[600MRG] FT8 Revisited

[Mike Irizarry]

New to the forum. I have a k3 and use tiger tronics usb sound card with the
ft8 joe taylor software. I'm pretty sure it is not direct fsk but rather
afsk. That said, I think the k3 and a few other radios can do d-fsk.

Mike
ab4kj

On Sat, Jan 13, 2018 at 8:54 AM, Frank Lotito <k3dz at live.com> wrote:

> A few days ago I posted a question on 2 similar interest message boards
> asking if linear drivers and PAs are required for FT8 modulation.  I
> received 4 replies, 3 of which were e-mails only directed to me.  I am
> still confused.  One of the 4 replies said “yes”, the 3 others said “no.”
> Maybe in a more public forum, such as this message board, the topic can be
> discussed and my confusion resolved.
>
> Let me reference again the January 2018 QST article on FT8.  This time
> specifically page 44, center column, the second and third paragraphs.  This
> is the section of the QST article that is confusing me.  My reading is the
> author tells the readers that FT8 requires a linear RF driver and PA.
> However, if FT8 is a FSK (frequency shift keyed) modulation method, why
> linear?
>
> My radio acquaintances who have tried FT8 use modern HF transceivers.  As
> we know, for the last umpteen decades HF transceivers have been quite
> linear in design.  These acquaintances do not have LF or MF below the
> broadcast band equipment.
>
> Can one or more of the readership of this column post a reply on this
> message board clearing the  confusion w.r.t. what the QST author is
> saying?  Thank you, 73 Frank Lotito  K3DZ / WH2XHA
>
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