Getting Started with FT8

What is FT8. FT 8 stands for Frankie-Taylor design. Two guys, Steve Frankie K9AN and Joe Taylor K1JT who came up with this idea. The 8 comes from the 8-Frequency Shift Keying Modulation, hence FT8.
I have installed FT8, so I thought, what do I need to get started on FT8? This was not an easy process as it needs some setting up of the radio's setting and the computer program. I found a couple of YouTube videos below with a step by step guide which makes it a lot easier to get started using FT8. Before you dive straight in on YouTube, I would suggest that you read on with the tips below.
NOTE:
These videos below only refer to the Icom IC-7300 setting. If your radio is not an Icom IC-7300 then you will need to source your radio's config or maybe get an idea what to change from these videos.
After reading and watching some YouTube videos, I found these two great videos explaing the step by step guides. Thanks to Hayden VK7HH These explain what you need to do to get started. See the links below. You will need to install the WSJT-X software. This software is not just for FT8 and does other modes, but for now you need to download the WSJT-X software. It is free to use.
ALC SETTING:
Once you are all ready and set up, one trick is with the Icom 7300 is not to over drive your signal, so make sure when you set the ALC level, to make sure you have it set just when the ALC starts to read, then back it down so you have no ALC showing. This seems to work best and get more contacts. DO NOT overdrive your ALC, this just causes your signal to distort and splatter so you may cause interference with other FT8 stations, plus they will not be able to receive your transmission, due to being over driven. Always keep an eye on your ALC level, especially when you change bands.

BEFORE YOU PLUG IN YOUR RADIO USB LEAD.
A very important step is to make sure you install the Icom drivers for your radio first.
The link for the USB driver is downloaded directly from Icom Japan's website.
Lower down this page, you will see the link for the Icom USB Driver.
Click on that link to get the latest USB driver. I have listed all the models that this driver covers, so if your radio is on this list, then this driver will work.

Software Download

To download and install the software, click on the links below.

WSJT-X Software You will need to pick your operating system, this is on all platforms.
I recommend to install this version and check for updates from time to time.
WSJT-X Improved Plus Edition This is like the beta version of the improved version of WSJT-X before it gets added to the official version above.
If you want to try the beta version before it gets released then use this link for win64 operating systems.
WSJT-X User Guide
This is the WSJT-X user guide, later updates or new features may not yet be added into this guide.

Trouble Shooting.

Problems with Decodes

If you are having any problems but it use to be ok, then watch this video below. It may be due to a windows update.
You need to check out your "Sound" properties. Once the sound properties is open, select the microphone codec for your radio.
Right click on this and go into the "Advance" Tab.
Make sure that under the "Signal Enhancements" the "Enable audio enhancements is Unticked. This needs to be Unticked if ticked.
Watch the video below for a step by step guide.
Windows 11 after updates, can alter your setting without your knowledge. It may be advisable after any windows update to re-check your setting.
Watch this YouTube video below and check your setting from time to time in the sounds setting Advance Tab.
WSJT-X Issues using Windows 11
Thanks goes to Hayden VK7HH for making this video.

Problems with loosing Audio when it goes into Screen Saver

This has happend to me with having no audio after your screen blanks out and not receiving audio or doing strange things.
By restarting the WSJT-X program, fixed the issue until the next time it went into the screen saver.
Hayden, also shows on how to fix this on the link above. Again another "Windows Update" has caused the problem.
In the "Sound" properties under "Playback" if you see any picture icons of a TV, then click on the TV to highlight it and then right click on the mouse and disable it. Do this for all the TV icons you have.
Click Apply and exit out. Now when you screen goes off, and your screen turns on again, everything will still work.
NOTE: If you do disable the TV icon, if you are using your speakers for sound on the monitors, these will no longer work, but if you are using the speakers, then to overcome the problem.
It is best to use either a sound bar or amplified speakers for better sound quality anyway.

Having Problems with the Radio's Interface

You can always watch again the YouTube video on installing FT8 on step by step on how to set-up WSJT-X or go over the basic's.
Make sure that you have plugged in the USB lead from your radio.
If you are using a laptop to also make sure that you have used the same USB port as you did when you first set-up WSJT-X
Open WSJT-X, At the top of WSJT-X you should see a menu. If you don't then, check to see if the "menu" button next to "Tune" is un-ticked.
To display the menu it needs to be ticked.
Click on "File" and scroll down to "Setting"
Click on the "Radio" tab and check your setting.
Make sure that your radio is set on the correct com port and the baud rate matches the same as your radio. You can click on "TestCAT" to see if it goes green.
If it is Red then you still have a problem. Go back and re-check your setting.
If OK click on "TestPTT" This should put your radio into Tx mode and press again to stop Tx.
Next click on the "Audio" tab.
In the drop down arrow " V " Check that the correct USB Audio codec is selected for the "Input" and do the same for the "Output".
Once you have done selecting the USB Audio, press "OK" at the bottom of the window to save your setting.
This should be all you need to get it to work. Now recheck that everything all good to go.

Put the Icom 7300 Radio into FT8

To make sure the Icom 7300 has the correct settings, there is already a pre-set for FT8.
On the Icom 7300, press the "Menu" button. Press No. 2 (page 2) on the bottom of the screen
Here you will see a "FT8 PRESET", If you press this button, it brings up a screen with 1. Normal and 2. FT8 (If you have not programmed any others on this menu numbers 3 & 4 will show as blank)
Press "FT8" (Number 2) and it will ask you if you want to "Load the preset memory?" Press Yes and this will put the radio into "Digital" mode.
When you want to return back to normal operation fro SSB, CW, etc, then repeat the above, Press Menu FT8 Preset and this time Number 1. "Normal". It will say to load the preset memory, Press "Yes" to return you back out of Digital Mode.
I recommend that you use the menu FT8 Preset so your radio is always set-up correctly.

Changing the Mode From Digital to Normal Operation

FT8 Uses (Upper Side Band) USB on all bands. Once you are in digital mode you will see that it shows USB-D
To manually change in or out of the digital mode, press the "USB-D", This brings up a menu showing all the modes SSB, CW, RTTY, AM FM and DATA.
Press the "DATA" button and straight away it removes you out of digital mode and displays just USB, Press USB again and "DATA" again and the "USB-D" will re-appear and you are back in digital mode.
Press the backwards arrow (Return) to exit out of the menu.
While I am talking about this menu, the same goes to any of the Mode buttons if you bring up this menu, if you want to toggle between USB and LSB, then by pressing the "SSB" button will toggle between USB and LSB each time you press SSB and for CW and RTTY, this will toggle a "-R" for reverse mode operation. AM & FM are not affected except to change to these modes.

YouTube Links

ICOM IC-7300 Mk I

Click on the links below. These were the best I found.
There is much to learn with this mode, but this should get you up and running. I would suggest that you watch other YouTube links on FT8 to pick up tips. I will add other links to help you, some may be a bit long but you can always skip the bits you already know.

NOTE: These YouTube video's are for the Icom IC7300 Mk I
The Mk II has a different set-up procedure. (See the MkII link lower down)

Get Started with FT8 - Introduction for Beginners

Icom IC-7300 Setup for WSJT/FT8

If your radio is not a Icom IC7300, by watching these videos, it should give you enough info to let you know what setting you need to adjust to get you up and running on FT8.
The 7300 has a built-in interface, but if your radio does not then you will need to add a USB interface to your radio to work FT8 Modes etc.
Thanks to Hayden VK7HH for making these YouTube videos above

ICOM IC-7300 Mk II

This is the only YouTube video, I have found so far for setting up the 7300 Mk II.
You should still watch the Mk I's videos above by Hayden and follow the setting, then watch the video below for the 7300 Mk II setting as they are different to the Mk I to communicate to the radio.
Icom IC7300 Mk II setting for FT8
Thanks to Andres M0FXB for making this YouTube video above
NOTE:
The Icom Mk II CI-V has a different interface setting to the Mk I of " B6h " When selecting the radio make sure it is correctly selected.
If you cannot see the Icom 7300 mkII in your WSJT-X program, then you can update to the latest version or use the IC-7300, and then change the CI-V setting in the radio from " B6h " to " 94h " to work, using the "+" or "-" to adjust.
To get grid tracker to work using the MkII, in the WSJT-X program, go into "file" then "setting" and click on the "reporting" tab.
Make sure under "Network Services" the box is ticked to enable "PSK Reporter Spotting and under "UDP Server" the box is ticked also, "Accept UDP requests. Click on "OK" once done.

FT8 Guide

FT8 Operating Guide V2

Grid Tracker

This is a great program that works with WSJT-X. It will show you if the band is open or whos on.
Below is the download link, just choose your operating system.
Also below is an operation guide.
Download Grid Tracker
Grid Tracker Operating Guide

Syncing Your Computer Clock

One thing when using FT8, your computers clock needs to be accurate when decoding FT8 signals.

How To Sync Your Computer Clock

You can use different methods to sync your computer clock depending on your set-up.
As I have an internet connection available, I use "Net Time" but, using without an internet connection there are other programs in the link below like JT Sync. I have included a link for JT Sync below.
How To Sync Your Computer Clock

Net Time

This is one way to keep your computers clock up to date using net time. You will need an internet connection to use this program.
Once you have installed and run the program, click on setting and change the "Update Interval:" to 15 minutes, click ok and that's it. You should not have any issues. In the WSJT-X program you will see along the top line under Band Activity, UTC dB DT Freq Message.
In WSJT-X Program, the "DT" shows the accuracy of the time. e.g. 0.2 This needs to be under 2 seconds, so .2 is good.
Download NetTime Set-up

JT Sync

If you do not have an internet connection and plan to work FT8 when out doing remote DXpeditions, then visit the site below and download JTSync. It is a simple utility program that provides the ability to synchronize your computer clock over a network with world-wide NTP servers. If the Internet connection is not available, JTSync allows you to make time adjustments based on decoded QSOs within the WSJT-X application.
JT-Sync Download

Icom USB Driver

Icom Driver (Direct download from Icom Japan's Website)
This link takes you directly to Icom Japan where you can download the latest USB driver to interface your Icom radio to PC.
NOTE: Install the driver first BEFORE you connect the radio's USB lead.
This driver also supports all the following transceivers and receivers.
・IC-7100 ・IC-7200 ・IC-7300 MkI & MkII ・IC-7410 ・IC-7600 ・IC-7610 ・IC-7850 ・IC-7851 ・IC-9100 ・IC-9700 ・IC-R8600
If you radio is not listed above, click on the link and search for your radio's driver on the Icom Japan's page.

Interface Cable

Icom IC-7300

For the Icom IC-7300 radio's, it has it's own built in sound card so you only need a USB Cable, USB A to USB B to link it up to your computer.
This USB B goes directly into the back of your radio, and the USB A goes to the computer.

Icom IC-7300 Mk II

For the Icom IC-7300 Mk II radio, it also has it's own built in sound card, but it uses a different cable. You need a USB Cable, USB A to USB C to link it up to your computer.
This USB C goes directly into the back of your radio, and the USB A goes to the computer.

Once the driver is installed it will assign a com port. You will need to know what this port number is to set up in the program.
I would assume you know to find your coms port?
You should have your USB driver installed before you continue.
Your radio needs to have the lead connected and be plugged in to the radio and switched on. Depending on which operating system you are using.
FOR WINDOWS.
Search for, "Conrtol Panel" click on "Device Manager" scroll down to "> Ports (Com & LPT)" click on the ">" next to Ports to open the drop down menu. Here you will see a list of your com ports installed.
Mine shows "Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge (Com3)". This means I am using Com 3 in my set-up, so the WSJT program needs to be set on Com3 to operate and communicate with the radio.
NOTE:
If you are using a laptop or you remove the USB lead from the PC, then you will need to make sure you use the same USB port as before, otherwise if you plug it in to another USB port, it will assign a new port number and no longer work on the original com port you set it to.

Other YouTube Links you may be Interested In

The Stuff You May Not Know About FT8
Here Hayden VK7HH and Steve KM9G explain things in more detail.

WSJT-X Set-Up

Thanks goes to all those involved in the making of these video's. It has helped me to understand more about FT8, so I hope it helps you. You can like the video or subscribe to their channel.