WSJT-X/doc/user_guide/en/vhf-features.adoc

=== VHF Setup

_WSJT-X_ v1.7 builds on for VHF and
higher bands first introduced in v1.6.  These features now include:

- *JT4*, a mode particularly useful for EME on the microwave bands

- *QRA64*, a mode for EME using a "`Q-ary Repeat Accumulate`" code, a
low-density partity-check (LDPC) code using a 64-character symbol
alphabet

- *MSK144*, a mode for meteor scatter using a binary LDPC code
and Offset Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying (OQPSK), a waveform also
known as Minimum Shift Keying (MSK)

- *ISCAT*, intended for other types of scatter propagation.

- *Echo* mode, for detecting and measuring your own lunar echoes

- Automatic *Doppler tracking* for the EME path

To activate the VHF-and-up features:

- Check the box labeled *Enable VHF/UHF/Microwave features* on the
*Settings | General* tab.

- In most cases you will also want to check *Single decode*.

- If you will be doing EME, check the box *Decode at t = 52 s*
to allow for the EME path delay on received signals

- If you will use automatic Doppler tracking and your radio accepts
QSY commands while transmitting, check the box *Allow Tx frequency
changes while transmitting*.  Transceivers that allow such changes
include the IC-735, IC-756 Pro II, IC-910-H, FT-817, FT-847, FT-857,
FT-897, TS-590S, TS-590SG, TS-2000 (with Rev 9 firmware upgrade), Flex
1500 and 5000, HPSDR, Anan-10, Anan-100, and KX3. On the *Radio* tab
select *Split Operation* (use either *Rig* or *Fake It*; you may need
to experiment with both options to find one that works best with your
radio).

- If your radio does not accept commands to change frequency while
transmissing, Doppler tracking is accomplished by making a single Tx
frequency adjustment before transmitting, using a value computed for
the middle of the Tx period.

- The main window reconfigures itself as necessary to include controls
supporting features of each mode.  For example, in JT4 mode the
central part of the main window might look something like this:

image::VHF_controls.png[align="center",alt="VHF Controls"]

- On the *View* menu, select *Astronomical data* to display a window
with important information for tracking the Moon and performing
automatic Doppler control.  Check the box labeled *Doppler tracking*
to ensure that the right-hand portion of the window is visible.

image::Astronomical_data.png[align="center",alt="Astronomical data"]

Three different types of Doppler tracking are provided:

- Select *Full Doppler to DX Grid* if you know your QSO partner's locator
and he/she will not be using any Doppler control.

- Select *Receive only* to enable EME Doppler tracking of your receive
frequency to a specific locator; your Tx frequency will remain fixed.

- Select *Constant frequency on Moon* to correct for your own (one-way)
Doppler shift to or from the Moon.  If your QSO partner does the same
thing, both stations will have the required Doppler compensation.
Moreover, anyone else using this option will hear both of you
without the need for manual frequency changes.  The hypothetical "`man
in the moon`" would copy all of you on the selected nominal frequency.

- In the example depicted above, the moon-based nominal frequency is
100 kHz above the stated band edge, or 10368.100 MHz for the 10 GHz
band.  The home station two-way self Doppler shift is +24366 Hz, so the
one-way shift is +12183 Hz.  Therefore, the receive frequency is set
to 10,360.112183 Hz.  When a transmission is started, the frequency
will be reset to 12183 Hz _below_ the nominal on-the-moon frequency.

=== EME with JT4

- Select *JT4* from the *Mode* menu.

- Select the desired submode, which determines the tone spacing.
Higher spacings are used on the higher microwave bands, to allow for
larger Doppler spreads. For example, submode JT4F is generally used
for EME on the 10 GHz band.

- If using a transverter, set the appropriate offset on the *Settings
| Frequencies* tab.  Offset is defined as (transceiver dial reading)
minus (on-the-air frequency).  For example, when using a 144 MHz radio
at 10368 MHz, *Offset (MHz)* = (144 - 10368) = -10224.000.  If the
band is already in the table, you can edit the offset by double
clicking on the offset field itself.  Otherwise a new band can be
added by right clicking in the table and selecting *Insert*.

image::Add_station_info.png[align="center",alt="Station information"]

- The JT4 decoder in _WSJT-X_ includes optional facilities for
averaging over successive transmissions and also correlation decoding,
also known as "`Deep Search`".  Either or both of these options may
be selected from the *Decode* menu.

image::decoding_depth.png[align="center",alt="Decoding Depth"]

- By convention, EME with JT4 can use "`short form`" messages
consisting of a single tone.  To activate automatic generation of
these messages, check the box labeled *Sh* on the main window.

IMPORTANT: Thanks to G3WDG, many additional hints for using JT4 and
Echo mode on the EME path are available in {jt4eme}.

=== EME with JT65

TBD ...

=== EME with QRA64

TBD ...

=== Meteor Scatter with MSK144

TBD ...

=== Scatter Propagation with ISCAT

TBD ...

=== Echo Mode

*Echo* mode allows you to make sensitive measurements of your own
lunar echoes, even when they are too weak to be heard. Select *Echo*
from the *Mode* menu, aim your antenna at the moon, pick a clear
frequency, and toggle click *Tx Enable*. _WSJT-X_ will then cycle
through the following loop every 6 seconds:

1. Transmit a 1500 Hz fixed tone for 2.3 s
2. Wait about 0.2 s for start of the return echo
3. Record the received signal for 2.3 s
4. Analyze, average, and display the results
5. Repeat from step 1

To make a sequence of echo tests:

- Select *Echo* from the *Mode* menu.

- On the Astronomical Data window check *Doppler tracking* and
*Constant frequency on the Moon*

- Choose your desired test frequency using the *Frequency above nominal
band edge* controls.

- Be sure that your rig control has been set up for _Split Operation_
(either *Rig* or *Fake It*) on the *Settings | Radio* tab.

- Click *Enable Tx* on the main window to start a sequence of 6-second
cycles.

- _WSJT-X_ calculates and compensates for Doppler shift automatically.
Your return echo should always appear at the center of the plot area
on the Echo Graph window, as in the screen shot below.

image::echo_144.png[align="center",alt="Echo 144 MHz"]