Draft:JS8Call
Submission declined on 19 July 2026 by Hurricane Wind and Fire (talk).
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Comment: Reference 1 does not provide significant coverage and Reference 2 and 3 are not independent of the subject. 🌀Hurricane Wind and Fire, why did you decline my draft? (talk) (contribs)🔥 16:05, 19 July 2026 (UTC)
| JS8Call | |
|---|---|
| Original author | Jordan Sherer |
| Developer | JS8Call community |
| Release | 6 July 2018 |
| Written in | C++ |
| Operating system | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Type | Amateur radio digital communications |
| License | GPL-3.0 |
| Website | js8call |
JS8 is a weak-signal digital mode used in amateur radio (also known as Ham radio). JS8Call is a free and open-source computer program that uses the mode for keyboard-to-keyboard conversations and message handling over radio.[1]
JS8 was derived from technology used by FT8, a weak-signal mode included in the WSJT-X software suite. Unlike the short, structured exchanges normally associated with FT8, JS8Call is designed to support free-text conversations, directed messages, stored messages and the forwarding of messages through other stations.[2]
History
[edit]JS8Call was developed by American radio amateur and software engineer Jordan Sherer (whose amateur radio call sign is KN4CRD). Sherer began experimenting with modifications to FT8 for longer conversations in 2017. The first development release, initially called FT8Call, was made available in July 2018. The mode and application were renamed JS8 and JS8Call in October 2018.[2]
In 2020, Sherer received a Dayton Hamvention Special Achievement Award for developing JS8Call. The award announcement described it as a free and open-source platform supporting keyboard communication, store-and-forward messaging and network relays.[1]
Operation
[edit]JS8Call connects a computer to an amateur-radio transceiver through the computer's audio interface and, optionally, a radio-control interface. Transmissions use narrow-band frequency-shift keying. The software divides text and control information into a series of timed transmission frames.[2]
The program supports several transmission speeds, trading data rate for weak-signal performance and occupied bandwidth. Its features include station announcements, signal reports, group addressing, acknowledgements and message relaying. Relaying is performed by creating and transmitting a new message rather than by automatically retransmitting the received radio signal.[2]
JS8Call is derived from WSJT-X but is a separate project and is not endorsed or maintained by the WSJT-X development group. It is distributed under version 3 of the GNU General Public License.[3]
See also
[edit]- Amateur radio software
- Digital modes in amateur radio
- FT8
- WSJT (amateur radio software)
- QRP operation
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Dayton Hamvention Names 2020 Award Winners". ARRL Letter. American Radio Relay League. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ^ a b c d "JS8Call User Guide". JS8Call project. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ^ "JS8Call". GitHub. JS8Call project. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
External links
[edit]Category:Amateur radio software Category:Digital amateur radio Category:Free software programmed in C++ Category:Linux software Category:MacOS software Category:Windows software Category:Software using the GPL license Category:2018 software
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