Re: [wsjt-devel] FT8 Extended Free Text QSO Experiment

[Jordan S. <jor...@gm...>]

Hi team!

This is a follow-up to my email I sent out back in August of last year. Since my last message, I've been experimenting with many different digital modes while operating portable, including FT8. The mode is fantastic for low power portable operating, often allowing QSOs farther under the noise than even Contestia/Olivia.

In this exploration, I've found a set of ham radio operators that are incredibly interested in the properties of FT8, but have need for extended free text QSOs and keyboard to keyboard communication. I've been exploring this space since.

>From my last email, you can see an example of this in action here: https://widefido.wistia.com/medias/7bb1uq62ga

However, since then, I've been experimenting with a standard form UI similar to what you would see in Fldigi and others for keyboard to keyboard communication. I've attached a photo of this here.

My question to Joe and the group are:

1) is this something being actively worked on by other developers?
2) is there interest in including something like this in the official wsjtx build?
3) what's the process to get community contributions included?

Thanks!

Best,
Jordan
KN4CRD