WSJT-X, GridTracker and LOG4OM Setup – Making them all work with one another

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by

KB6CAT
in

NOTE: These instructions are for personal reference but if they assist you in your project, then all the better. Use at your own discretion.

I had a heck of a time getting this all setup for my use-case: I have two windows PC’s and run two transceivers, a Yaesu FT-710 AESS and a Yaesu FTDX-10. One radio runs LOG4OM, WSJT-X and GridTracker and is hooked up to the FT-710. The second computer runs JTDX-Improved and is hooked up to the FTDX-10. This is specifically for my setup, but if you find it useful, all the better.

A few assumptions:

  • The transceivers are already hooked up to the computers and the drivers are installed, COM port numbers assigned and known.
  • The four pieces of software are already installed, although not configured. LOG4OM-2 (and OmniRig), WSJT-X and GridTracker

The first thing to do is to open and configure LOG4OM. Open the program, go to settings and set all your parameters, such as Station Information. I would go through the rest of the settings to set what you want but being sure not to change any settings in the Hardware Settings or Software Integration.

Once you have all your settings it’s time to get going on connecting LOG4OM to the transceiver.

LOG4OM CONFIG –

  1. Open LOG4OM.
  2. Go to Settings > Program Configuration.
  3. Go to Hardware Configuration > CAT interface.
  4. CAT Engine: Omnirig.
  5. Check the box “CAT auto-start.”
  6. Click Save and apply at the top left.
  7. Go to Connect > CAT > Show CAT interface.
  8. RIG1.
    • Rig type: FT-991-DATA.
      • There is no FT-710 in the drop-down list, so it is advised to use the FT-991-Data Rig type in this case.
    • Port: COM4.
    • Baud rate: 38,400.
    • Click OK – all other default settings are fine.
  9. Go to Settings > Program Configuration.
  10. Go to Hardware Configuration > Audio devices and voice keyer.
  11. From Radio (Microphone): Select the audio input device from your radio. In my case it is called “Microphone (USB Audio Device).”
  12. To Radio (Speaker): Select the audio output device from your radio. In my case it is called “Speakers (USB Audio Device).”
  13. Go to Software integration > Connections.
  14. Add the following connections:
    • Connection Name: GridTracker-JTM, Port: 2238, Service Type: JT_MESSAGE, USE_EXTERNAL_DATA-checked, UPLOAD_QSO-checked, UPDATE_GRIDSQUARE-checked, UPDATE_CQ_ITUZONE-checked — save.
    • Connection Name: GridTracker-ADIF, Port: 2236, Service Type: ADIF_MESSAGE, USE_EXTERNAL_DATA-checked, UPLOAD_QSO-checked, UPDATE_GRIDSQUARE-unchecked, UPDATE_CQ_ITUZONE-checked — save.
  15. Click “Save and apply” at the top left.

At this point, the VFO data, band and mode should update should be showing in your LOG4OM app.

WSJT-X CONFIG –

  1. Open WSJT-X.
  2. Go to File > Settings.
  3. Click on the Radio tab.
  4. For Rig: select OmniRig Rig 1.
  5. PTT Method: CAT.
  6. Mode: Data/Pkt.
  7. Split Operation: Fake It.
  8. Click Test CAT – if it goes green, that’s good!
  9. If the Test CAT button goes green, then click Test PTT if it goes red, that’s good! Click it again to disable Test PTT.
  10. Click Test CAT to disable the test, the green button should go back to its original state.
  11. Click on the Audio tab.
  12. Soundcard Input: Microphone (USB Audio Device.)
  13. Output: Speakers (USB Audio Device.)
  14. Click on the Reporting tab.
  15. In the UDP Server section, make sure of the following:
    • UDP Server: 127.0.0.1
    • UDP Server port number: 2237
    • Outgoing interfaces: loopback_0
    • Multicast TTL: 1
    • Accept UDP requests-checked
    • Notify on accepted UDP request-checked
    • Accepted UDP request restores window-checked

GRIDTRACER CONFIG –

  1. Open GridTracker.
  2. Click on settings
  3. In the General secion, ensure that the “Receive UDP Messages Received from WSJT-X is using port 2237
  4. Forward UDP Messages:
    • IP: 127.0.0.1
    • Port: 2238
    • Enabled-checked.