FT-QSO v.1a

Welcome to FT-QSO v.1a beta testers page!

FT-QSO is an application that puts the human touch back to ham radio digital modes by popping open operators profile pages when it detects a QSO is taking place.

While you’re operating (or SWL-ing) you can read a little about the DX (the other) operator.

Here’s a screenshot of v.1a running on my Windows 11 computer. Please refer to it while testing.

Right now, FT-QSO only works with WSJT-X and only opens pages on QRZ.

As a tester, please confirm the following works on your Windows 10 and/or 11 computers:

NOTE: FT-QSO doesn’t control your system browser. If you’re logged into QRZ in your system browser or have specific PSKReporter settings set then it will use those. FT-QSO merely opens your system browser and goes to a url, just as if you did, yourself. FT-QSO can only open your default browser set in Windows.

NOTE: QRZ has a limit of call sign lookups you can do when you’re logged in, on their free/non-paid plan. If you’re testing a high volume of QSO’s then consider logging out of QRZ first. (Since I like learning about Hams’ far-off locations and the foods they eat there, there is a forthcoming feature in FT-QSO to map the other op’s general location for this purpose, since everyone is Tx-ing their Grid Square, anyway. )

  1. Open up WSJT-X and start operating FT-4 or FT-8 as you usually do.
  2. Unzip the file you were sent. There will be a folder with the application and supporting files. You can put this folder anywhere.
  3. Run the FT-QSO application within the folder.
  4. If you don’t have Microsoft .NET 8 runtime installed, you should be prompted to install it.
  5. Note any errors or difficulties you’ve faced while trying to get FT-QSO to run.
  6. Confirm that WSJT-X is on port 2237 or type in the correct port. Click the “Go” button.
  7. In a few seconds the 2nd line should show you the mode, frequency, call sign and grid that WSJT-X is set to.
  8. Once you start operating, the “Messages” box should show some output whenever you or the DX operator sends a “Rodger” with a signal report. Then your system browser should open up to QRZ with the other operator’s call sign (assuming they have a QRZ page).

SWL Mode

Try this mode when you don’t want to Tx and just get to know who’s operating.

  1. Leave WSJT-X running.
  2. In FT-QSO, click the “Go” button and put a checkmark in the “SWL mode” checkbox.
  3. Whenever it detects a “Rodger”, you should see a message in the “Messages” box and a browser opening to the new Dx call.

Menu Items

Test that the other page(s) in the menus open and work correctly.

  1. In the menu, click “About”
  2. A new window opens in front of the main FT-QSO window and the main window continues to update
  3. In the About window, click on any links and make sure they go where they should or pop open your configured email program.

General

  1. Are things are spelled correctly?
  2. Do things make sense to you?
  3. Without adding a new feature, is this usable by someone with less computer knowledge than you?
  4. When the Messages box is full or you’re tired of scrolling around in it, click the “Clear” button. It should clear the message box.

PSKReporter Link

Sometimes when you’re operating, you’d like to know who can hear you. I like to open up PSKReporter.info and set it to the following:

  1. When WSJT-X has updated to your call sign, click the blue link.
  2. PSKReporter.info should open up in your system browser.
  3. Try this in debug mode with a different op’s call sign. It should open up PSKReporter to his (or her) call sign instead.

Debug Mode

Debug mode gives you a little more information to see what’s going on under the hood. It’s mainly for developers but it might help you in some way. It will be hidden/removed when FT-QSO is not in beta.

  1. Put a checkmark in the “Debug” checkbox.
  2. You should see more messages in the “Messages” box showing you some of the logic.
  3. You’ll see a “Heartbeat” every few seconds while WSJT-X is running and saying hello on the port.
  4. Uncheck the debug checkbox and hit “Clear” – the app should go back to normal User mode.

Follow Operator

This is a debug feature that development uses in some situations when we’re unable to Tx.

  1. Check the “Debug” checkbox
  2. A textbox appears to the right of it.
  3. Type in a call sign that’s currently active in WSJT-X.
  4. Notice that even though you’re actively operating (or in SWL mode), FT-QSO acts like this app is running on their computer and popping open their DX contacts.

Stopping the program

When you’re done, lets check if FT-QSO exits cleanly.

  1. Click the “Stop” button
  2. Click the “X” in the upper right to Exit like any Windows program.

Chaos

See if weird things happen when you do things in ways we didn’t expect.

  1. Hit “Go” when wsjt-x isn’t running.
  2. Turn off WSJT-X without hitting “Stop”
  3. Close FT-QSO randomly.
  4. Press any button or do anything in FT-QSO quickly/repeatedly.
  5. Log in or log out of QRZ
  6. Change PSK Reporter settings
  7. Enter a nonsensical port number
  8. Leaving WSJT-X and FT-QSO running while you’re away from your computer or overnight or something.
  9. Shutdown or reboot Windows while FT-QSO is running.

New Features

Feel free to suggest features. There are already incremental features planned and implemented for the future based on demand including:

  1. World map (cycle through several styles including current solar maps)
  2. Pins on the map of you and other operators worked/heard
  3. Research any call at many other ham-related websites (CQ-YOLO, POTA, SOTA, etc)
  4. Research a place/their food in Wikipedia or some other Microsoft Encarta-like website
  5. Offline/Off-grid operation
  6. ???

73,
KV0N