FT-8 decoding using the SDR radio

Terryl

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My Satellite Setup
OpenBox X5 on a 1 meter motorized dish.
And now a 10 foot "C" band dish.

Custom built PC
My Location
Deep in the Boonies in the central Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
Hi guys (and dolls) just setup the SDR radio for receiving and decoding the FT-8 mode.

First you need a receiver (or transceiver) capable of receiving RF signals in the USB mode, I use my SDR dongle with a good antenna attached, then download and install the following, SDR console software, the VB-cable software and the WSJT-X software, and any drivers needed for the SDR radio dongle your using.

After all this is installed and tested, use the VB-cable software to run the audio from the SDR console to the VB cable input, or if your using a stand alone receiver run it's audio into your computers audio input, (mic or line in) you may need to set the audio to the VB cable input, then in the settings for the WSJT-X software set it's audio to monitor the VB cable output, this should route the recived audio from what ever receiver you have to the WSJT decoder.

Tune the receiver to someone using a band transmitting the FT-8 data, I have mine set to the 6 meter 50.313 MHz set to USB, works for me.
FT-8 decoding.jpg

As you can see the FT-8 data is very weak, but it still decodes.

If you a HAM and have a transceiver the has a CAT port on it you can use the WSJT_X software to control and TX data on what ever band your allowed to use data packets on.

More fun for those days of isolation.
 

Terryl

Specialist Contributor
Joined
Apr 14, 2011
Messages
3,246
Reaction score
1,932
Points
113
Age
82
My Satellite Setup
OpenBox X5 on a 1 meter motorized dish.
And now a 10 foot "C" band dish.

Custom built PC
My Location
Deep in the Boonies in the central Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
here is a few more shots.
Screenshot-2021-06-12-172738.jpeg

WSJT-X software in action.jpg
 

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