Most beacons use PI4 whereas I would have expected them to use FT8.
Does PI4 confer some advantages? Maybe better sensitivity? In my view, unless there is something about PI4 I don't know about, I would prefer beacons to use FT8 or at least have an FT8 sequence.
For some reason (probably by mistake) I assumed that PI4 was one of the modes supported by WSJT-X. Imagine my surprise today when I found it not there. My version of WSJT-X is 2.5.4.
Instead I had to download some special software to decode PI4. I have not yet checked if there is a map upload a bit like PSKreporter maps.
I was hoping to decode one of the Irish beacons, EI1KNH/B on 40.013 MHz PI4.
If PI4 is not supported by WSJT-X why is it used rather than FT8 or WSPR by beacons? I don't think it is magically better than FT8.
My other questions are (1) what mode do I select and (2) what dial frequency do I set to decode EI1KNH/B in PI4? At the moment it is set to 40.013 DIG on the FT817ND, but I have no idea if this is correct.
UPDATE 2057z: It looks like EI1KNH/B now uses FT8 instead of PI4, so I am now monitoring FT8 instead. It sends FT8 every 10 minutes. See https://www.qrz.com/db/EI1KNH/. I shall monitor overnight.
Until today, I did not realise that PSKreporter supported PI4, which is a mode used by some beacons. What I do not know is the sensitivity of PI4 versus FT8. If anyone knows, please tell me.
A lot of beacons now have PI4 sequences. I have no idea how this compares with the more common WSPR digital mode. Looking around for decoders I spotted this from OZ2M.
