For those FT8 enthusiasts out there, a fun companion piece of software for WSJT-X is GridTracker, written by N0TTL.
If you haven't tried it out, then you might want to do so.
It's free and gives you a visual of all of the different maidenhead grids you have worked on the various bands with FT8.
The program gets live data from the WSJT-X program running on your PC and immediately updates the world map after each 15 second FT8 transmission period, so you can quickly spot a CQ coming from a grid you haven't worked before.
Here is the link to the software:
https://tagloomis.com/grid-tracker/
It adds a lot of fun to an already fun FT8.
73,
Gary WB5PJB
I need to try this. After getting WAS and WAC I quickly fell off the FT8 wagon. Just collecting contacts didn't hold much interest for me.
AB0L (Formerly N0KAI)
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Kenwood TM-V71A, Kenwood TS-590S, Icom ID-4100A, Yaseu FT-891, TYT MD-UV380, TYT MD-380, Kenwood TH-D7A, BTECH UV-5X3, µBITX V5, µBITX V4, QRPGuys 40/30/20m DSB Digital Transceiver
Yes, I was the same way. WAS was pretty easy with FT8, so I dropped it for a while. Then I ran across this program and the fun started again. I know I can probably never get all of the grids in the U.S. worked (WAG? 🙂) , but seeing a grid light up solid green on the map is like chasing DX and I want to work that person so I can get the grid in the logbook, hi. It just adds some fun back into FT8. And for passersby who may not understand what we do on the radio, or why we do it, the map can offer a nice graphical image of what is going on. It may not explain why we do the hobby, but it might make them pause for a moment and think that is kinda cool.
Fantastic!
I'm going to try it out