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792 lines
30 KiB
Plaintext
792 lines
30 KiB
Plaintext
WSJT-X ChangeLog
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------------------------------------------------------------------
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May 30, 2013: Version 1.0, r3323
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--------------------------------
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With this release of WSJT-X Version 1.0 we include a few (relatively
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minor) enhancements in response to user requests, as well as some
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program polishing and cleanup. Active program development will
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continue, but new releases will become less frequent.
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1. New option on the Setup menu: "Tx freq locked to Rx freq".
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2. Double-click on a decoded "73" message now sets Tx5, rather than Tx6.
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3. New keyboard shortcuts: Alt+1 through Alt+6 set the next Tx message
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at the corresponding number.
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4. PTT control via Ham Radio Deluxe has been imnplemented and tested.
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5. "Tool Tips" are now provided for most on-screen controls.
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6. Under Linux and OS X, listings of available audio devices and APIs
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have been corrected.
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7. Tab order among GUI controls has been cleaned up.
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8. Updates to the WSJT-X User's Guide.
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May 22, 2013: v0.99, r3297
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--------------------------
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1. CAT control via Ham Radio Deluxe is now available. For setup
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details see item #5 at the top of page 6 of the updated WSJT-X
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User's Guide.
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2. Submodes JT9-5, JT8-10, JT9-30 have been de-activated. (As far as I
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know, nobody was using them.) This action makes the program smaller
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by some 150 MB and able to run effectively on some older computers.
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3. Bizarre ordering of COM port numbers on the drop-down list has been
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corrected, and suitable serial ports added to the list displayed in
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Linux.
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4. Gray bar between decoding periods now contains a dashed line.
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5. Corrected a bug that prevented use of Setup | Configuration with
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no existing wsjtx.ini file.
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May 17, 2013: v0.95, r3278
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--------------------------
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1. Double-clicking on a decoded text line in "Band Activity" window
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now copies the line into the "QSO Frequency" window if it was not
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already there.
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2. Option "Color highlighting in left window" removed from Setup
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menu. Highlighting is now always done.
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3. Positions of "QSO Frequency" and "Band Activity" windows have been
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swapped.
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4. F4 was restored to its previous use; F5 is now used to display
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Special Mouse Commands
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5. Small square between Band selector and Frequency readout was made
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a control button. Orange indicates one-way CAT control from
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program to radio, red indicates bi-directional control. Clicking
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the orange button causes a one-time readout of dial frequency.
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6. If Save=None, the last recorded file is deleted on program exit.
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This prevents unwanted accumulation of files in the Save
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directory.
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7. Status-bar messages were re-arranged in a more logical order.
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8. Tx signal report was added to wsjtx_status.txt (for JT-Alert)
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9. More informative labels were placed on the "Tab 2" GUI controls.
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10. Better default scaling for the "Cumulative" spectrum.
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11. New algorithm for identifying JT9 signals to send to decoder,
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resulting major improvements in decoder speed.
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12. Bug fixes:
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- Incorrect displayed frequencies for JT9-2 signals
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- Infinitely repeated "Error rigOpen -1" messages
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- User tries to open CAT control using busy or nonexistent serial port
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13. Many updates to the User's Guide
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May 2, 2013: v0.95, r3251
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-------------------------
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1. The "band change" function is executed whenever the Band combobox
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is activated, even if the selected band has not changed.
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2. The program does not set rig mode. That task is left to the user.
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3. Time interval for polling rig frequency is now a user parameter on
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the setup screen. I set mine to 1 second, which works fine with
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the Kenwood TS-2000. Set it to 0 if you want no polling for
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frequency (which means unidirectional CAT control from program to
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radio). Choose something like 10 s for the K3.
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4. Much new work on the WSJT-X User's Guide, which is approaching its
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final form for Version 1.0. Please read it and tell us about
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anything you find unclear or missing!
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These changes address nearly all of the CAT issues found by a few
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users -- those with K3, IC-746, IC-706, in particular.
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One additional piece of advice when running WSJT-X in Windows: connect
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and turn on the radio and any interface equipment before starting
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WSJT-X, and exit the program before turning such equipment off.
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April 29, 2013: v0.95, r3243
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----------------------------
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1. Now has bi-directionsl CAT control using direct calls to hamlib
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functions. Highlights displayed dial frequency with red background
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if frequency differs from nominal for the selected band by more
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than 100 kHz. (Is there a more useful or logical condition to
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flag?) Small red square between Band selector and Dial Frequency
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display to indicate that CAT control is active. Mode is set to USB
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on startup. (Note: CAT control diagnostics are presently rather
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rudimentary, we're still working on this. Feedback is welcome!)
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2. New controls on Setup | Configuration screen:
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- RTS/DTR OFF -- needed by K2 and maybe other radios
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- Data / Mic -- select CAT-control PTT type
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- Test CAT Control -- try settings before returning to main screen
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- Test PTT -- try settings for toggling PTT On/Off
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3. Help menu now provides displays of Keyboard Shortcuts (quick access
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via F3) and Special Mouse Commands (F4).
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4. Option "Setup | Advanced | Allow multiple instances" enables the
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use of more than one instance of WSJT-X for special applications.
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(The program must be copied into and run from different
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directories.)
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5. No posts to PSK Reporter if band was changed during the reception
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period.
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6. Improved behavior of Tune button.
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7. Improved inter-process communication between WSJT-X and JT-Alert-X.
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8. Better interaction between "Report" spinner control and Tx messages.
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9. Removed the NB checkbox and slider. (Has anyone found these useful?)
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10. New buttons on main window: "Tx=Rx" sets Tx frequency to current
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Rx frequency; "Rx=Tx" does the opposite.
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11. Log QSO confirmation window is now "non-modal": you can keep it
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open and still access controls on the main window.
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12. Tab-order has been rationalized on most screens.
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13. Dial frequency and mode written to file ALL.TXT.
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14. Double-click on decoded line sets Tx message #3 if message has
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the form "MyCall Call2 rpt".
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15. Bug causing occasional, seemingly unpredictable program crashes
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has been fixed.
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16. The WSJT-X User's Guide is somewhat closer to being complete. User
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feedback on the Guide will be most welcome. What is unclear? What
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is missing?
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April 17, 2013: v0.9, r3195
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---------------------------
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1. Sorry, the CAT control changes in r3187/3188 were a dismal failure
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in many stations, and they introduced other bugs as well. This revision
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goes back to uni-directional CAT control: the program can set the
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radio's dial frequency and do T/R switching, but that's all. The band
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setting is not reset on program startup.
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2. Logic for the Tune button has been corrected.
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3. For Linux compile-it-yourself enthusiasts: the interface to
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PSK Reporter is now working undel Linux.
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April 16, 2013: v0.9, r3188
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---------------------------
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1. CAT control now reads and follows changes in radio's dial
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frequency. Readout gets red highlighting if radio is on wrong band.
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On program restart, band is reset to the last selected band.
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2. New "Tune" button generates an unmodulated carrier. Toggle button
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a second time to turn Tx off.
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3. Added labels at top of "Tab 2" and enlarged the text entry fields.
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4. Fixed the broken logic for "Runaway Tx watchdog".
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5. Fixed "Prompt me to log QSO" so that it no longer requires also
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setting "ID after 73".
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6. Additional changes of (eventual) interest to Linux users. Code for
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sending spots to PSK Reporter now in place.
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April 13, 2013: v0.9, r3166
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---------------------------
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1. Option to send Tx messages (highlighted in yellow) to the QSO window.
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2. Prevent starting a transmission more than 24 sec into a Tx period.
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3. "Setup | Options" changed to "Setup | Configuration".
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4. Type Alt-V to save the most recently completed Rx file.
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5. Fixed bug that truncated Rx messages to 16 characters.
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6. Internal program changes that should provide better user diagnostics
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when necessary at program startup.
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April 11, 2013: v0.9, r3157
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---------------------------
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1. Maximum size of several window areas increased to accommodate system
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fonts set larger than default.
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2. New behavior of Erase button: click once to erase the left (QSO) window,
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twice to erase both decoded text windows.
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3. Keyboard shortcuts:
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Alt-D: decode again at QSO frequency (same as clicking the Decode() button)
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Shift-D: do another full decode in both windows
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Alt-E: Erase()
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Ctrl-F: Edit the free text message box
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Alt-H: Halt Tx()
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Alt M: Monitor()
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Alt-N: Enable Tx()
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Alt-Q: Log QSO()
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Alt-S: Stop()
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4. New Setup options: "Tx disabled after sending 73" and "Runaway Tx
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watchdog".
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5. Fixed bug in saving the "report received" for logging purposes.
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6. Corrected the logic for "Runaway Tx watchdog".
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7. Fixed bug that truncated characters 17 and 18 of decoded messages.
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April 10, 2013: v0.9, r3151
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---------------------------
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1. Blank line between decoding periods is now in the right-hand
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text window, where it should be.
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2. Decoding range defined by fMin and fMax is now enforced.
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April 9, 2013: v0.9, r3143
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--------------------------
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This minor release restores the decoding speed of earlier revisions
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and corrects a bug that prevented sending CW ID.
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April 9, 2013: v0.9, r3142
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--------------------------
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This version of WSJT-X has a number of significant changes. Please
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read the following notes carefully. Also -- even if you are already
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familiar with WSJT-X -- be sure to read the updated WSJT-X User's
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Guide at
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http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/WSJT-X_Users_Guide.pdf ,
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especially pages 3 and 4.
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Changes since v0.8 r3118 include the following:
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1. There are now two scrolling windows for decoded text. The left
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window contains decodes only from close to the designated QSO
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frequency. The right window includes signals over the full decoding
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range.
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2. An alternative set of controls is now available for generating and
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selecting Tx messages. Some may find these more convenient to use
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than the Tx1 through Tx6 message boxes.
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3. A number of new user options are available on the Setup menu:
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- Blank line between decoding periods (right window only)
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- Clear DX Call and DX Grid after logging QSO
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- Display distances in miles
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- Runaway Tx watchdog
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- Background colors for left window
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- Double-click on decoded message sets Tx Enable
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4. New or changed on-screen features
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- "Tol" replaced by fMin and fMax on waterfall screen (see User's Guide)
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- Spinner control for signal report
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- On waterfall scale: green marker for Rx freq, red for Tx. blue
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for decoding range
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5. New behavior
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- "CQ DX" is now treated properly when decoded line is double-clicked
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- Message formate for compound callsigns (e.g., PJ4/K1ABC, G4XYZ/P)
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are now handled correctly. (Some restrictions apply, and will
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be spelled out in the completed User's Guide.)
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- Decode button now causes a decode only at the specified Rx frequency.
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- Click on waterfall spectrum sets Rx freq; double-click also invokes
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decoder (as though Decode button had been clicked). CTRL-click moves
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both Rx and Tx freqs.
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- Amplitude at end of transmission is ramped down to prevent a final
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key click.
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6. The following bugs have been fixed:
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- Logic error in decoder
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- Certain non-standard Tx messages could cause a program crash.
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- Certain (rarely used) messages did not pack/unpack correctly
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April 2, 2013: v0.8, r3118
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--------------------------
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1. Improved interface to program JT-Alert, by VK3AMA.
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2. The LogQSO confirmation dialog no longer blocks the GUI updating
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process.
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3. A blank line with gray background separates the decoded text lines for
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each new invocation of the decoder.
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4. New suggested default frequencies: 5.357, 18.104, and 24.918 MHz.
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Be sure to edit these entries on the 'Default Frequencies' tab of the
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Setup screen. (When you have done this once, the new values will be
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remembered.)
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5. The LogQSO button now does nothing is the 'DX call' entry field is
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blank.
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6. Several minor bugs were fixed.
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March 27, 2013: v0.8, r3113
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---------------------------
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1. Bug fix: VOX control of T/R switching now works.
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2. Potentially useful error messages now appear when CAT control
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has failed.
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3. Added an instruction on the Log QSO confirmation screen.
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4. Clear the DXcall and DXgrid entries after logging a QSO.
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March 26, 2013: v0.8, r3112
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---------------------------
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Edson Pereira, PY2SDR, recently became an active contributor to this
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open-source project. Edson and I have been very busy over the past
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few days! WSJT-X revision 3112 has many changes and new features.
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1. The GUI layout has been adjusted and optimized.
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2. CAT control is now operational, offering optional control of your
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radio's dial frequency and T/R status. Go to the Setup | Options
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window to select the necessary parameters.
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3. CW ID has been implemented. You can have your ID sent after a fixed
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time interval, or automatically when you transmit a "73" or free
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text message.
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4. Default dial frequencies are available for each band on a new tab
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on the Setup | Options window. Please note: some of these
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frequencies are probably wrong! You can edit them as needed.
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(Please let us know if the original values are inconsistent with
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actual practice on any band.)
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5. Several new options appear on the Setup menu. Try them!
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6. Azimuth and Distance information is displayed whenever a valid grid
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locator appears in the "Dx Grid" box.
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7. The decoder has again been adjusted for better compromise between
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sensitivity and decoding time.
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8. The User's Guide is out of date, and needs work. We hope to get to
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that task soon.
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9. Very important for some would-be users: WSJT-X now runs properly
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under Linux. We haven't made a package yet, so for now you must
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compile your own. If you don't know how, we hope to be set up
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to make packages before too long.
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10. If you know someone who might be interested in contributing to the
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development of WSJT-X and related projects, please send him/her
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our way! We're especially looking for someone interested in
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producing packaged Linux distributions -- for example, *.deb or
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*.rpm packages, but other programming help is also wanted.
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As always: please report bugs, and don't be bashful about sending us
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your feature requests!
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March 22, 2013: v0.7, r3071
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---------------------------
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1. Correct a bug that (still) allowed display of previous decodes
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when nothing new was decoded.
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2. Add a user confirmation screen activated when you click Log QSO.
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This lets you edit or add information before it is written to the
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ADIF file.
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3. Tx message macros and now available. Configure them on the Setup
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window. They are invoked as a pop-up menu by right-clicking on the
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Tx5 message window; then select the desired message by left-clicking
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on the desired message.
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March 20, 2013: v0.7, r3063
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1. Add Frequency to the generated ADIF records.
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2. Correct a decoder bug that led to duplication of previous output
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when nothing new was decoded.
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March 19, 2013: v0.7, r3061
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---------------------------
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1. Allow Windows COM port numbers up to 99.
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2. Replace status files wsjtx_qrg.txt and wsjtx_txcall.txt with
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a single file, wsjtx_status.txt.
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3. Combine wsjtx_rx.log and wsjtx_tx.log into a single file ALL.TXT.
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4. "Log QSO" now writes a file in ADIF format.
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5. Starting to implement popup macros for Tx message #5.
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6. Big improvement in decoding speed.
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*** More changes to come! Please report any problems, especially
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*** with the ADIF-format log.
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March 12, 2013: v0.6, r3046
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---------------------------
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1. Decoded calls can now be uploaded to the PSK Reporter web site.
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Check the box "Enable PSK Reporter" on the Setup screen, and go to
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http://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html to see the spots. Be sure to
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enter your "Dial Frequency (MHz)" at lower right of the Wide Graph
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window. (Rig control features are yet to come...)
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2. Added some interfaces to permit use with the program JT-Alert,
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by VK3AMA. Look for this capability in the near future.
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March 6, 2013: v0.5, r3038
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--------------------------
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1. Selection of Current/Cumulative/JT9Sync for the 2d spectral display
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changed to a combobox.
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2. Double-click on decoded text does not change frequency settings
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if first decoded call is MyCall.
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March 1, 2013: v0.5, r3026
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--------------------------
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1. The horizontal scale of 2d spectra (e.g., the "red curve") is now
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correct when the user has selected FFT Bins/Pixel > 1.
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2. Double-clicking on a decoded text line now selects the second
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callsign independent of exactly where one has clicked on the line.
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In addition, it sets the selected frequencies (both Tx and Rx) to
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the frequency of the decoded transmission.
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December 11, 2012: v0.5, r2791
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------------------------------
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1. Messages of the form "CQ DX K1ABC" are now supported.
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November 30, 2012: v0.5, r2788
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------------------------------
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1. A bug was introduced when support for positive signal reports was
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added. It could cause a program crash when certain free-text messages
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were composed for transmission. The bug has been fixed.
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2. In the slower JT9 sub-modes, the UTC listed on decoded text lines
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has been changed to the start time of the Rx sequence, rather than the
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time of the final minute.
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3. The waterfall's "Auto Zero" button had no function, and has been
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removed.
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4. In previous revisions the installer put a number of DLLs into
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the Windows system directory, normally C:\Windows\System32. This
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revision installs the DLLs to the WSJT-X installation directory.
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November 29, 2012: v0.5, r2786
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------------------------------
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1. In r2783, the companion program jt9.exe (started automatically when
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you start WSJT-X) was a CPU hog for no good reason. This was an
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oversight on my part, and the bug has been corrected.
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2. The program should now run correctly if installed in a directory
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whose name contains embedded spaces. (Under Vista and Win7, however,
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it's still not a good idea to install WSJT-X into C:\Program Files,
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because of restricted write permissions there.)
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3. In r2783 and earlier, stopping a transmission by toggling to "Auto
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OFF" would terminate Tx audio and release PTT almost simultaneously,
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possibly hot-switching your T/R relay(s). This has been corrected so
|
|
that proper sequencing takes place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
November 28, 2012: v0.5, r2783
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
This revision has an unusually large number of changes relative to the
|
|
previous release, v0.4 r2746. These changes include:
|
|
|
|
1. PTT control via COM ports COM10 and higher is enabled.
|
|
|
|
2. Improved decoder performance: higher speed as well as better
|
|
chances of success. Moderate amounts of frequency drift are detected
|
|
and compensated. Computed S/N values are more reliable. Time offsets
|
|
from -2.5 to +5 s are now supported, which makes JT9 usable for EME.
|
|
(EME tests on 144 MHz have been successful, and performance on that
|
|
propagation mode appears to be good.)
|
|
|
|
3. Tx Frequency now tracks the selected QSO Frequency (unless you hold
|
|
down the CTRL key when setting QSO Frequency via mouse-clicks or the
|
|
F11/F12 keys).
|
|
|
|
4. Decoded text containing "CQ " is highlighted with green background;
|
|
text including "MyCall" is highlighted in red.
|
|
|
|
5. In previous versions, signal reports were required to be in the
|
|
range -30 to -01 dB. In v0.5 r2782 the range has been extended to -50
|
|
to +49 dB. There is backward compatibility for the range -30 to -01,
|
|
but reports in the range -50 to -31 and 0 to +49 will NOT be decoded
|
|
correctly by previous program versions. It is important to upgrade!
|
|
|
|
6. Items "Save Synced" and "Save Decoded" are now implemented.
|
|
|
|
7. UTC Date, JT9 submode, and a parameter related to the decoding
|
|
procedure are now included in file wsjtx_rx.log.
|
|
|
|
8. Editing of Tx messages (in any of the six Tx message boxes) is
|
|
complete when you hit "Tab" or "Return". The message is then parsed
|
|
and converted to the form in which it will be displayed if decoding is
|
|
successful. Free-text messages are trimmed to 13 characters and
|
|
highlighted with a pink background.
|
|
|
|
9. The most recent transmitted message is displayed in the right-most
|
|
label on the status bar. This can be useful if you have lost track of
|
|
where you were in a QSO.
|
|
|
|
10. By default, the program now starts with Monitor ON. An option on
|
|
the Setup menu allows you to select "Monitor OFF at startup".
|
|
|
|
11. Better scaling is provided for the red "JT9 Sync" curve. Note
|
|
that JT9 signals in the active sub-mode should appear in this plot as
|
|
a bump of width equal to the total signal bandwidth, with a narrow and
|
|
slightly higher bump at the left edge. The narrow bump is the
|
|
frequency of the Sync tone, which is defined as the nominal frequency
|
|
of the JT9 signal.
|
|
|
|
12. Basic QSO information is now written to file wsjt.log when you
|
|
click the "Log QSO" button.
|
|
|
|
13. The WSJT-X User's Guide has been updated.
|
|
|
|
14. Other known bugs have been fixed. There will probably be new
|
|
ones! When you find one, or if you know of any old ones that have NOT
|
|
been fixed, please send me email.
|
|
|
|
Summary of Present Status
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
I believe that WSJT-X is now a stable and very usable program. Many
|
|
thousands of QSOs have been made with JT9-1, mostly at HF -- I have
|
|
made nearly 100, myself. Also a number of QSOs have also been
|
|
completed at MF, and successful tests have been made on 2m EME, etc.
|
|
A number of QSOs have also been made with JT9-2.
|
|
|
|
As far as I know the slower modes (JT9-5, JT9-10, and JT9-30) also
|
|
work correctly. (Certainly they do in my laboratory test setup.)
|
|
Most people will find these modes too slow for "everyday" use, and
|
|
they require high frequency stability. It remains to be seen whether
|
|
they will be widely used.
|
|
|
|
An alternative approach to obtaining improved sensitivity would be to
|
|
give the decoder an ability to average over several successive
|
|
transmissions. For example, the average of five JT9-1 transmissions
|
|
could reach a decoding threshold around -32 dB, only 2 dB worse than a
|
|
single JT9-5 transmission. Because of QSB, the shorter transmissions
|
|
may actually succeed in less total time. Stability requirements would
|
|
be those of JT9-1, much less stringent than those of JT9-5.
|
|
|
|
Program development is not finished, by any means. I will be grateful
|
|
for your feedback on performance issues, as well as your "wish-list"
|
|
of features to be added. As always, example recordings of files that
|
|
you think should have decoded, but did not, will be much appreciated.
|
|
|
|
November 16, 2012: v0.4, r2746
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Changes from v0.4 r2731 include the following:
|
|
|
|
1. Valid signal reports are now generated by double-clicking on a
|
|
callsign in the decoded text window.
|
|
|
|
2. Consecutive spaces in a Tx message are now collapsed into a single
|
|
space.
|
|
|
|
3. Decoding speed is much improved, especially when strong (possibly
|
|
non-JT9) signals are present and "Tol" is set to a relatively large
|
|
value.
|
|
|
|
4. Scaling of the "JT9 Sync" plot (red curve) is more reasonable.
|
|
|
|
5. Layout of widgets on the main window has been improved.
|
|
|
|
6. Several minor bug fixes.
|
|
|
|
November 14, 2012: v0.4, r2731
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
A number of known bugs have been fixed, and the JT9 decoder is
|
|
significantly improved. Among other improvements, the program is now
|
|
much less fussy about timing issues.
|
|
|
|
November 6, 2012: v0.3, r2717
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Changes from r2713 include the following:
|
|
|
|
1. A bug in the decoder that led to erratic behavior (failed decodes)
|
|
under certain conditions has been corrected. Decoding is now much
|
|
more reliable.
|
|
|
|
2. A valid algorithm is now used to calculate S/N values for received
|
|
JT9 signals.
|
|
|
|
3. The header format of recorded *.wav files has been corrected.
|
|
These files will now play correctly in Windows programs that expect
|
|
the standard header.
|
|
|
|
November 6, 2012: v0.2, r2713
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Changes from r2711 include the following:
|
|
|
|
1. Updates to the Quick-Start User's Guide,
|
|
http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/WSJT-X_Users_Guide.pdf
|
|
|
|
2. Double-click on waterfall now sets Tol to a reduced
|
|
(mode-dependent) value.
|
|
|
|
3. Tol is saved and restored on program restart.
|
|
|
|
4. A "digital gain" slider was added next to the green-bar audio level
|
|
indicator. With the slider at mid-range, the scale reads correctly in
|
|
dB above the least significant bit of 16-bit audio data.
|
|
|
|
5. There is now a test that rejects at least one type of data that is
|
|
sufficiently corrupt to cause Eddie's best friend, the message
|
|
"15P6715P67WCV".
|
|
|
|
6. Several minor tweaks to improve decoder performance.
|
|
|
|
7. The program now starts with Monitor OFF. You must click Monitor to
|
|
start accepting audio. For some types of testing, this may be an
|
|
advantage. This startup condition may be changed again, in the
|
|
future.
|
|
|
|
October 31, 2012: v0.2, r2711
|
|
-----------------------------
|
|
|
|
Three significant changes since r2706:
|
|
|
|
1. Three options are now provided on the "Decode" menu, controlling
|
|
the "depth" of the decoding process. For most purposes I suggest you
|
|
should use "Normal", but feel free to experiment with the others.
|
|
|
|
2. Decoding of multiple signals in one Rx interval has been improved.
|
|
|
|
3. Handling of strong signals has been improved.
|
|
|
|
October 309, 2012: v0.2, r2706
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Changes since r2702 include the following:
|
|
|
|
1. The problem with "ghost" signals is fixed.
|
|
|
|
2. A problem causing very long decode times under certain
|
|
circumstances has been fixed. Please note: decode times on any recent
|
|
PC should no more than a few seconds!
|
|
|
|
3. I have re-directed the program's fatal error messages so they will
|
|
be sent to the command-prompt window from which you started the
|
|
program. Please send me full reports on any such messages you observe,
|
|
preferably with details on how to reproduce the problem.
|
|
|
|
#########################################################################
|
|
|
|
Some additional information ...
|
|
|
|
1. Yes, the JT9 modes require good stability in all system
|
|
oscillators. The present JT9 bdecoder does not attempt to track
|
|
frequency drifts. Such capability will be added, however. We have
|
|
been using digital modes for EME for nearly ten years now, at 144 MHz
|
|
and higher. There are more than 1000 WSJT users on EME, using all
|
|
kinds of rige. We have learned how to deal with reasonable rates of
|
|
drift. Surely if we can do these things at VHF, we can do them much
|
|
more easily at MF and LF.
|
|
|
|
2. If you're sure that you have seen degraded JT9 performance because
|
|
of frequency stability issues, don't just complain on the LF
|
|
reflector. Document your case and send me an example file with a
|
|
drifting JT9 signal. Making WSJT-X and JT9 better is partly YOUR
|
|
responsibility!
|
|
|
|
3. In other ways as well, test files are needed. I can make many
|
|
tests myself, but I can't foresee all the problems others will have.
|
|
That's what the "Save All" function is for! In these early tests,
|
|
always run with "Save All" checked, just in case you will want to
|
|
refer back to something that happened. You may want to send me the
|
|
file in question. You can always clean out your "Save" directory by
|
|
using "File | Delete all *.wav files in SaveDir". I need good
|
|
examples of signals that fail to decode for any unknown reason. Also
|
|
some good examples of atmospheric or other impulsive noise, for
|
|
testing the noise blanker.
|
|
|
|
4. I have added a page of "Hints for New Users" to the online WSJT-X
|
|
User's Guide,
|
|
http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/WSJT-X_Users_Guide.pdf .
|
|
Please read it! ... and let me know if you find other operational
|
|
details of WSJT-X that need explanation. This will likely be
|
|
especially true for those not already familiar with older versions of
|
|
WSJT.
|
|
|
|
5. An operational suggestion: In many ways the different JT9 submodes
|
|
are treated as distinct modes. If you receive a JT9-x signal in a
|
|
different submode than the one you have selected, you won't decode
|
|
it. For this reason, if JT9 is to become popular we'll probably need
|
|
to choose one or two of the submodes for general use, and perhaps
|
|
assign a narrow slice of the band to each one. Note that "message
|
|
averaging" in the Rx software can make two or three JT9-2
|
|
transmissions as good as one JT9-5 transmission, with the advantage
|
|
that you will copy sooner if signals are better than required for
|
|
JT9-5. Message averaging is not yet present in the JT9 decoder... but
|
|
in future it can be. Again, we have dealt with such issues very
|
|
effectively on EME -- and can do so at MF/LF, for sure.
|
|
|
|
6. On the topic of CW, Beacons, WSPR, JT9, etc. I really don't
|
|
understand what all the fuss is about. Surely there is room for
|
|
everybody? Maybe I'm just too new here to understand? (Mal, is this
|
|
mostly just a matter of "Mal being Mal"???)
|
|
|
|
On the HF bands, the WSPR sub-band is just 200 Hz wide. If we did the
|
|
same on 630 m, the WSPR sub-band would take up less than 3% of the 7
|
|
kHz band. If that's too much, we could cut it in half, or even less,
|
|
and still have enough WSPR space. Moreover, a "slow WSPR", if
|
|
warranted, would require even less bandwidth. Similar comments apply
|
|
to JT9. The bandwidth of JT9 signals is significantly less than that
|
|
of CW, for comparable information rates. There should be enough
|
|
spectrum for both, even in our narrow MF and LF bands.
|
|
|
|
7. As for performance comparisons between JT9 and WSPR: WSPR is a
|
|
mature program, and its decoder has been optimized and tweaked over a
|
|
period approaching five years. You are playing with JT9 in infancy.
|
|
With help (as opposed to simple complaints) from users, it will
|
|
improve rapidly.
|
|
|
|
October 29, 2012: v0.2, r2702
|
|
-----------------------------
|
|
Changes since version 0.1, r2696 include the following:
|
|
|
|
1. Sample rate for audio output has been changed from 12000 to 48000
|
|
Hz. Tx audio may now be generated at any frequency from 500 to 20000
|
|
Hz.
|
|
|
|
2. The Decoder now tries to decode all synchronizable signals in the
|
|
"green zone", that is, within "Tol" Hz of the selected QSO
|
|
frequency. (Before, by default it decoded only the signal producing
|
|
the highest "sync" value. Other signals could be decoded by manually
|
|
setting the QSO frequency and reducing Tol as needed.)
|
|
|
|
3. The user's selected QSO Frequency is now saved and restored on
|
|
program restart.
|
|
|
|
4. The problem with re-initialization after changing sub-modes has
|
|
been fixed.
|
|
|
|
5. The problem (for some users) of not releasing PTT after end of a
|
|
transmission has been fixed.
|
|
|
|
6. The program now writes a log of all decodes to a file wsjtx_rx.log
|
|
in the wsjtx directory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
October 25, 2012: v0.1, r2695
|
|
-----------------------------
|
|
Initial version of WSJT-X (experimental WSJT) released for testing.
|