Ham Radio Extra Class Practice Test 2026 - Free Extra Class License Exam Questions and Study Guide

The most commonly used digital mode in amateur radio is RTTY (Radio Teletype). RTTY has a long history within the amateur community and has established itself as a standard for digital communications. It operates using frequency shift keying (FSK) and allows for the transmission of text over radio frequencies. Its reliability and ease of use have made it popular among operators for contesting, traffic handling, and casual communication.

While Packet Radio is also widely used, particularly for connecting to packet networks and digital messaging, it hasn't reached the same level of widespread adoption for general communication as RTTY. PSK31 is favored for keyboard-to-keyboard conversation due to its ability to allow real-time text exchange with minimal bandwidth, but it lacks the extensive historical and operational background of RTTY. SSTV is primarily used for transmitting images and is less common than RTTY for everyday text communication.

Thus, RTTY stands out due to its enduring popularity, historical significance, and utility in both contesting and routine amateur communication.