From f690845eb3545727d10a12f70c50ac50a81aa0cf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Joe Taylor Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2018 15:12:51 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Updated Release_Notes.txt for v1.9.0-rc2. git-svn-id: svn+ssh://svn.code.sf.net/p/wsjt/wsjt/branches/wsjtx@8529 ab8295b8-cf94-4d9e-aec4-7959e3be5d79 --- Release_Notes.txt | 301 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 301 insertions(+) create mode 100644 Release_Notes.txt diff --git a/Release_Notes.txt b/Release_Notes.txt new file mode 100644 index 000000000..19a1ae6af --- /dev/null +++ b/Release_Notes.txt @@ -0,0 +1,301 @@ + __ __ ______ _____ ________ __ __ +| \ _ | \ / \ | \| \ | \ | \ +| $$ / \ | $$| $$$$$$\ \$$$$$ \$$$$$$$$ | $$ | $$ +| $$/ $\| $$| $$___\$$ | $$ | $$ ______ \$$\/ $$ +| $$ $$$\ $$ \$$ \ __ | $$ | $$| \ >$$ $$ +| $$ $$\$$\$$ _\$$$$$$\| \ | $$ | $$ \$$$$$$/ $$$$\ +| $$$$ \$$$$| \__| $$| $$__| $$ | $$ | $$ \$$\ +| $$$ \$$$ \$$ $$ \$$ $$ | $$ | $$ | $$ + \$$ \$$ \$$$$$$ \$$$$$$ \$$ \$$ \$$ + + + +Copyright 2001 - 2018 by Joe Taylor, K1JT. + + + Release: WSJT-X Version 1.9.0-rc2 + February 26, 2018 + --------------------------------- + +Changes from WSJT-X Version 1.8.0 include the following: + +- New FT8 DXpedition Mode to facilitate high QSO rates in pileup + situations + +- Decoding improvements for JT65 mode, including a priori (AP) + decoding when VHF/UHF/Microwave features are enabled + +- Optional Auto-Sequencing in JT4, JT9, and JT65 when + VHF/UHF/Microwave features are enabled + +- Better suppression of low-confidence false decodes generated by AP + decoding in FT8 mode + +- Improved decoding performance for WSPR mode, especially effective at + LF and MF + +- Minor adjustments to auto-sequencing behavior + +- More flexible Doppler control features for EME + +- Improved waterfall sensitivity for very weak signals + +- Automatic real-time forwarding of logged information to N1MM Logger+ + +- Expanded and improved UDP messages sent to companion programs + +- Bug fixes and other minor tweaks to user interface + +A primary purpose of this beta release is to allow field testing of +FT8 DXpedition Mode. Instructions for this mode are posted here: + +http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/FT8_DXpedition_Mode.pdf + +Contacts in FT8 DXpedition Mode must use WSJT-X v1.9.0 at both ends of +the QSO. Please report any anomalous behavior to email list +wsjt-devel@lists.sourceforge.net. You must be a subscriber in order +to post there. + + + Release: WSJT-X Version 1.8.0 + October 27, 2017 + ----------------------------- + +This is the full General Availability release of WSJT-X Version 1.8.0. + +Changes from WSJT-X Version 1.8.0-rc3 are very minor: + + - Right-click on the Wide Graph now pops up a Context Menu. Select + the item *Set Rx & Tx Offset* to complete a one-handed setting of + both red and green frequency markers. + + - Several clarifications and additions to Tool Tips and the User Guide. + + +We recommend that all users should upgrade to WSJT-X Version 1.8.0. + +If you upgrade from v1.8.0-rc1 it may be necessary to do a one-time +reset of the default list of suggested operating frequencies. Go to +*File->Settings->Frequencies*, right click on the table and select +*Reset*. + + + Release: WSJT-X Version 1.8.0-rc3 + October 16, 2017 + --------------------------------- + +Most (but not all) changes since Version 1.8.0-rc2 involve user +control of the increasingly popular FT8 mode. The "RC3" release also +includes minor bug fixes and updates to the WSJT-X User Guide. + +The following list includes all of the more important changes: + +- New optimization of GUI for simplex and split behavior in FT8 mode. + + 1. Checkbox "Lock Tx Freq" on main window is relabeled "Hold Tx Freq". + + 2. Double-clicking on decoded messages that do not contain your own + call moves both Rx and Tx frequencies. If the first callsign is + your own call, only Rx freq moves. + + 3. Double-clicking on decoded messages moves the Rx frequency. If + "Hold Tx Freq" is checked, Tx frequency is moved only if CTRL was + held down. + + 4. Clicking on the waterfall moves Rx and Tx frequencies as + before: Rx only on a simple click, Tx only on SHIFT-click, and + both on CTRL-click. This happens even if "Hold Tx Freq" is + checked. + +- Add a semi-automated "FreqCal" procedure: see *Solve for calibration +parameters* on the Tools menu. + +- Improv auto-sequencing behavior: stop and on-frequency +transmission if a called station comes back to someone else. + +- Improve S/N estimation in some situations involving QRM. + +- Fix an initialization issue with user-modified application fonts. + +- Fix an issue with Tx5 message generation with Type 2 compound calls. + +- Enhance and improve the ADIF parser of logbook records. Update +the band limits as per ADIF 3.0.6 specification. + +- Increase the FT8 DT range to +/- 2.5 s. + +- Do not allow window manager events to close the astronomical data +window. + +- Add an "Erase" item to the context (right-click) menu for decoded +text. + +- Extend UDP messages with an "off air" boolean field indicating that +the decode was derived from a .WAV file playback rather than an on air +reception. + +- Extend reference applications to use the new off air decode message +field. + +- Improve performance of FT8 decoder, especially for overlapping +signals. + +- Allow specialized use of "x2 Tone Spacing" in FT8 and slow JT9 +modes. + +- Move "NA VHF Contest Mode" checkbox to main screen. Query the +operator if d > 10000 km. + +- Adjust UI to improve portability with font size changes and between +platforms. + +- Extend UDP Reply message to support keyboard modifiers. This allows +UDP servers to emulate keyboard modified double-clicks on decoded +messages, e.g. ALT+double-click for replying to a CQ or QRZ call +without changing ones Tx frequency offset. + +- Update the cty.dat file (21st Sept 2017). + +- Ensure that Fast Graph is properly initialized. + +- Better handling of worked before and country name display. Appended +text is added at a fixed column unless the message overlaps in which +case the appended information floats to the right. + +- Restore printing of MSK144 decode quality information. + +- Display Echo Graph automatically when Echo mode is started. + +- Fix a bug that prevented double-click on a JT65 EME-style "OOO" +message from populating the Tx message boxes. + +- Fixed behavior with double-click on 'CQ .' + +- Update the "blank line" divider with band ID at 4*TRperiod/5. + +- Fix cty.dat lookups that were not honouring exact match flags + +- Add some further Copyright protections. + +- Fix a bug involving "firstcall contains mycall" but not equal to mycall. + +- Fix an issue with editing IARU regions in the working frequencies table. + + + + + Release: WSJT-X Version 1.8.0-rc2 + September 2, 2017 + --------------------------------- + +Implementation of FT8 and its auto-sequencing feature is now more +capable and more polished. The decoder is faster and better: it now +includes signal subtraction, multi-pass decoding, and the use of +accumulated "a priori" information as a QSO progresses. Sensitivity +extends downward as far as -24 dB in some circumstances. Overlapping +signals 2 and 3 deep are frequently decoded at essentially the same +frequency. On a crowded band we sometimes see more than 30 decodes in +a single 15-second interval, over a 2 kHz window. The North American +VHF Contesting Mode has been extended to include both FT8 and MSK144 +modes. + +The "RC2" release also includes many minor bug fixes and an +extensively updated WSJT-X User Guide. + +Depending on what code revision you upgrade from, it may be necessary +to do a one-time reset of the default list of suggested operating +frequencies. Go to *File->Settings->Frequencies*, right click on +the table and select *Reset*. + + + Release: WSJT-X Version 1.8.0 + ----------------------------- + +NEW FEATURES IN WSJT-X Version 1.8.0 +------------------------------------ + +1. New mode called FT8: sensitivity down to -20 dB on the AWGN + channel; QSOs 4 times faster than JT65 or JT9; auto-sequencing + includes an option to respond automatically to first decoded + reply to your CQ. + +2. New mode for accurate Frequency Calibration of your radio. + +3. Improved performance of decoders for JT65, QRA64, and MSK144. + MSK144 includes facilities for amplitide and phase equalization + and an "SWL" mode for short-format messages. + +4. Options to minimize screen space used by Main and Wide Graph + windows. + +5. Enhanced management scheme for table of operating frequencies, and + a new set of default frequencies specific to the three IARU + Regions. + +6. Improved CAT control for many rigs, including those controlled + through Commander or OmniRig. + +7. New keyboard shortcuts to set "Tx even/1st" ON or OFF. + +8. A number of (mostly minor) bug fixes and tweaks to the user + interface. For example: new behavior for the audio level slider; + correctly logged QSO start times in certain situations; correct + control of FT-891/991 and some other radios via rigctld. + +At the time of the v1.8.0-rc1 release the following tasks are yet to +be completed: + +1. Updates to WSJT-X User Guide. +2. Sample files for FT8. +3. Enhanced decoding using AP ("a priori") information. +4. Signal subtraction and multi-pass decoding. +5. Option to Auto-respond to the weakest responder to your CQ. + + +Installation packages for Windows, Linux, OS X, and Raspbian can be +downloaded from the WSJT web site: +http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx.html + +Please send bug reports to either wsjtgroup@yahoogroups.com or +wsjt-devel@lists.sourceforge.net. Such reports should include a full +prescription of steps to reproduce the undesired behavior. You must +be a subscriber to post to either of these lists. + + + Brief Description of the FT8 Protocol + ------------------------------------- + +WSJT-X Version 1.8.0 includes a new mode called FT8, developed by K9AN +and K1JT. The mode name "FT8" stands for "Franke and Taylor, 8-FSK +modulation". FT8 uses 15-second T/R sequences and provides 50% or +better decoding probability down to -20 dB on an AWGN channel. An +auto-sequencing facility includes an option to respond automatically +to the first decoded reply to your CQ. FT8 QSOs are 4 times faster +than those made with JT65 or JT9. FT8 is an excellent mode for HF +DXing and for situations like multi-hop E_s on 6 meters, where deep +QSB may make fast and reliable completion of QSOs desirable. + +Some important characteristics of FT8: + + - T/R sequence length: 15 s + - Message length: 75 bits + 12-bit CRC + - FEC code: LDPC(174,87) + - Modulation: 8-FSK, tone spacing 6.25 Hz + - Constant-envelope waveform + - Occupied bandwidth: 50 Hz + - Synchronization: 7x7 Costas arrays at start, middle, and end + - Transmission duration: 79*1920/12000 = 12.64 s + - Decoding threshold: -20 dB; several dB lower with AP decoding + - Multi-decoder finds and decodes all FT8 signals in passband + - Optional auto-sequencing and auto-reply to a CQ response + - Operational behavior similar to JT9, JT65 + +We plan to implement signal subtraction, two-pass decoding, and use of +a priori (AP) information in the decoder. These features are not yet +activated in v1.8.0. + +We haven't yet finalized what the three extra bits in the message +payload will be used for. Suggestions are welcome! + + -- Joe, K1JT, for the WSJT Development Team +