I’ve recently branched out from my usual PSK31 operating and started with JT65. This is a mode that i’ve been meaning to get into for a while especially due to its effectiveness at very low power.
The first big change i noticed is that JT65 has a very structured QSO format certainly which certainly doesn’t make it a ragchew mode! This is quite different to PSK31 which is much more free form. Below i outline the sequence of a JT65 QSO:
- CQ M0JCQ IO91
- I send a CQ call along with my grid locator
- M0JCQ ON5ABK JO10
- He replies to my call with his grid locator
- ON5ABK M0JCQ -06
- I send his signal report (in dB)
- M0JCQ ON5ABK R-13
- He sends roger and my signal report (in dB)
- ON5ABK M0JCQ RRR
- I acknowledge receipt of his report
- M0JCQ ON5ABK 73
- He sends a standard or free form 73
- TNX 73 GL
- I send a freeform or standard 73 – contact is concluded
The free form text that is sent is limited to a maximum of 13 characters, so you can see this mode is most suited to rubber stamp QSoO’s but under marginal conditions it will work when other modes won’t.
The JT65-HF screenshot below shows a QSO i had with ON5ABK:
This screenshot displays the view when we’re transmitting using JT65-HF:
I hope this helps to explain the structure of a JT65 QSO, as i said before it’s not a chat mode but has a lot to offer the low power DX’er.
