WSJT-X: Digital Modes for Weak Signal Communications in Amateur Radio

Joe Taylor, K1JT · JoeTaylor.WSJT-X

Weak signal ham radio communication

WSJT-X is a computer program designed to facilitate basic amateur radio communication using very weak signals. The first four letters in the program name stand for “Weak Signal communication by K1JT,” while the suffix “-X” indicates that WSJT-X started as an extended branch of an earlier program, WSJT, first released in 2001. WSJT-X implements communication protocols or "modes" called FST4, FST4W, FT4, FT8, JT4, JT9, JT65, Q65, MSK144, and WSPR, as well as one called Echo for detecting and measuring your own radio signals reflected from the Moon. These modes were designed for making reliable, confirmed QSOs under extreme weak-signal conditions.