Seeing way too many splattered FT8 signals lately that look like shotgun patterns on the waterfall. Gary Hinson's FT8 Operating Tips show screen shots of signal distortion from overdriving that looks almost like a shotgun pattern.

Your ALC meter should barely move for digital modes! Audio level optimization requires careful adjustment of sound card input and output levels to ensure adequate signal levels for decoding without overdriving transmitter audio circuits or causing spurious emissions.

Check your setup:

• Monitor your transmitted signal on a panadapter or spectrum analyzer
• Keep audio drive low enough that ALC doesn't activate
• Remember - FT8 is a weak signal mode, not a low power mode

Each FT8 transmission lasts 15 seconds at 100% duty cycle which may cook your finals, especially on bands where the PA is less efficient. Check the radio manual for advice.

Excellent reminder! I see operators pushing 100W into FT8 when 25W would make the same contacts. It's always recommended to use minimum output power to make a QSO. More power doesn't help you receive better anyway.

With my FlexRadio, the audio level bar should just touch 0 dB on peaks, never over. This puts the average solid bar a little below the 0 dB line. If you're running an amplifier, keep it even lower to avoid amplifying distortion products.

Just starting with FT8 - this explains why some of my contacts weren't completing! I had my Yaesu's audio drive cranked up thinking "digital needs more audio." Will back it down and watch the ALC. Thanks for the education.