diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS index 8c3ff73d1..dd3d305fe 100644 --- a/NEWS +++ b/NEWS @@ -12,6 +12,35 @@ Copyright 2001 - 2021 by Joe Taylor, K1JT. + Release: WSJT-X 2.5.0 + Sept 27, 2021 + ------------------------- + +WSJT-X in this release is nearly identical to that in WSJT-X 2.4.0. +The Q65 decoder has been enhanced to measure and compensate for linear +frequency drift in Q65 signals. In addition, the Windows installation +package now includes version 3.0 of application MAP65 which has Q65 +support to match and improve on its existing JT65 capabilities. + +See the 2.5.0 release candidate notices below for a summaries of the +other changes included in this release. WSJT-X 2.5.0 is bundled with +Hamlib version 4.3.1 which includes important regression repairs over +the earlier 4.3 release. + +Other changes in the package since WSJT-X 2.5.0-rc6 include the +following enhancements and defect repairs: + +MAP65: + - Ensure that CALL3.TXT is not deleted while updating the file (this + allows sharing using symlinks to work). + - Fix MAP65's generation of Tx3 message for abs(SNR)< 10. + +WSJTX: + - Repair a defect that caused CAT errors when using WSPR band hopping + and auto tune-up with some Icom rigs. + - Ensure that CALL3.TXT is not deleted while updating the file (this + allows sharing using symlinks to work). + Release: WSJT-X 2.5.0-rc6 Sept 6, 2021 ------------------------- diff --git a/README b/README index abf6ce29c..c5fb24495 100644 --- a/README +++ b/README @@ -14,25 +14,27 @@ Copyright (C) 2001 - 2021 by Joe Taylor, K1JT. WSJT-X Version 2.3 offers ten different protocols or modes: FT4, FT8, -JT4, JT9, JT65, QRA64, FST4, ISCAT, MSK144, WSPR, FST4W, and Echo. The -first seven are designed for making reliable QSOs under weak-signal +JT4, JT9, JT65, Q65, FST4, MSK144, WSPR, FST4W, and Echo. The first +seven are designed for making reliable QSOs under 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 may replace JT65 for EME use. JT9 was -originally designed for the LF, MF, and lower HF bands. Its submode -JT9A 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 proven -highly effective for EME on microwave bands up to 24 GHz. These four -“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. FT8 is operationally similar but four -times faster (15-second T/R sequences) and less sensitive by a few -dB. FT4 is faster still (7.5 s T/R sequences) and especially well -suited for radio contesting. On the HF bands, world-wide QSOs are +encoding. JT65 and Q65 were designed for EME (“moonbounce”), but not +limited to just that propagation path, on the VHF/UHF bands and JT65 +has also proven very effective for worldwide QRP communication on the +HF bands. Q65 has a number of advantages over JT65, including better +performance on the very weakest signals and variants with different +T/R period lengths. We imagine that over time it may replace JT65 for +EME use, it has also proved to be very effective for iono-scatter +paths on 6m. JT9 was originally designed for the LF, MF, and lower HF +bands. Its submode JT9A 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 proven highly effective for EME on microwave bands up +to 24 GHz. These four “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. FT8 is operationally similar +but four times faster (15-second T/R sequences) and less sensitive by +a few dB. FT4 is faster still (7.5 s T/R sequences) and especially +well suited for radio contesting. On the HF bands, world-wide QSOs are possible with any of these modes using power levels of a few watts (or even milliwatts) and compromise antennas. QSOs are possible at signal levels 10 to 15 dB below those required for CW. FST4 has similarities @@ -48,14 +50,13 @@ once per transmission. All fast modes in WSJT-X send their message frames repeatedly, as many times as will fit into the Tx sequence length. -ISCAT, MSK144, and optionally submodes JT9E-H are “fast” protocols -designed to take advantage of brief signal enhancements from ionized -meteor trails, aircraft scatter, and other types of scatter +MSK144, and optionally submodes JT9E-H are “fast” protocols designed +to take advantage of brief signal enhancements from ionized meteor +trails, aircraft scatter, 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-trail reflections or “pings”. ISCAT uses free-form -messages up to 28 characters long, while MSK144 uses the same +shortest meteor-trail reflections or “pings”. MSK144 uses the same structured messages as the slow modes and optionally an abbreviated format with hashed callsigns. diff --git a/Release_Notes.txt b/Release_Notes.txt index bfe3d1af8..0c1d23b2b 100644 --- a/Release_Notes.txt +++ b/Release_Notes.txt @@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ MAP65: WSJTX: - Repair a defect that caused CAT errors when using WSPR band hopping and auto tune-up with some Icom rigs. + - Ensure that CALL3.TXT is not deleted while updating the file (this + allows sharing using symlinks to work). Release: WSJT-X 2.5.0-rc6 Sept 6, 2021