DX-FT8 — Standalone FT8 Multiband Tablet Transceiver by WB2CBA
Standalone FT8 QRP transceiver with built-in touchscreen GUI on STM32F746, eliminating the need for a PC. Operates on 5-7 HF bands from USB power bank at QRPp levels or up to 5W with external 12V supply.
Overview
The DX-FT8 is the next evolution of the ADX platform by Barbaros Asuroglu (WB2CBA) — a fully standalone FT8 transceiver that eliminates the need for a host computer entirely. Instead of relying on WSJT-X software on a PC, the DX-FT8 integrates an STM32F746 DISCO evaluation board with a 4.3-inch color touchscreen that handles all FT8 encoding, decoding, and user interface functions on-device.
Key Features
- Standalone operation — no PC, laptop, or phone required
- 4.3-inch color LCD touchscreen with capacitive touch (480x272 resolution)
- STM32F746NGH6 ARM Cortex processor — 1MB Flash, 340KB RAM
- 5 or 7 HF band operation depending on PCB variant
- Dual power modes: USB power bank (QRPp ~700mW) or 7-15V DC external supply (up to 5W)
- Resilient RF PA — uses TTL octal buffer IC instead of conventional MOSFETs, extremely tolerant of high SWR or missing antenna
Design Innovation
The RF power amplifier uses an unconventional topology based on a TTL octal buffer IC and step-up RF transformer. This eliminates the fragile MOSFET output stage found in most QRP transceivers, making the DX-FT8 remarkably resilient to accidental operation with high SWR or no antenna connected.
Collaboration
The DX-FT8 is a collaboration between WB2CBA (firmware and concept) and W5BAA/Charley Hill (RF design and hardware). The project is fully open source with all design files, firmware source code, and documentation available on GitHub.
Relationship to ADX Family
While the DX-FT8 shares the ADX platform's philosophy of accessible amateur radio, it represents a significant leap in capability — from a PC-dependent audio interface to a self-contained digital radio station that fits in a shirt pocket.
