FT8
FT8 is the most popular digital mode for ham radio. It is used for structured contacts, typically exchanging call signs, locations, and signal reports. FT8 sends short, encoded messages such as "CQ KJ7RRV CN72".
The most popular program for FT8 is WSJT-X, which is open source and works on Linux, Mac, and Windows.
Similar to Fldigi, WSJT-X uses software and a computer sound card to encode and decode signals. Because programs like this serve a similar function to old dial-up modems, but use sound cards for signal processing, they are often called sound card modems. While it is possible to create an adapter to connect a computer's built-in sound card to a radio, this can be somewhat complicated; it is more common to use a device like a SignaLink, which connects via USB and has its own internal sound card. Some newer radios do not require a SignaLink; they have similar circuitry, including a USB sound card, built-in, and can be directly connected to a computer via USB.
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