Digital Watch

Page last reviewed: Mon Oct 5, 2026 (CT). Every item has a citation slot filled below.

FT8 / WSJT-X family

• What: Weak-signal HF/VHF digital QSOs (FT8, FT4, etc.) commonly run via WSJT-X.
• ID: Station identification still required under § 97.119 (end of each communication; at least every 10 minutes during). Digital ID timing depends on how you operate the software — confirm it meets § 97.119.
• Citations: § 97.119; project docs: wsjt.sourceforge.io.

DMR (Digital Mobile Radio)

• What: TDMA digital voice systems used on VHF/UHF amateur repeaters and hotspots.
• Rules touchpoints: Repeater coordination/operation culture plus Part 97 repeater rules such as § 97.205; ordinary ID and control-operator duties still apply.
• Citations: § 97.205; system/network docs from your local DMR network (primary vendor/network pages — do not treat third-party blogs as law).

D-STAR

• What: Digital voice/data system widely associated with Icom amateur equipment and gateway networks.
• Citations: Equipment/system documentation from the manufacturer / D-STAR project pages; Part 97 ID and repeater rules as above (§ 97.119, § 97.205).

Winlink

• What: Email-over-radio system used for emergency and general amateur messaging.
• Rules touchpoints: Third-party traffic § 97.115; message forwarding systems § 97.219; automatic control / digital rules may also apply depending on how the station is configured.
• Citations: winlink.org; § 97.115; § 97.219.

Symbol rate / bandwidth (technical standards)

• Technical standards for emissions live in Part 97 Subpart D (start at Subpart D and the specific section that applies to your emission).
• For recent FCC symbol-rate / bandwidth updates, use primary FCC / eCFR text first; ARRL news may summarize — advice, not law — e.g. search ARRL news for “symbol rate” and confirm against eCFR the same day.
• Current rule (eCFR, checked Oct 6, 2026): on the HF data/RTTY segments covered by § 97.305(c), § 97.307(f)(3) sets an authorized bandwidth of 2.8 kHz for specified digital codes; the old HF symbol-rate (baud) limit now applies only on 2200 m and 630 m (300 bauds). Other bands have their own limits in the same section.

Automatically controlled digital stations

• § 97.221 — automatically controlled digital stations (where and how they may operate).

Obscuring meaning / encryption

• Amateur transmissions generally may not use codes or ciphers that obscure meaning (§ 97.113), with limited exceptions stated there (e.g., certain telecommand / space telecommand cases). Read the section before assuming a digital mode is fine.