FT8: The 2026 Guide to WSJT-X and Ham Radio Deluxe Integration

Published: March 2026 | Updated for Ham Radio Deluxe v6.9.x

FT8 has transformed the HF bands, allowing operators to make global contacts even during low solar activity. However, for many operators, the challenge isn't making the contact—it's managing the data. In this guide, we show you how to seamlessly integrate WSJT-X with Ham Radio Deluxe to automate your logging, tracking, and award hunting.

The Power of Integration: Why Use WSJT-X with HRD?

While WSJT-X is an excellent tool for decoding digital signals, its internal logging capabilities are limited. By linking it to your master Ham Radio Deluxe Logbook, you unlock a professional-grade workflow:

• Instant Logging: Contacts flow in real-time from WSJT-X directly into your HRD Logbook.
• Worked Status Indicators (WSI): Instantly see if a calling station is a "New One" for DXCC, WAS, or the CQ DX Marathon before you even hit "Enable Tx."
• Automated Global Sync: Automatically upload your FT8 contacts to LoTW, eQSL, ClubLog, and QRZ.com the moment they are logged.

Getting the Most Out of FT8 Logging in HRD

1. Rig Control Coordination

The key principle for running WSJT-X with Ham Radio Deluxe comes down to COM port physics: a given COM port can only be used by one application at a time. The solution is simple — HRD Rig Control takes exclusive ownership of the COM port to your radio, and WSJT-X is configured to route all rig communication through HRD rather than talking to the radio directly.

To set this up, launch HRD Rig Control and Logbook first and confirm both can see your radio. Then launch WSJT-X and go to Settings > Radio. The critical setting: the Rig field must be set to "Ham Radio Deluxe" — not your specific radio model. This is the most common mistake operators make. When the rig is set to Ham Radio Deluxe, the baud rate setting in WSJT-X is irrelevant, since it's Rig Control doing the actual talking to the COM port.

PTT setup depends on your radio. Yaesu radios that create two virtual COM ports after driver installation can use the "Basic" port for hardware PTT — the fastest and most responsive option. Icom radios (and others with a single virtual COM port) work well with either VOX or CAT. Both are reliable; they're just slightly less instantaneous than a dedicated hardware COM port.

2. Getting QSOs into Logbook Automatically

Once your rig connection is working, the next step is getting contacts to flow into HRD Logbook the moment WSJT-X logs them. This is done through QSO Forwarding — a UDP-based API built into HRD Logbook that listens for broadcasts from WSJT-X over your local network.

In WSJT-X, go to Settings > Reporting and check the box under "N1MM Logger+ Broadcasts", leaving the IP address at 127.0.0.1 and the port at 2333. Then in HRD Logbook, open the QSO Forwarding dialog and configure the UDP Receive section: check all the boxes, set the port to 2333, select your primary log as the Target Database, and set the My Station field handling to "Merged." With both sides configured, each contact you log in WSJT-X will appear in HRD Logbook immediately after you click OK on the log prompt — no ADIF exports, no manual imports.

Important: If you use JTAlert, do not enable QSO Forwarding at the same time. JTAlert uses its own integration method into Logbook, and running both simultaneously will create duplicate QSO entries. Use one method or the other.

Once QSOs are flowing into Logbook, HRD handles the rest — callsign lookup fills in name and location data, award totals update in real time, and your configured online services (LoTW, eQSL, ClubLog, QRZ Logbook) can be set to upload automatically in the background while you keep operating.

Experience the Modern Era of Ham Radio Deluxe

If you haven't used HRD lately, you haven't seen the 2026 enhancements. Under our new sole ownership (WA9PIE) since 2021, we have optimized the digital mode workflow to be the fastest and most reliable in the industry.

Note: We provide continuous updates and US-based support. If you have ever purchased an HRD license, your upgrade to the latest stable release is 100% free.

Official Technical Documentation

For a deeper dive into specific configuration settings, please refer to our official solution articles:

• How to Configure WSJT-X with Ham Radio Deluxe
• Setting Up Automatic Logging from WSJT-X
• QSO Forwarding Configuration Guide

Essential Reading:
- Why You Should Upgrade to v6.9
- 2026 Transceiver Compatibility Guide
- CQ DX Marathon Award Tracking Guide

73,
The Ham Radio Deluxe Team