FT-QSO 1.0b

Download the beta shareware version FTQso-v10b-sc-x64.zip

FT-QSO V 1.0 Beta Shareware in action
Help menus

Download and Installing

  1. Chrome will most likely tell you the link is bad/suspicious. You should be able to click through and tell it you know what you’re doing and to download the app.
  2. Your antivirus or other browser plugins might tell you “it blocked” the download. Again, tell it you’re an adult.
  3. Once you download the file, extract it all into 1 folder. It doesn’t matter where.
  4. Once its extracted, you should see an icon for FT-QSO. Click it. Windows Defender will complain just like your browser. Again, click wherever to tell it to run the program. Windows shouldn’t bother you next time you run it.
  5. All the above will happen when you download and try to run the next beta.

Updates from previous version

  1. Menu system. Users expect menus at the top like “File” and “About” and a link to some Help.
  2. Code improvements.

Getting Started

  1. Start WSJT-X and ensure its hearing traffic.
  2. Start FT-QSO and ensure the WSJT-X UDP port matches then hit ‘Go’
  3. Confirm FT-QSO updates with your your Call, Grid, Mode, and Frequency from WSJT-X
  4. Have QSOs in WSJT-X as usual
  5. When you or the Dx station Rodgers, your web browser pops up with their QRZ Profile for you to read!
  6. Optionally Check the SWL-Ling checkbox and watch other call signs pop open on Rodgers!

Help Menu

  • About shows you info about this version and if its registered or not
  • Register shows you information on how to register the app
  • Getting started shows you how to quickly get FT-QSO up and running on your computer
  • Online help opens this page

Additional Features

  1. When your call sign is present in the blue letters, click to open it in PSKReporter.
  2. On the main screen, click “Debug” to see more messages flying by from WSJT-X. This might help debug issues you’re having.
  3. When you are in debug mode, you can enter someone else’s call sign and FT-QSO will act as they’re running it on their own desktop.
  4. Tap the Clear button to get clear the Messages box.

Common Problems


I don’t know what or how I should I test?

Anything and everything you can. For starters you can see the testing notes for the previous version to help you focus on some of the features to try and use/break.

FT-QSO isn’t updating my call, grid, mode, or frequency

Is WSJT-X running? FT-QSO gets its information from what WSJT-X is sending.

Did you press the “Go” button in FT-QSO? You have to press the “Go” button so that it starts listening to WSJT-X’s output.

Did the button change to “Stop” to indicate that its working? If “Go” didn’t change to “Stop” that means FT-QSO wasn’t able to start listening on the UDP port that WSJT-X is talking on. See below about more UDP port info.

Is WSJT-X set to output on the same UDP port that FT-QSO is? In WSJT-X check the “Reporting” tab in the section entitled “UDP Settings”

Is there another ham radio program that is listening to that port? If there is, there may be a setting in that other application to forward what it hears to another UDP port. Change the port in FT-QSO to listen to that other port instead. Or try shutting down that app.

I want to use Chrome but Edge opens every time

Whichever browser is set to your system (default)_ browser is opened. Please set your system browser to the one that you want FT-QSO to use in Windows Settings.

I don’t see their profile on QRZ

Not everyone uses QRZ. No one is required to make (or keep updated) a profile in QRZ. Future versions of FT-QSO will have the ability to research people/places on other sites as well right inside FT-QSO!

QRZ won’t let me see any more Call Signs

FT-QSO simulates you doing a call sign search by conveniently opening up your browser to what you would have done anyway. QRZ has a limit to how many calls you can look up in a day while you’re logged-in. Support QRZ to increase this restriction or simply log out of QRZ in your default browser.

FT-QSO says its expired!

Beta versions are time-limited. If you’re a beta tester than please download the next version (check your email or contact the developer). If you’re not a beta tester then you shouldn’t be running this version.

FT-QSO won’t run on my machine!

FT-QSO was only tested with recent versions of Windows 10 and 11. Please update your system software. You might have to install Microsoft .NET Runtime Version 8 . It only runs on Windows, not Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android. Support for these other OSes might come in the future if there is enough demand and community support ($) for it.

The Messages box keeps saying “Please register to look-up more call signs”

You’re using the shareware version, which allows you to evaluate the software. There is a small limit to how many call signs the shareware version will pop open. If it says this then FT-QSO would have opened on another call sign but you ran out. Please support amateur radio and register if you find FT-QSO enjoyable to us!

I want more features!

There’s tons more coming! Please support FT-QSO by registering!

73,
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