FT2
A new, even faster relative of FT4, with 3.75-second turns.
What does it sound like?
Short, warbling bursts like FT4, but quicker, repeating every few seconds.
Who uses it?
A small number of amateur radio operators trying out the newest fast modes.
Where and when can I hear it?
Occasionally on the HF ham bands near the FT4 and FT8 frequencies; still rare.
The science
FT2 is an experimental mode that halves FT4's turn again, to about 3.75 to 3.8 seconds depending on the program. The developers of the original version, in the Decodium software, describe it as keeping the core of FT8 and FT4: a 77-bit structured message protected by the same LDPC (174,91) error-correcting code, sent with four-tone GFSK modulation about 167 Hz wide, roughly twice as wide as FT4.
Why use it?
The draw is speed: Decodium's developers say a complete basic contact takes about six seconds, which appeals to operators chasing high contact rates. The short turns leave little room for timing error; the WSJT-X Improved developer recommends keeping the computer clock within about 60 milliseconds.
Lore
An Italian amateur, Martino Merola (IU8LMC), introduced FT2 in his Decodium software and reports the first FT2 contacts on 16 February 2026. Ten days later Uwe Risse (DG2YCB) released a separately written, open-source FT2 in a WSJT-X Improved beta; the two developers publicly disagreed about whether the versions can decode each other. FT2 was added as an official submode in version 3.1.7 of ADIF, the standard file format hams use to exchange logs.
What do the decoded parts mean?
- Messages: The same kinds of short exchanges as FT8 and FT4: calls, call signs, grid squares and signal reports.