Logging JS8 QSOs in Log4OM

Do you use Log4OM as your primary logbook? Are you regularly uploading your QSOs to services such as the ARRL’s Logbook of the World (LoTW), eQSL, or QRZ.com? Have you discovered the new digital mode JS8 and need to accurately log your contacts? If this applies to you, read on!

Many amateur radio operators who are struggling with waning high frequency (HF) propagation during our current lull in the sunspot cycle have discovered the mode FT8, a means of communication developed by Joe Taylor (K1JT) and Steve Franke (K9AN) that performs very well at low signal levels–as low as minus 24 dB. Over the past 1.5 years this mode has taken the distance (DX) world by storm and as of this writing is by far the most popular digital mode in use on HF.

The one limitation of this mode, however, is that FT8 is designed to exchange a very limited amount of information–location (grid square), signal level, and (of course) call signs. It isn’t possible to convey other information between stations.

A derivative of FT8 has recently been released by Jordan Sherer (KN4CRD), and is approaching a full version 1.0 release: JS8CALL. This package is based on the original FT8 protocol but allows a much more robust exchange of information between parties. It is growing quickly in popularity and as of Nov 30, 2018, JS8 was added to the Logbook of the World (LoTW) and has been adopted as a recognized sub-mode of MFSK in the Amateur Data Interchange Format (ADIF) specification.

For users of Log4OM versions 1.x as a logging package (such as me), some changes are needed to add JS8 to the list of available modes for QSO logging. As of mid-March 2019 it is not yet included in the standard distribution files of the package, so it needs to be added manually to the mode list user file.

This is a relatively easy change, and doing so will also ensure accurate synchronization with other services such as eQSL.cc, the QRZ.com logbook, and the aforementioned LoTW.

Here is the process:

1. Visit the Settings | Options menu, choose the “Select Configuration” tab, and check the “Enable Expert mode” box.
2. Click on the Mode list button to open the user-configurable mode list (filename ModeList_user.csv)
3. In the list, insert a line in the appropriate alphabetical position that reads as follows:JS8;JS8;MFSK;JS8
4. Save the file, exit and restart Log4OM, and you’re done!

Now you will see JS8 appear in the list of modes available for you to use:

73 and happy DXing!