2018-07-12 13:25:12 -04:00
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Plans for WSJT-X Version 2.0
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This white paper describes a number of important enhancements planned
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for WSJT-X Version 2.0. Most of them involve the FT8 and MSK144
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protocols, which will be upgraded to use use 77-bit information
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payloads rather than the present 72 or 75 bits. This modest increase
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in information content will make possible new message types that
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support the following special types of QSOs and exchanged information:
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2018-07-26 12:17:13 -04:00
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1. NA VHF Contest operation with full and transparent support of grid
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locators and "/R" (Rover) callsigns
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2018-07-12 13:25:12 -04:00
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2018-07-26 12:17:13 -04:00
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2. EU VHF Contest operation with the exchange of 6-digit locators, QSO
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2018-07-12 13:25:12 -04:00
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serial numbers, and "/P" (portable) callsigns
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3. ARRL Field Day operation with standard Field Day exchanges
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4. ARRL RTTY Roundup operation with standard contest exchanges
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5. Better and more user-friendly support for compound and nonstandard
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callsigns
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6. A special "telemetry" message format for exchange of arbitrary
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2018-07-26 12:17:13 -04:00
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information (up to 71 bits)
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2018-07-12 13:25:12 -04:00
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2018-07-26 12:17:13 -04:00
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Decoding sensitivity for the new messages will be essentially the same
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as for the FT8 and MSK144 modes presently in WSJT-X v1.9.1. The
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existing FT8 DXpedition mode will still be supported, and a more
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powerful DXpedition mode may be offered as well.
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2018-07-12 13:25:12 -04:00
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In this document we'll call the new FT8 protocol "FT8+". It will be a
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superset of the FT8 implemented in v1.9.1, providing at least
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temporary compatibility and inter-operability with older program
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2018-07-26 12:17:13 -04:00
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versions. We may decide to remove support for old-style 72- and
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75-bit messages after a specified switchover interval.
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2018-07-12 13:25:12 -04:00
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In contrast, the new MSK144 protocol will replace the old one without
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backward compatibility. We believe the smaller and more specialized
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group of MSK144 users will upgrade quickly and not find this
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restriction to be a problem.
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2018-07-26 12:17:13 -04:00
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Here are some examples of message formats that will be supported by
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FT8+ and MSK144 in WSJT-X v2.0. The list is not exhaustive.
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Parameters i3 and n3 (shown in column 1) are used in the software to
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define major and minor 77-bit message types.
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2018-07-12 13:25:12 -04:00
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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i3.n3 Example Messages Comments
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0.0 TNX BOB 73 GL Free text
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0.1 K1ABC RR73; W9XYZ <KH1/KH7Z> -08 DXpedition Mode (sent only by Fox)
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0.2 G4ABC/P R 570007 JO22DB EU VHF Contest
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0.2 PA9XYZ 590003 IO91NP EU VHF Contest
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0.3 K1ABC W9XYZ 6A WI ARRL Field Day
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0.3 W9XYZ K1ABC R 2B EMA ARRL Field Day
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0.5 123456789ABCD Telemetry (18 hex digits)
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1. <PJ4/K1ABC> W9XYZ Compound call
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1. W9XYZ <PJ4/K1ABC> 73
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1. CQ FD K1ABC FN42
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1. CQ K1ABC FN42
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1. CQ TEST K1ABC FN42 NA VHF Contest ("TEST" is optional)
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1. CQ TEST K1ABC/R FN42
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1. K1ABC W9XYZ EN37
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1. K1ABC W9XYZ -09
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1. K1ABC W9XYZ R-17
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1. K1ABC W9XYZ RRR
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1. K1ABC W9XYZ 73
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1. K1ABC W9XYZ RR73
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1. K1ABC/R W9XYZ EN37
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1. K1ABC W9XYZ/R RR73
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1. W9XYZ <YW18FIFA> -13 Nonstandard call
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1. <YW18FIFA> W9XYZ R+02
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1. W9XYZ <YW18FIFA> RRR
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1. <YW18FIFA> W9XYZ RR73
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2. CQ G4ABC/P IO91
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2. G4ABC/P PA9XYZ JO22
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2. PA9XYZ G4ABC/P RR73
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3. K1ABC KA0DEF 559 MO ARRL RTTY Roundup
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3. K1ABC W9XYZ 579 WI ARRL RTTY Roundup
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3. KA1ABC G3AAA 529 0013 ARRL RTTY Roundup
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3. TU; G3AAA K1ABC R 559 MA ARRL RTTY Roundup
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3. TU; KA0DEF K1ABC R 569 MA ARRL RTTY Roundup
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3. W9XYZ K1ABC R 589 MA ARRL RTTY Roundup
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4. CQ KH1/KH7Z Compound call
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4. CQ YW18FIFA Nonstandard call
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Here are some examples of minimal QSO sequences that take advantage
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(where necessary) of the new protocol capabilities. Model QSOs number
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1 and 2 are supported already, with the present FT8 and MSK144
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protocols, and number 3 with the existing FT8 DXpedition Mode. Model
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QSOs 4-8 (and others not illustrated here) require the new protocols
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with 77-bit messages.
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2018-07-12 13:25:12 -04:00
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1. Standard QSO
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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CQ K1ABC FN42
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K1ABC W9XYZ EN37
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W9XYZ K1ABC -11
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K1ABC W9XYZ R-09
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W9XYZ K1ABC RRR
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K1ABC W9XYZ 73
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2. Short-cycle QSO
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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CQ K1ABC FN42
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K1ABC W9XYZ -09
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W9XYZ K1ABC R-11
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K1ABC W9XYZ RR73
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W9XYZ K1ABC 73
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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3. FT8 DXpedition Mode
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CQ KH1/KH7Z
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KH7Z K1ABC FN42
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K1ABC KH7Z -12
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KH7Z K1ABC R-14
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KH7Z W9XYZ EN37
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... possibly other callers ...
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K1ABC RR73; W9XYZ <KH1/KH7Z> -08
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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4. ARRL Field Day
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CQ FD K1ABC FN42
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K1ABC W9XYZ 6A WI
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W9XYZ K1ABC R 2B EMA
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K1ABC W9XYZ RR73
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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5. ARRL VHF Contests
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CQ TEST K1ABC/R FN42
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K1ABC/R W9XYZ EN37
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W9XYZ K1ABC/R R FN42
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K1ABC/R W9XYZ RR73
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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6. ARRL RTTY Contest
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CQ TEST K1ABC FN42
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K1ABC W9XYZ 579 WI
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W9XYZ K1ABC R 589 MA
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K1ABC W9XYZ RR73
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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7. EU VHF Contest
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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CQ TEST G4ABC/P IO91
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G4ABC/P PA9XYZ JO22
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PA9XYZ 590003 IO91NP
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G4ABC/P R 570007 JO22DB
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PA9XYZ G4ABC/P RR73
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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8. Compound call
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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CQ PJ4/K1ABC
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<PJ4/K1ABC> W9XYZ
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W9XYZ K1ABC -11
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K1ABC W9XYZ R-09
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W9XYZ <PJ4/K1ABC> RRR
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<PJ4/K1ABC> W9XYZ 73
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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To minimize confusion that's likely to arise during a switchover from
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v1.9.1 to v2.0, we propose to follow a well advertised schedule:
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"RC1 Date" -- perhaps as early as September 15, 2018?
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-------------------------------------------------------
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This will be the first chance for beta testers to try WSJT-X using the
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77-bit messages. We may restrict this opportunity to specific
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volunteer testers, and we'll probably include an "upgrade by
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xxxx_date" message to remind people that they are using a release
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intended only for testing.
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FT8+ will support the old (v1.9.1) protocol as well as the new message
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types outlined above. To avoid QRMing legacy FT8 users with messages
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they can't decode, we'll recommend testing FT8+ on frequencies
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formerly used for JT9.
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MSK144 will be fully functional between any two stations using the RC1
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software, but it will not be backward compatible with earlier program
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versions.
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"RC2, RC3,... Date" -- perhaps in October?
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--------------------------------------------
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As needed, depending on results of testing.
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GA Release Date -- perhaps in November?
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---------------------------------------------
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Official General Availability release of WSJT-X v2.0.0. The original
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MSK144 protocol will be declared obsolete.
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For reference: Dates of relevant upcoming ARRL contests
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-------------------------------------------------------
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VHF QSO Party: September 8-10, 2018
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RTTY Roundup: January 5-6, 2019
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VHF SS: January 19-21, 2019
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Our proposed schedule should make WSJT-X Version 2.0 usable for
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relevant ARRL operating events in 2019.
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