The QSL card featured confirms a radio-teletype contact I had with a Taiwanese station on 26th February 2017. This is my one and only teletype contact. I use the Ham Radio Deluxe software package for log-keeping. The package also includes various communications programs for computer sending and receiving of morse-code, rtty and use of amateur satellites.
I typed in a CQ call, repeated three times, wound back the power of my transmitter (rtty is a key down methodology and I treated my radio as if I was transmitting FT8 or even AM), Imagine my surprise when my first call was answered by James, BX2AAA – the 15 metrre band was quiet, or so I thought! Signals were 599 both ways.
My reservation about rtty and FT4 is that they both require the operator to have reasonable typing skills, including accuracy. I don’t qualify. I have been around the sun 84 times and I have a health condition that is not working in my best interests. I will stick with radio telephony and radio telegraphy, that is, voice and morse code (cw) using a paddle.
Thanks Grant (VK5GR) for the encouragement.

New Query from LOTW
2 Records Shown (1-2)
Sorted by QSO Date (0.011680 seconds elapsed)
| Call sign | Worked | Date/Time | Band | Mode | Freq | QSL | |
| Details | VK5BJE | BX2AAA | 2017-02-26 01:23:00 | 15M | RTTY | 21.09400 | |
| Details | VK5BJE | BX2AAA | 2022-01-11 10:37:30 | 40M | FT8 | 7.07616 | |
Here is an extract from my log in the ARRL Logbook of the World. It shows I have had two contacts with this station, the second more recently, in 2022, using FT8. All good fun!
hi John, I think you will find that the typing required for FT8 is not even a callsign as all you have to do is select the station to be called with your mouse. logging is automatic. I have been using my home station in remote mode and the FT8/4 application on my ipad allows me to make ft8 and ft4 contacts without doing any typing. This might encourage you to retry FT8/4. I still prefer CW and SSB but when all else fails ft8 can give you contacts. 73 Andrew
Hello Andrew
Thanks for your words of encouragement
Ft4 has been the mode I have not tried. I have used JT65 and FT8 extensively with a lot of success. It was the doubling of the speed that put me off- but as Paul has suggested the content is pre-formed. Thanks & 73
John D
VK5BJE/VK5PF
.
Hi John,
Nice to speak with you on the phone today as always.
FT4 is just ‘FT8 on steroids’ – twice as quick.
Same auto generated messages as FT8. Give it a go, it is a lot of fun.
73,
Paul VK5PAS.