JT65A, TS-590, MacBookPro

Having been successful with PSK31, I decided to try JT65. I have Keith Laaks ZS6TW’s native Mac compilation of WSJT up and running. (Thank you Keith.  I could not have done it without your help.)  At the present time however, I do not yet have my arms completely around WSJT and feel more comfortable using JT65-HF.

JT65-HF is a Windows program.  I have it running in a Windows XT virtual machine under VMWare Fusion on my MacBookPro.

Kenwood TS-590 Settings:

Speech Processor: Off
Mode: USB, Data
Menu 27: 200
Menu 28: 2500
Menu 30: oFF
Menu 31: oFF
Menu 63: USB
Menu 64: 2 (See Note Below)
Menu 65: 3 (See Note Below)
Menu 69: on
TX Mon: ONce I have everything working I usually set it OFF so I don’t have to listen to my own signal.

Menu 64 Note: Set this so the ALC meter shows nothing or just one or two dots.
Menu 65 Note: USB Audio Output.  This is best set by looking at the waterfall display. Set it for a level that shows a low about of noise and the signals still show up well

JT65-HF Settings

Sound Input Device: USB Audio Codec
Sound Output Device: USB Audio Codec
PTT Port: None

The most difficult part of JT65 is getting your arms around the protocol.  JT65 is designed for canned QSOs consisting of an exchange of call signs, grid squares, and signal reports – No long rag chews about grandma. It consists of alternating 60-second windows of transmit and receive. The documentation is brief but pretty good.