diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS index fe97d934e..61761467d 100644 --- a/NEWS +++ b/NEWS @@ -15,67 +15,67 @@ Copyright 2001 - 2023 by Joe Taylor, K1JT, and the WSJT Development Team May 12, 2023 ------------------------- -WSJT-X_v2.7.0-rc1 is the first Release Candidate that introduces a new QMAP -program. The target application is EME. Besides that, there are a number of +WSJT-X 2.7.0 Release Candidate 1 introduces a new program called QMAP, +a new Special Operating Activity known as Q65 Pileup, and a number of other enhancements and fixes. - - New QMAP program: - - QMAP is an independent program but is expected to be used cooperatively - with WSJT-X. QMAP acts as a wideband decoder for one of the 60-second - submodes of Q65. Decoding results are shared with WSJT-X, which manages - operator interactions and rig control. - - WSJT-X can cooperate with QMAP via shared memory. In such operation WSJT-X - provides a narrow (up to 5 kHz) view in which to conduct EME QSOs with - full Doppler control, T/R switching, message sequencing, etc., and QMAP - provides a wideband (90 kHz) view of all digital EME activity on the band. - - The Q65 decoder has been enhanced for better performance. These improvements - apply to decodes made in WSJT-X and also to those made in QMAP, which uses - the identical downstream code. - - QMAP provides most of the capabilities of map65, excert for adaptive - polarization. + - QMAP and Q65 Pileup mode are of particular interest to those + engaged in Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communication, but other + applications may be found for them as well. - - New Q65 Pileup mode, designed to help manage weak-signal pileup situations such - as those experienced by 6-meter EME DXpeditions. Messages exchange 4-character - locators rather than signal reports. Decoder provides q3-level sensitivity for - up to 40 callers decoded at least once in the past 24 hours, and for whom the - Moon is above the horizon. Right-click on the Q65 button to enable or disable - the Q65 Pileup mode. + - QMAP is derived from MAP65, an older program used since 2007 for + EME, mainly on the 2 m band. QMAP provides single-polarization + receive-only capabilities for any one of the 60-second submodes + of Q65. It allows you to monitor all traffic in a 90 kHz subband + while conducting EME QSOs in the usual way with WSJT-X. - - More efficient spotting to PSK Reporter. The transmission is now spread in time - and redundant spots are removed, which will hopefully lead to a noticeably lower - load for PSK Reporter. + - Q65 Pileup mode is a new feature in WSJT-X that will assist DX + operators using Q65 in pileup circumstances with many + simultaneous callers and very weak signals, such as those + experienced by 6-meter EME DXpeditions. - - Support of the HamSCI Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science: Temporarily, - during the upcoming solar eclipses, spots are transmitted more frequently to - PSK Reporter where this data is collected and used for analysis. + - Further details on QMAP and Q65 Pileup mode are available in a + Quick-Start guide posted here: + https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/Quick_Start_WSJT-X_2.7_QMAP.pdf - - WSJT-X is now able to process more than 100 FT8 decodes per period. + - WSJT-X now provides more efficient spotting to PSK Reporter. + Redundant spots are omitted, and posting of spots is now spread + more widely in time. (Temporarily, in support of the HamSCI + Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science, spots will be transmitted + more frequently during the upcoming solar eclipses.) - - Further improvements to the Fox mode: - - Better internal handling of the two queues. - - The Fox Log window now displays statistical data on the QSO rate. + - WSJT-X is now able to process more than 100 FT8 decodes in a single + reception interval. - - When the location is changed (e.g during portable operations) an updated grid - will be sent to PSK Reporter. + - Improvements to the Fox mode: + - More convenient and efficient handling of the two queues. + - Fox Log window now displays statistical data on the QSO rate. - - The cty.dat file can now be updated from the settings. Just click the new - button on the Colors tab. + - When the station locator is changed (e.g during portable + operations), the new locator will be sent automatically to PSK + Reporter. - - New status display when fetching a new LotW file. + - The cty.dat file can now be updated by clicking a button on the + Settings -> Colors tab. - - AutoSeq now also accepts MSHV multistream messages when in Hound mode. + - A new status display appears when fetching a new LotW file. - - Better protection against unwanted effects caused by late FT8 decodes. + - Multi-streamed messages transmitted by MSHV are now handled + properly when WSJT-X is in Hound mode. - - Fixing an inconsistency where in the Contest Name was not correctly + - Auto-sequencing now has better protection against unwanted effects + caused by late FT8 decodes. + + - Fixed an inconsistency in which Contest Name was not correctly remembered. - - Various other minor fixes and improvements to the code. + - Other minor bug fixes. - - Updated hyperlinks to our homepage and to our new WSJT GROUP User Forum - (https://groups.io/g/wsjtgroup/) can now also be found in the User Guide. + - Updated hyperlinks to our homepage and to our new WSJT GROUP User + Forum (https://groups.io/g/wsjtgroup/) can now also be found in the + User Guide. - - Some clarifications to the build instructions for macOS. + - The build instructions for macOS have been clarified. Release: WSJT-X 2.6.1