. And in case you didn’t get that:

The app is: JS8Call, the mode is: JS8

 

 

JS8Call comes in a variety of builds.

  • Desktop Linux (64-bit x86_64, deb)
  • Desktop Linux (32-bit i386, deb)
  • Raspbian Stretch (armv7, deb)
  • Windows 10 (win32_64)
    • Windows 10 is the only officially supported Windows build at this time, but the application has been confirmed to work all the way back to Windows XP.
  • Mac OSX 10.11+ (x86_64)

How to Download the JS8Call software

Simple, just click the button to go to the downloads page!

JS8Call Frequencies

From version . 0.5.x the default calling frequencies set up in JS8Call are listed below, but please note these are not set in stone and can easily be changed in your settings, or you can simply manually retune your radio to another frequency.

1.842Mhz 3.578Mhz 7.078Mhz
10.130Mhz 14.078Mhz 18.104Mhz
21.078Mhz 24.922Mhz 28.078Mhz
50.318Mhz