Full 4-Step Contact inside 60 Seconds
4× Pileup Speed with Single-Carrier (240 vs 60 QSOs/h)
Zero Power Penalty (0.0 dB)
LQ8 na next-generation amateur radio weak-signal protocol wey re-engineer message packing using variable-length prefix codes over di exact, tested FT8 physical transport layer (8-GFSK, 50 Hz, −21.0 dB SNR). Complete full wit 0.0 dB RF power penalty (dey scale reach 480 QSOs/h dual-carrier).
One-on-One Contact
Dey complete full contact inside 4 transmissions (60s vs 90s canonical or 75s wit RR73 inside FT8) via optimal 4-step exchange (CQ → CALL → REPORT+73 → 73) at full reference sensitivity.
- 4 transmissions vs 5–6 inside FT8
- 60 contacts/hour (vs 40–48 inside FT8)
- Zero RF power penalty (0.0 dB)
Heavy Pileups
For continuous pileup, slot 3 dey overlap with new callers on split frequencies, completing 2 QSOs every 30 seconds (240 QSOs/h, 4× over single-carrier FT8) on single carrier with 0.0 dB power penalty (vs 60–120 QSOs/h for FT8 Fox & Hound with power split), scaling reach 480 QSOs/h with dual-carrier!
- 240 QSOs/h (1 carrier, 50 Hz, 0 dB)
- 480 QSOs/h (2 carriers, 100 Hz)
- Zero RF power penalty (0.0 dB)
FT8 PHY Compatibility
E dey use di exact 8-GFSK 50 Hz transport layer and LDPC(174,91) matrix from FT8, giving proven weak-signal performance reach down to −21.0 dB SNR.
- Exact FT8 8-GFSK modulation
- −21.0 dB SNR reference sensitivity
- Costas sequence for protocol isolation
Multi-Speed Adaptability
Di protocol dey scale well go higher baud rates: LQ4 (4-GFSK, 7.5s slot, 83.3 Hz BW, 30s QSO) and LQ2 (2-GFSK, 3.75s slot, 166.7 Hz BW, 15s QSO) for quick VHF/UHF and microwave contact.
- LQ4: 30s contact (7.5s slot, 83.3 Hz)
- LQ2: 15s contact (3.75s slot, 166.7 Hz)
- LQ16: −24.0 dB DX (25.0 Hz)
Get On Di Air Wit LQ8
Start making contacts now wit native mobile apps, dedicated frequency slots, and full logging compatibility.
qFT8
Native portable transceiver app wey get support for LQ8 alongside other digital modes. Run weak-signal digital modes anywhere directly from your Android device.
Suggested Dial Frequencies (USB)
Dial frequencies tuned for standard 3 kHz Upper Sideband (USB). LQ8 shares FT8 band plans peacefully through protocol isolation, or sits inside dedicated companion sub-bands.
To test weak-signal performance inside clean RF spectrum without noise, initial on-air tests dey run inside limited experimental mode only on 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, and 10m. Each dial frequency na di base carrier frequency for standard 3.0 kHz Upper Sideband (USB) channel (e.g., 10.146 MHz dey cover audio offsets from 10.1460 reach 10.1490 MHz). Many stations fit operate at di same time inside each 3.0 kHz window on different audio subcarrier offsets.
Dis selected bands dey give clean, noise-free propagation environment: 30m na narrow-band WARC allocation wey international law no allow voice phone; 17m and 12m dey give contest-free WARC spectrum, while 40m, 20m, 15m, and 10m get plenty quiet digital space well separated from voice segments.
| Band | LQ8 (3 kHz USB) | FT8 (Ref) | FT4 (Ref) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40m (7.0 MHz) | 7.084 MHz | 7.074 MHz | 7.0475 MHz |
| 30m (10.1 MHz) | 10.146 MHz | 10.136 MHz | 10.140 MHz |
| 20m (14.0 MHz) | 14.084 MHz | 14.074 MHz | 14.080 MHz |
| 17m (18.1 MHz) | 18.106 MHz | 18.100 MHz | 18.104 MHz |
| 15m (21.0 MHz) | 21.084 MHz | 21.074 MHz | 21.140 MHz |
| 12m (24.9 MHz) | 24.925 MHz | 24.915 MHz | 24.919 MHz |
| 10m (28.0 MHz) | 28.084 MHz | 28.074 MHz | 28.180 MHz |
Note: LQ8 dey active for now inside limited experimental mode only on 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, and 10m. More band space (including 80m, 160m, 60m, and VHF/UHF bands) go officially dey assigned inside upcoming phases as dem coordinate wit international band plans.
ADIF Logging & Award Credits
Fully compliant format for LoTW, QRZ.com, eQSL, ClubLog, and major amateur radio logging software.
Fit I log and submit LQ8 QSOs? 100% Yes!
Under official ADIF 3.x specifications, di primary mode <MODE:4>DATA na di recognized universal container for digital modes, while di <SUBMODE> tag na open and extensible. Logging apps and operators fit immediately export <SUBMODE:3>LQ8 or <SUBMODE:3>LQ4.
When you upload to QRZ.com Logbook, ARRL LoTW, eQSL.cc, and Club Log, dem dey accept dem cleanly without error under di DATA / DIGITAL category, giving credit for DXCC, WAS, VUCC, WAC, and WPX awards.
Formal submode approval from di ADIF committee go soon bring native drop-down choices inside third-party contest software.
Standard ADIF Rules
All LQ family modes follow ADIF 3.x rules, using mode DATA and tagging di exact protocol inside SUBMODE.
Immediate Awards & Platforms
LoTW, QRZ.com, eQSL.cc, and Club Log map DATA directly to DATA credits without waiting for approval.
Standard Mode & Submode Tags:
| Radio Protocol | ADIF Mode Code | ADIF Submode Code | Standard Comment Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| LQ8 | <MODE:4>DATA |
<SUBMODE:3>LQ8 |
<COMMENT:34>LQ8 digital mode - https://lq8.org |
Standard ADIF Record Example (.adi):
<STATION_CALLSIGN:6>HB9IPH
<MY_GRIDSQUARE:4>JN47
<CALL:5>TU2TU
<GRIDSQUARE:4>KL22
<QSO_DATE:8>20260815
<TIME_ON:6>002500
<BAND:3>30M
<FREQ:9>10.146000
<MODE:4>DATA
<SUBMODE:3>LQ8
<RST_SENT:3>-03
<RST_RCVD:3>+05
<COMMENT:34>LQ8 digital mode - https://lq8.org
<EOR>POTA Exception: Wen you dey export logs for Parks on the Air (POTA) app, contacts must dey set to mode <MODE:4>MFSK without any submode tag, bikos POTA need MFSK to accept di log.
Detailed Speedup Analysis
By replacing stiff, repetitive exchange wit variable-length prefix codes, 24/16-bit collision-resistant hashing, and multi-response frames, full mutual exchange dey guaranteed: both Maidenhead locator and signal reports dey exchanged wit reciprocal 73 confirmations.
FT8 Standard
LQ8 Standard Mode
FT8 Pileup
LQ8 Pileup
Development Roadmap
Clear path to global adoption, cross-platform apps, reverse beacon integration, and formal amateur radio standardization.
Phase 1: Math Specs & Reference Library Don Finish
Full mathematical definition of variable-length prefix tree, 61-char Varicode, CRC-14/CRC-24Q parity, and open-source C++20 reference library (lq_lib) wit 100% test coverage.
Phase 2: Native Mobile Apps & Field Trials Dey Active Now
Real-world on-air validation. Native integration inside qFT8 for Android (qft8.com) and development of standalone iPhone / iPad (iOS) app for portable field use.
Phase 3: Desktop Software & Spotting Networks Dey Move Fast
Integration into WSJT-X, JTDX, N1MM+, Ham Radio Deluxe, and Log4OM, alongside live reporting on PSKReporter, RBN, and HamSpots.
Phase 4: ADIF Standardization & Log Ecosystem Work Dey Go On
Official submode submission to ADIF Working Group for LQ8 and LQ4 enumeration, native dropdown support in loggers, and direct sync wit QRZ, LoTW, and Club Log.
Phase 5: LQ4 High-Speed & Extended Modes Plan for Front
Rolling out LQ4 (30s QSO, 7.5s slots) and LQ2 (15s QSO, 3.75s slots) for VHF/UHF tropo, meteor scatter, and rapid contest pileups.
Technical Specifications & Tools
Formal specification paper, open reference code, live browser-based bit-level inspector, and complete frame structure details.
Specification Paper
Read di complete academic paper describing modulation, prefix coding, and protocol design.
Reference C++20 Library (lq_lib)
High-performance, zero-allocation reference implementation in modern C++20 with pure C99 bindings. Includes message packing, GFSK audio generation, Costas sync, and LDPC(174,91) decoding.
LQ Mode Family Comparison
Compare di primary standard (LQ8) and high-speed variants (LQ4, LQ2, LQ16).
Completes full 1-on-1 contacts in 4 transmissions (60s vs 90s in canonical 6-slot FT8 [1.50×] or 75s with RR73 [1.25×]) at full reference sensitivity (-21.0 dB SNR) in identical 50.0 Hz bandwidth, and scales to 240 QSOs/h in continuous pileups (4× over single-carrier FT8, 2 QSOs every 30s, up to 480 QSOs/h dual-carrier).
- 4-Step Full Exchange: 60s vs 75–90s in FT8 (and 240 vs 60 QSOs/h in continuous single-carrier pileups) with complete grid and report delivery.
- Zero SNR Penalty: Exact -21.0 dB sensitivity in 50.0 Hz bandwidth (+3.5 dB over FT4).
- 24-bit Hashes: Full CRC-24/Q (16.7M bins) preventing collisions.
- 13-char Callsigns: Extended compound callsign support (vs 11 chars in FT8).
- 104-char Varicode: ~17.2 chars/frame (+32.3% character throughput gain vs FT8).
Interactive Message Inspector
Select any of di 13 message formats to inspect di bit fields, prefix codes, and CRC-14 parity calculation.
Physical Layer Waterfall
Continuous-phase 8-GFSK frame structure wit Costas synchronization array and LDPC(174,91) coded symbols modulated inside 50.0 Hz bandwidth.
Community, Club & DXpedition Support
Wey amateur radio clubs, DXpedition teams, award managers, and operators across di whole world dey recognize and support.
Radio Clubs & Teams
Radio clubs, contest groups, and emergency communications teams wey dey test and adopt LQ digital modes.
- Nobody don list yet — send your own below!
DXpeditions & Radio Trips
DXpeditions, IOTA, SOTA, and POTA operators wey dey use high-speed multi-station response frames clear pileup quickly.
- Nobody don list yet — send your own below!
Operators
Amateur radio operators wey put LQ8 for dia QRZ.com profile, club lists, and dey track awards.
Join Di List or Reach Us
You be radio club, DXpedition organizer, software developer, award manager, or ham operator wey dey use LQ inside your QRZ bio? Send us message through our contact form make we put you here or connect wit di project team. To report bugs or request features, visit our GitHub Issues tracker.