Hamilton AutoFT8
Hamilton Auto FT8 for Windows
Download, extract, run. Setup takes about five minutes the first time.
- VERSION: 1.0.73
- FILE: Hamilton_Auto_FT8_Setup_1.0.73.exe
- SIZE: ~ 30 MB
- WORKS ON: WSJT-x AND JTDX
- REQUIRES: Win 64 - WSJT-X 2.5 or later
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— What Hamilton does in each FT8 cycle
01
Hears the CQ
Picks the next callable station from WSJT-X’s decodes
02
Calls them
Tells WSJT-X to reply on the right frequency
03
Exchanges reports
Signal reports back and forth, automatically
04
Confirms 73
Closes the QSO when the other station acknowledges
— 01
End-to-end automation
From hearing a CQ to closing the Log QSO dialog — Hamilton runs the entire sequence without you touching the keyboard.
— 02
Tunable filters
Decide who to work and who to skip — by signal strength, by continent, by CQ zone, by LoTW status, by callsign pattern, or by what you need for an award.
— 03
One installer, nothing else
Bundles WSJT-X integration, the FT8 automation engine, and an auto-clicker for the Log QSO dialog. No command line, no Python install.
Important · Read Before Operating
Automation is allowed. Unattended operation is not.
Hamilton Auto FT8 automates the FT8 contact sequence — it does not remove your duty as control operator. United States amateur regulations require a control operator to be present at the station during transmissions, except in narrowly-defined automatic-control situations that do not apply to FT8 operation on the customary calling frequencies.
Think of Hamilton like autopilot, not auto-driver. Stay at the radio while it runs. Be ready to stop transmitting immediately if interference, identification failure, or any other regulatory issue occurs. Walking away and letting the station run on its own is a violation regardless of which software is doing the work.
Automated operation is prohibited for POTA and SOTA activations. If you chase points in Parks on the Air or Summits on the Air, automation will not earn you a valid activation:
- POTA rules state it plainly: fully automated QSOs are prohibited, and every contact must include direct action by both operators. A “set it and forget it” FT8 session does not produce valid POTA contacts.
- SOTA requires you to be the operator, present at the operating position on the summit, with a station you carried in and powered from batteries. An unattended, automated activation does not meet SOTA’s requirements.
Either way the rule is the same as above: you have to be there, operating. Letting Hamilton run contacts while you’re away from the radio is not a valid activation — and it’s a regulatory violation regardless of the program.
Use it at your discretion — and stay within your own rules. Hamilton is a tool you choose to run, and the responsibility for every transmission is yours. The regulations described above are those of the United States; amateur rules, license conditions, and band plans differ from country to country, and cross-border operation is governed by international agreements such as the ITU Radio Regulations. Wherever and however you operate, make sure you understand and comply with your local, national, and international requirements before you let it run.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work with JTDX as well as WSJT-X?
Yes — it works with both WSJT-X and JTDX.
Which operating system do I need?
Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), with WSJT-X 2.5 or later.
Do I need Python or the command line?
No. It is a single installer — no command line, no Python.
Is automatic operation allowed?
Automation is allowed, but unattended operation is not. You must stay at the station as control operator and be ready to stop transmitting.
Can I choose which stations it calls?
Yes — filter by signal strength, continent, CQ zone, LoTW status, callsign pattern, or what you need for an award.
Windows warns me about the installer. Is that a problem?
No — that is the notice for newer publishers. Click “More info,” then “Run anyway.”