HF and LF Modes used by MultiPSK

Welcome to the HF and LF Modes used by MultiPSK page. This article will update a much older one by F1ULT that can be found here. It includes modes that have been since added, and notes those no longer in use. This article will cover modes that can be utilized by MultiPSK found on frequencies below 30 Mhz.

Several modes are used by radio amateurs and these are in bold. However a few are also used by other services. See the notes for additional information. It is important to note that these frequencies can and do vary with the ITU region in which the user resides. Potential users of these modes should check to see which set of frequencies are appropriate for your region.

Where to Find Activity

• For Amateur modes, see the Considerate Operator's Guide (ARRL page)
• For easy to decode non-ham modes, see Testing Your New Setup
• To get current loggings on numerous non-ham related modes, join the Utility DXers Forum (UDXF) reflector on groups.io

Mode Information

• APRS using HF-Gate

• ARQ-E: Obsolete

• ARQ-E3: Obsolete

• ARQ-FAE / ALE400
  • ALE400 on HFLink.com

• Baudot RTTY (ITA2)
  • ARRL Digital Transmissions
  • Deutscher Wetterdienst (German weather service) Use Google translate

• Contestia

• Coquelet: Obsolete

• DGPS No longer active in the US

• DominoF Obsolete?
• DominoEX

• FAX (aka RadioFax, WeatherFax, WeFax)
  • NOAA RadioFax schedules (PDF)
  • Fukushima Fisheries Radiofax Schedule

• FT8

• GMDSS / DSC

• Hellschreiber
  • Hell Frequencies

• HFDL
  • Worldwide HFDL HF Aeronatuical Stations

• HF Packet
  • Packet Radio on HF

• JT65 (A, B, C)
  • HFLink JT65A page

• Lentus

• MFSK 8/16/32/64
  • ARRL Digital Transmissions
  • Shortwave Radiogram
    • Note: Other modes are often included in these broadcasts. See the website for information

• MIL-STD-188-110A
  • Note that this mode has been used during Armed Forces Day in the US over the last couple of years. It is used by other countries with heavy encryption

• MIL-STD-188-141A/B (aka ALE or ALE2G)
  • This mode is used both by hams and numerous military and non governmental organizations around the world. There are hundreds - sometimes more than a thousand - reports in the UDXF every month
  • HFLink
  • ALE Networks

• MT63

• Olivia
  • HFLink Olivia page

• PAX / PAX2

• PACTOR-1
  • This mode is also used in the maritime industry

• PSK 31 (various speeds, BPSK or QPSK)
  • ARRL Digital Transmissions

• RTTYM

• Selcal

• SITOR-A (aka AMTOR Mode A or AMTOR-ARQ)
  • There are only a small handful of HF maritime stations that use this mode. Most have gone over to PACTOR, using heavy compression and encryption techniques.
  • This mode is also used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Egypt using the ATU80 alphabet which makes reading this traffic difficult. See this PDF from the UDXF website for a further discussion on this topic

• SITOR-B (includes NAVTEX; aka AMTOR Mode B)
  • Note that MFA Egypt has also been known to use this mode
  • HF Worldwide RadioTelex Broadcasts
  • NAVTEX Broadcasts
  • Marine Weather Broadcasts from the US Coast Guard

• SSTV
  • Amateur Radio Wiki - SSTV Frequencies Everything You Need to Know
  • HF pirates often use this mode as well as hams. For an introduction to this topic, see the Pirate Radio New Listener Guide and FAQ

• STANAG 4285 (listed just as '4285')
  • This mode is usually heavily encrypted which no program can decode; however it can be read when the station sends a test tape in the clear.
  • A listing of STANAG stations from 2020 can be found in the 'Files' section, 'Ute Info' folder of the UDXF reflector. Both text and spreadsheet formats are available
  • Some Notes on STANAG4285 - A DXers View (PDF)

• Thor

• Throb / ThrobX

• Voice

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