Starting to update the WSJT-X User Guide for version 1.7. More to come!

git-svn-id: svn+ssh://svn.code.sf.net/p/wsjt/wsjt/branches/wsjtx@7063 ab8295b8-cf94-4d9e-aec4-7959e3be5d79

doc/user_guide/en/introduction.adoc

@@ -6,25 +6,40 @@ the program name stand for "`Weak Signal communication by K1JT,`" while
 the suffix "`-X`" indicates that _WSJT-X_ started as an extended (and
 experimental) branch of the program _WSJT_.
 
-_WSJT-X_ Version 1.6 offers five protocols or "`modes`": JT4, JT9, JT65
-WSPR, and Echo.  The first three are designed for making reliable 
-QSOs under extreme weak-signal conditions. They use nearly identical
-message structure and source encoding.  JT65 was designed for EME
-("`moonbounce`") on the VHF/UHF bands and has also proven very effective
-for worldwide QRP communication on the HF bands.  JT9 is optimized for
-the LF, MF, and lower HF bands.  It is 2 dB more sensitive than
-JT65 while using less than 10% of the bandwidth.  JT4 offers a wide
-variety of tone spacings and has proved very effective for EME on
-microwave bands up to 24 GHz.  All three of these modes use one-minute
-timed sequences of alternating transmission and reception, so a
-minimal QSO takes four to six minutes — two or three transmissions by
-each station, one sending in odd UTC minutes and the other even. On
-the HF bands, world-wide QSOs are possible using power levels of a few
-watts and compromise antennas.  On VHF bands and higher, QSOs are
-possible (by EME and other propagation types) at signal levels 10 to
-15 dB below those required for CW.
+_WSJT-X_ Version 1.7 offers eight protocols or "`modes`": *JT4*,
+*JT9*, *JT65*, *QRA64*, *WSPR*, *Echo*, *ISCAT*, and *MSK144*.  The
+first four are designed for making reliable QSOs under extreme
+weak-signal conditions. They use nearly identical message structure
+and source encoding.  JT65 and QRA64 were designed for EME
+("`moonbounce`") on the VHF/UHF bands and have also proven very
+effective for worldwide QRP communication on the HF bands.  QRA64 has
+a number of advantages over JT65, including better performance on the
+very weakest signals.  We imagine that over time it will replace JT65
+for EME use.  JT9 is optimized for the LF, MF, and lower HF bands.  It
+is 2 dB more sensitive than JT65 while using less than 10% of the
+bandwidth.  JT4 offers a wide variety of tone spacings and has proved
+very effective for EME on microwave bands up to 24 GHz.  All of these
+"`slow`" modes use one-minute timed sequences of alternating
+transmission and reception, so a minimal QSO takes four to six minutes
+— two or three transmissions by each station, one sending in odd UTC
+minutes and the other even. On the HF bands, world-wide QSOs are
+possible using power levels of a few watts (or even milliwatts) and
+compromise antennas.  On VHF bands and higher, QSOs are possible (by
+EME and other propagation types) at signal levels 10 to 15 dB below
+those required for CW.
 
-WSPR (pronounced "`whisper`") stands for Weak Signal Propagation
+*ISCAT*, *MSK144*, and optionally *JT9E-H* are "`fast`" modes designed
+to take advantage of brief signal enhancements from ionized meteor
+trails and other types of scatter propagation. These modes use timed
+sequences of 5, 10, 15, or 30 s duration.  User messages are
+transmitted repeatedly at high rate (up to 250 characters per second,
+for MSK144) to make good use of the shortest meteor "`pings`".  ISCAT
+uses free-form messages up to 28 characters long, while MSK144 uses
+the same structured messages as the slow modes together with an
+abbreviated format with hashed callsigns for messages sent after
+initial contact has been established.
+
+*WSPR* (pronounced "`whisper`") stands for Weak Signal Propagation
 Reporter.  The WSPR protocol was designed for probing potential
 propagation paths using low-power transmissions. WSPR messages
 normally carry the transmitting station’s callsign, grid locator, and
@@ -34,7 +49,7 @@ internet access can automatically upload their reception reports to a
 central database called {wsprnet} that provides a mapping facility,
 archival storage, and many other features.
 
-Echo mode allows you to detect and measure your own lunar echoes,
+*Echo* mode allows you to detect and measure your own lunar echoes,
 even if they are far below the audible threshold.
 
 _WSJT-X_ provides spectral displays for passbands up to 5 kHz,

doc/user_guide/en/new_features.adoc

@@ -1,36 +1,25 @@
-=== New in Version 1.6
+=== New in Version 1.7
 
 For quick reference, here's a short list of features and capabilities
-added to _WSJT-X_ since Version 1.5.0:
+added to _WSJT-X_ since Version 1.6.0:
 
-- *WSPR* mode, including coordinated automatic band-hopping and a
-new two-pass decoder that can decode overlapping signals.
+- New modes: ISCAT, MSK144, QRA64.
 
-- EME-motivated features including *JT4* (submodes *A-G*), *Echo*
-mode, and automatic *Doppler tracking*.  The JT4 decoder is more
-sensitive than that in the latest WSJT, and message averaging is fully
-automated.  (Note that submodes *JT65B* and *JT65C* are also present
-in Version 1.6, but the high-sensitivity decoder required for EME with
-JT65 is not yet included.)
+- Newly implemented submodes of existing modes: JT65B-C, JT9B-H (wide
+and fast).
 
-- Tools for accurate *frequency calibration* of your radio, so you can
-be always on-frequency to within about 1 Hz.
+- New Franke-Taylor decoder replaces the Koetter-Vardy decoder in
+JT65.  KVASD is no longer used.
 
-- Mode-specific standard working frequencies accessible from the
-drop-down band selector.
+- Improvements to the JT4, JT9, and JT65 decoders.
+
+- Multi-pass decoding for JT65 and WSPR.
+
+- Improved convenience features for EME Doppler tracking.
+
+- Multiple program configurations can be saved and restored.
+
+- A new sample-file download facility.
 
 - A number of corrections to the Hamlib library, fixing balky
-rig-control features.  A few unreliable features peculiar to
-particular radios have been removed.
-
-=== Future releases
-
-Much work has already been done on Version 1.7 of _WSJT-X_.  (Up to
-now this branch has been called v1.6.1.)  More than 100 people have
-been building this version for themselves as development progresses,
-and reporting on their experiences.  The next release will offer
-several "`fast modes`" intended for meteor and ionospheric scatter,
-including a new FEC-enhanced mode called *JTMSK*.  It will also have a
-significantly improved JT65 decoder, especially advantageous when used
-in crowded HF bands.  Starting with Version 1.7, _WSJT-X_ will no
-longer use the patented, closed-source Koetter-Vardy algorithm.
+rig-control features.  

doc/user_guide/en/vhf-features.adoc

@@ -1,16 +1,20 @@
 === VHF Setup
 
-V1.6.0 is the first _WSJT-X_ version to include features specifically
-designed for use on VHF and higher bands.  These features include
+_WSJT-X_ v1.7.0 builds on the features designed for use on VHF and
+higher bands first introduced in v1.6.  These features now include
 *JT4*, a mode particularly useful for EME on the microwave bands;
-*Echo* mode, for detecting and measuring your own lunar echoes; and
-automatic *Doppler tracking* for the EME path.  The accuracy of
-Doppler calculations is better than 1 Hz at 10 GHz.  (Note that
-sub-modes JT65B and JT65C are present in v1.6.0, but are not yet fully
-implemented for EME purposes.)
+*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); and *ISCAT*, intended for other
+types of scatter propagation.  Additional VHF-and-up features include
+*Echo* mode, for detecting and measuring your own lunar echoes, and
+automatic high-accuracy *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.
+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.
@@ -38,28 +42,28 @@ to ensure that the right-hand portion of the window is visible.
 
 image::Astronomical_data.png[align="center",alt="Astronomical data"]
 
-IMPORTANT: Note that two different types of Doppler control are provided.  
+IMPORTANT: Note that 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`" will copy all of you on the selected nominal frequency.
+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 +6193 Hz, so the
-one-way shift is +3096.5 Hz.  Therefore, the receive frequency is set
-to 10,360.103097 Hz.  When a transmission is started, the frequency
-is reset to 3096.5 Hz below the nominal frequency.
-
-- Spinner controls at top right of the *Astronomical Data* window let you
-set a working frequency above the nominal band edge. The frequency above
-band edge is the sum of the numbers in these two controls (kHz + Hz).
+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
 
@@ -82,11 +86,7 @@ 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,
-sometimes known as "`Deep Search`".  
-
-IMPORTANT: The *Decode* menu appears to provide options to set
-different decoding behavior.  However, in JT4 mode _WSJT-X_ Version
-1.6 always behaves as if you have selected _Include correlation_.
+also known as "`Deep Search`".  
 
 image::decoding_depth.png[align="center",alt="Decoding Depth"]
 
@@ -97,6 +97,22 @@ _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