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.”

Getting Set Up to use JS8Call

On this page you will find details of Settings used in the JS8Call software and on your radio to allow (where possible) CAT control of your radio as well as getting the audio into and out of your radio and into JS8Call on your computer.

More radios and Operating systems will be added when we have the information.

To start with here is an example of setting an Icom IC-7300 and a Windows 10PC.

Find the correct COM port and Audio – Windows 10

For JS8Call rig control to work you need to get the correct COM port selected on the settings Page.

This assumes that you have already installed the drive for your radio. For this I installed Icoms driver for my IC-7300.

You should install the drive BEFORE you connect the USB cable to the Radio.

To find the port (Windows 10) type “Device Manager” into the box next to the windows button

then click on Device Manager in the List above

This will open the device manager window on your desktop.

Find the entry in the list that says “Ports (COM & LTP) click the little arrow to the left of the Port Icon to see the next level down in the list, this will show the ports on your PC (you may have more than one)

Radios such as the IC-7300 use the CP210x USB to UART bridge driver, so look for that in the list, make a note of the COM port name (in this case COM3.

Now open the settings window in JS8Call, go to the “Radio” tab and select your radio from the list in this example I am using the Icom IC-7300 if you have the same just make your settings the same as in the picture below. Click on “Test CAT” if the button turns green then you’ve got it all set up for CAT control.

The final step is to select the Sound input and Output for JS8Call on the “Audio” tab, for Radios such as the IC -7300 you will see “USB Codec” in the name.

Icom IC-7300 Radio Settings

So you’ve got your Icom IC-7300 connected to your Computer but you can’t get JS8Call to transmit? Chances are your settings need putting right, here’s a list if settings that we know work for JS8Call.

This is how I have my Icom 7300 settings to control the Radio over the USB connection from a Computer for digital mode software such as JS8Call, Hamradio Deluxe and FLDigi.

Open the settings screen and tap Connectors. Then set up each entry to match mine (adjust your levels options accordingly, but my settings work so they are a good start point:

ACC/USB Output Select       AF

ACC/USB Output Level.       42%

ACC/USB AF SQL.              Off (Open)

ACC/USB AF Beep/Speech output. OFF

ACC/USB IF Output Level.   50%

ACC MOD Level.                  50%

USB MOD Level.                  50%

DATA OFF MOD.                  MIC/ACC

DATA MOD.                          USB

External Keypad (No need to change)

CI-V.  (No need to change)

USB Serial Function.            CI-V

USB SEND.                          OFF

USB Keying (CW).               OFF

USB Keying (RTTY)             OFF

And make sure that you select MODE to be USB-D on the main screen.

 

 

Yeasu FT-891 Settings

These settings work for CAT control VIA the USB cable port on the rear of the FT-891, and the Audio interface Connected to the 6 pin port.

CAT RATE            4800

CAT TOT                1000ms

CAT RTS                 DISABLE

DATA MODE.        OTHERS

DATA IN SELECT   REAR

DATA PTT SELECT DAKY

DATA BFO             USB