About

The FT-0 Working Group

A loose confederation of operators who discovered that the finest DX is the one you don't chase. We meet never, agree always, and have never once been on frequency at the same time — a record we intend to keep.

Origin

How nothing began

FT-0 was conceived on a Field Day when the generator died, the batteries were flat, and the band was dead. The operators sat in the silence for fifteen seconds. Then another fifteen. Somewhere in the second cycle, it became clear: the QSOs had never depended on the radio.

The specification was written that evening. It is one page. It is blank. It has never required an erratum, because there is nothing in it to be wrong. The Working Group considers this the first perfect protocol document in the history of the hobby.

FT-0 inherits the naming and spirit of the FTx family, minus the parts that emit. Any resemblance to real weak-signal modes is intentional, affectionate, and legally distinct.

FAQ

Questions nobody transmitted

Is FT-0 a real mode?
It is as real as the contacts it produces, which is to say: philosophically, yes. Practically, this is a parody. No signals are transmitted, because the joke is that no signals are transmitted. Please do not submit your empty ADIF to LoTW. They know.
Do I need a license?
To transmit nothing on no frequency at 0 W, no license is required — you are not, by any regulatory definition, transmitting. To transmit something, you need a license, a radio, and a completely different mode. We recommend FT8. Reluctantly.
Can I use FT-0 for emergency communications?
FT-0 is the only mode that works during a total blackout, because it requires no power. It is also the only mode that conveys no information, which is a meaningful limitation during an emergency. Please use a real mode for real emergencies. Keep FT-0 for the fun kind of nothing.
Why does my logbook already have every entity?
Because in FT-0, working an entity and not working it are indistinguishable, and we chose the generous interpretation. Congratulations on Honor Roll.
Is the 0-byte download safe?
Yes. It is genuinely 0 bytes — an empty file. Its SHA-256 is the well-known hash of empty input (e3b0c442…7852b855), which you can verify yourself. There is nothing in it to be unsafe. That is the entire product.
Can I contribute?
The reference implementation is feature-complete and always has been. Pull requests that add functionality will be closed with the comment "this defeats the purpose." Pull requests that remove functionality are already merged.
Who is W4ETA and why are they everywhere?
W4ETA is an Extra-class operator with five years of being a lid. In FT-0 this is not a weakness — it is the intended user. Their activations, contacts, and awards are indistinguishable from a flawless operator's, which W4ETA finds deeply validating.
Contact

Reach the Working Group

Transmit your inquiry on any band, in FT-0. We will receive it instantly and reply with the same. If you require an answer containing information, that is a different mode and, frankly, a different worldview.

Group net: never · Frequency: all · Check-ins: everyone, silently · Minutes: blank, ratified unanimously.

Download WSJT-0 Read the Manual