Getting Started with K1JT modes and DXLab

WSJT-X uses a soundcard connected to your transceiver to implement communication protocols or "modes" called FT8, JT4, JT9, JT65, QRA64, ISCAT, MSK144, and WSPR, as well as one called Echo for detecting and measuring your own radio signals reflected from the Moon. These modes were all designed for making reliable, confirmed QSOs under extreme weak-signal conditions.

There are two ways by which WSJT-X can interoperate with DXLab:

  1. As described here, SpotCollector can be configured to

    • create and update Spot Database Entries using information decoded and reported by WSJT-X (callsign, frequency, grid square, actual signal-to-noise ratio), generating visual, audible, and email/text alerts

    • direct DXKeeper, DXView, and Pathfinder to lookup the DX Call specified in WSJT-X

    • direct WSJT-X to set the text color of callsigns displayed in its Band Activity panel to indicate award need based on DXLab's Realtime Award Tracking (for DXCC, IOTA, Leaderboard, Marathon, VUCC, WAS, WAZ, WPX), and the background color of those callsigns to indicate participation in eQSL and/or LoTW

    • convey QSOs logged by WSJT-X to DXKeeper and optionally submit them to Club Log, eQSL, LoTW, and/or QRZ
    • respond to double-clicking of a Spot Database Entry for a station operating in a K1JT mode by

      • conveying the Entry's Callsign and DX Grid information to WSJT-X, which will populate its DX Call and DX Grid boxes, and invoke its Generate Std Msgs function

      • directing Commander to set the transceiver's frequency to bottom of the K1JT mode's sub-band, and to set the transceiver's mode to that specified in the Transceiver mode for WSJT-X panel on the Configuration window's General tab

  2. As described here, JTAlert can be configured to provide

    • Audio and visual alerts for several alert conditions
      • Your Callsign decoded (someone calling you)

      • CQ & QRZ

      • Wanted Callsign
      • Wanted Prefix (by Band/Mode)
      • Wanted Grid (by Band/Mode)
      • Wanted US State (by Band/Mode)
      • Wanted DXCC (by Band/Mode)
      • Wanted CQ Zone (by Band/Mode)
      • Wanted Continent (by Band/Mode)
      • Wanted CQ Marathon (by Band/Mode)

      • Wanted for prefixes, grid squares, US states, DXCC entities, CQ zones, continents, and CQ Marathon countries/zones is with respect to Award Progress independently maintained by JT-Alert, not the Realtime Award Progress maintained by DXLab

    • Logging to DXKeeper and lookup of previously logged QSOs with a decoded Callsign

    • Automatic posting of decoded Callsigns to SpotCollector (local spots)

    • Automatic lookup of decoded callsigns with Pathfinder
    • Support for Web Services
      • Lookup of decoded callsigns via QRZ.com (paid) or HamQTH (free)

      • Upload logged QSO to ClubLog.org and HRDLog.net

      • Upload all decoded Callsigns with frequency and signal report to HamSpots.net

These two approaches are mutually exclusive; you must choose one or the other. You can try each, and choose the one the best meets your needs.

Note that the JTDX application does not provide the programmatic interfaces required to color-code callsigns in its Main window, or to accept directives to change frequency. Interoperation between JTDX and DXLab is not supported.

Additional Topics

Post a question or suggestion on the DXLab Discussion Group

Interoperation with Other Amateur Radio Applications

Getting Started with DXLab

GettingStartedwithK1JTModes (last edited 2024-09-11 18:51:24 by AA6YQ)