There are various digital modes that can be used to send data over radio.
There are various digital modes that can be used to send data over radio. Some of these use stand-alone devices or by connecting a computer to the radio transceiver. Most of these modes can operate where voice communication would fail as they are very noise tolerant, and many can even pick out the data from below the noise floor.
| Digital Mode | Common Frequency / Modulation Used | Computer Program | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| APRS | VHF/UHF FM HF SSB | Stands for Automatic Packet Reporting System, and was designed to automatically update position over radio. However, it uses packets for transmission, which are very short bursts of data and can also send text message traffic. | |
| FT8 | HF SSB | WSJT-X | One of the most popular digital modes in amateur radio. But very limited in what data it can send. |
| Ion2G | HF SSB | Used for Automatic Link Establishment (ALE). In this, software finds the ideal band to connect two radios. Very new technology, that is still growing/improving. | |
| JS8 | HF SSB | JS8Call | Based on FT8, improvements were made… |
| Meshtastic | UHF Digital | Phone apps | Uses special purpose-built hardware |
| Packet | All | AX.25. Speeds range from 300 bps on HF to 1200 bps on VHF and 9600 bps on UHF. | |
| PSK31 | All | FLDIGI | Also called BPSK31 (Binary Phase Shift Keying 31.25 Hz) is one of the most popular keyboard-to-keyboard modes used in amateur radio. |
| RTTY | All | FLDIGI | Stands for Radio Teletype and is the original keyboard-to-keyboard mode. Based on 5-bit Baudot, and transmits using 170 Hz Frequency shift keying (FSK) at 45.5 baud - 60 words per minute. |
| WinLink | HF SSB | WinLink | System for sending e-mail over HF radios. |
