Tools

MAGNET HF — Resources

Tools

Software and resources used by MAGNET operators for HF digital communications, messaging, and intelligence operations.

🔐
MAGNET S2 Public Key — Download this key to authenticate and verify S2 messages. Required for trusted S2 intelligence traffic.  Download .asc.zip →
Operator software
📻
JS8Call
Primary messaging platform
Keyboard-to-keyboard HF digital communication using JS8 modulation — reliable under weak signal conditions.
  • ✓Free-text conversational QSOs
  • ✓Decodes signals as low as −24 dB
  • ✓Store-and-forward message relay
⬇ Download
📡
CommStat v4.2.4
Operator status & check-ins
JS8Call companion app for tracking operator status and check-ins. Connects directly to JS8Call and monitors group activity in real time.
  • ✓Operator status tracking
  • ✓Group-based monitoring
  • ✓Requires Python 3.14+
⚙ Required: Config → Manage Groups
MAGNET National group — required for all operators
MR01–MR10 Your MAGNET region — add the one for your area
MR08CO Region + 2-letter state (e.g. MR08 + CO for Colorado)
🗺 See region map on the Nets page
⬇ Download ↗ Install guide
🖥 Windows 🐧 Linux 🍎 Mac 🥧 Pi
📶
JS8Spotter
Band activity monitor
Companion utility for JS8Call. Monitors band activity, filters by keyword or callsign, supports APRS messaging and MCForms.
  • ✓Search-term traffic scanner
  • ✓Offline grid mapping
  • ✓MCForms (MCF701A, B and C included)
⬇ Download Spotter Forms
🔗
VarAC
BBS file distribution
Used for MAGNET BBS file distribution. Leadership passes files and tasking to targeted operators via the VarAC BBS system.
  • ✓BBS-based file distribution
  • ✓VARA HF modem protocol
⬇ Download latest
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FLDIGI / FLMSG
SitRep forms & digital modes
Digital mode software for SitRep forms and structured traffic. Install MAGNET HTML forms into your FLMSG CUSTOM folder. NOTE: The SitRep form is ONLY used to send reports to MAGNET S2.
  • ✓MAGNET SitRep form included
  • ✓PSK31, RTTY, Olivia, CW modes
  • ✓Emergency comms ready
⬇ Download MAGNET forms
Installation notes
CommStat — Python required CommStat requires Python 3.14+. After unzipping, run python install.py once, then launch with python commstat.py. Linux/Mac users run ./linuxinstall.sh or ./macinstall.sh instead. On first run, go to Config → Manage Groups and add MAGNET, your region (e.g. MR08), and your state group (e.g. MR08CO). See the Nets page for the region map.
FLMSG forms — important Place all HTML forms from the zip into ~/.nbems/CUSTOM/ on Linux. After installing, close and restart FLMSG. Do not rename any files.