What changed
Digital modes — edited Aug 31, 2026 by Unknown editor
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Digital modes turn a transceiver and a computer (or a sound-card interface, or nothing but the
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radio in the case of DMR) into a data link. They fall into three broad families:
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- **Weak-signal modes** — [FT8](/wiki/operating/digital-modes/ft8), JT65, WSPR, MSK144. Extremely
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narrow, extremely tolerant of noise, rigidly structured exchanges.
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- **Keyboard and messaging modes** — PSK31, RTTY, Olivia. Real conversation, typed.
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- **Networked and packet modes** — [Winlink](/wiki/operating/digital-modes/winlink), APRS, AX.25
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packet, mesh. Moving files, email and telemetry.
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- **Digital voice** — [DMR, D-STAR and Fusion](/wiki/operating/digital-modes/dmr-dstar-fusion).
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## What you need
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Most HF digital work needs an interface that connects the radio's audio and PTT to a computer;
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modern transceivers have a USB sound card built in. The software (WSJT-X, fldigi, JS8Call) is free
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and cross-platform.
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## Settings that matter
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- **Drive the radio gently.** ALC should barely move; overdriving a digital signal splatters across
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the band and is the single most common newcomer mistake.
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- **Keep your clock accurate.** Weak-signal modes are time-synchronized to the second; use NTP.
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- **Use the conventional frequencies** for each mode and band, or nobody will hear you.