mirror of
https://github.com/saitohirga/WSJT-X.git
synced 2024-11-22 04:11:16 -05:00
264 lines
12 KiB
Plaintext
264 lines
12 KiB
Plaintext
New Features in WSJT-X 2.0
|
|
September 17, 2018
|
|
--------------------------
|
|
|
|
This document is an update to the white paper "Plans for WSJT-X
|
|
Version 2.0" that was publicly distributed on July 26, 2018. It
|
|
describes the most important enhancements in WSJT-X 2.0 relative to
|
|
version 1.9.1.
|
|
|
|
A majority of new program features involve the FT8 and MSK144
|
|
protocols. Both modes have been upgraded to use use 77-bit
|
|
information payloads rather than the 75 bits of the older FT8 protocol
|
|
or 72 bits of JT4, JT9, JT65, MSK144, and QRA64. Cyclic redundancy
|
|
checks (CRCs) that protect against false decodes have been increased
|
|
from 12 to 14 bits (FT8) and from 8 to 13 bits (MSK144). These
|
|
changes bring many benefits, including support of structured messages
|
|
optimized for the following special types of QSOs and exchanged
|
|
information:
|
|
|
|
1. NA VHF Contest operation with full and transparent support of grid
|
|
locators and "/R" (Rover) callsigns
|
|
|
|
2. EU VHF Contest operation with the exchange of 6-digit locators, QSO
|
|
serial numbers, and "/P" (portable) callsigns
|
|
|
|
3. ARRL Field Day operation with standard Field Day exchanges such as
|
|
"6A SNJ"
|
|
|
|
4. ARRL RTTY Roundup operation with standard contest exchanges such as
|
|
"579 NJ" or "559 0071"
|
|
|
|
5. Compound and nonstandard callsigns (up tp 11 characters); no need
|
|
for distinctions about "Type 1" or "Type 2" prefixes/suffixes
|
|
|
|
6. A special "telemetry" message format for exchange of arbitrary
|
|
information up to 71 bits
|
|
|
|
7. All features of FT8 DXpedition mode, as in WSJT-X v1.9.1
|
|
|
|
Conveying more information in the same bandwidth, using the same
|
|
modulation scheme, necessarily means a higher code rate and less
|
|
energy per information bit. Nevertheless, the decoding threshold S/N
|
|
for the new FT8 is slightly lower than for the old version, because of
|
|
improvements in the decoding algorithm. Decoding threshold for MSK144
|
|
is a fraction of a dB higher than before. Symbol rates and occupied
|
|
bandwidths for both modes are the same as before, and false-decode
|
|
rates are significantly lower.
|
|
|
|
OTHER PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS: WSJT-X 2.0 has several other new features
|
|
and capabilities. The WSPR decoder has significantly better
|
|
sensitivity, by about 1 dB. Color highlighting of decoded messages
|
|
provides worked-before status for callsigns, grid locators, and DXCC
|
|
entities on a "by band" basis. Color highlighting can also identify
|
|
stations that have (or have not) uploaded their logs to "Logbook of
|
|
the World" (LoTW) within the past year. (Recent information from LoTW
|
|
for this purpose can be downloaded from the ARRL web site.)
|
|
|
|
WSJT-X 2.0 introduces no significant changes to any of the modes JT4,
|
|
JT9, JT65, QRA64, ISCAT, Echo, or FreqCal.
|
|
|
|
IMPORTANT: For the convenience of beta-testers, the first and second
|
|
release candidates -- releases with "-rc1" or "-rc2" in their names --
|
|
will have Rx and Tx capability for both the new FT8 protocol and the
|
|
older one. Starting with the third release candidate ("-rc3"), and in
|
|
the general-availability full release of WSJT-X 2.0, only the new
|
|
protocol will be supported. In contrast, the new MSK144 protocol
|
|
replaces the old one from the outset, without backward compatibility.
|
|
To minimize on-the-air confusion, it's important that users be aware
|
|
of these distinctions and the schedule for release of WSJT-X 2.0, as
|
|
detailed below.
|
|
|
|
MESSAGE FORMATS: The following table shows examples of message formats
|
|
supported by the new FT8 and MSK144 protocols. Parameters i3 and n3
|
|
(shown in the first column) are used in the software to define major
|
|
and minor 77-bit message types.
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
i3.n3 Example Messages Comments
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
0.0 TNX BOB 73 GL Free text
|
|
0.1 K1ABC RR73; W9XYZ <KH1/KH7Z> -08 DXpedition Mode
|
|
0.2 PA9XYZ 590003 IO91NP EU VHF Contest
|
|
0.2 G4ABC/P R 570007 JO22DB EU VHF Contest
|
|
0.3 K1ABC W9XYZ 6A WI ARRL Field Day
|
|
0.3 W9XYZ K1ABC R 2B EMA ARRL Field Day
|
|
0.5 123456789ABCDEF012 Telemetry (71 bits, 18 hex digits)
|
|
1. CQ FD K1ABC FN42 ARRL Field Day
|
|
1. CQ RU K1ABC FN42 ARRL RTTY Roundup
|
|
1. CQ K1ABC FN42
|
|
1. CQ TEST K1ABC FN42 NA VHF Contest
|
|
1. CQ TEST K1ABC/R FN42 NA VHF Contest
|
|
1. K1ABC W9XYZ EN37
|
|
1. K1ABC W9XYZ -09
|
|
1. K1ABC W9XYZ R-17
|
|
1. K1ABC W9XYZ RRR
|
|
1. K1ABC W9XYZ 73
|
|
1. K1ABC W9XYZ RR73
|
|
1. K1ABC/R W9XYZ EN37 NA VHF Contest
|
|
1. K1ABC W9XYZ/R RR73 NA VHF Contest
|
|
1. K1ABC/R W9XYZ/R RR73 NA VHF Contest
|
|
1. <PJ4/K1ABC> W9XYZ Compound call
|
|
1. W9XYZ <PJ4/K1ABC> 73 Compound call
|
|
1. W9XYZ <YW18FIFA> -13 Nonstandard call
|
|
1. <YW18FIFA> W9XYZ R+02 Nonstandard call
|
|
1. W9XYZ <YW18FIFA> RRR Nonstandard call
|
|
1. <YW18FIFA> W9XYZ RR73 Nonstandard call
|
|
2. CQ G4ABC/P IO91 EU VHF contest
|
|
2. G4ABC/P PA9XYZ JO22 EU VHF contest
|
|
2. PA9XYZ G4ABC/P RR73 EU VHF contest
|
|
3. K1ABC KA0DEF 559 MO ARRL RTTY Roundup
|
|
3. K1ABC W9XYZ 579 WI ARRL RTTY Roundup
|
|
3. KA1ABC G3AAA 529 0013 ARRL RTTY Roundup
|
|
3. TU; KA0DEF K1ABC R 569 MA ARRL RTTY Roundup
|
|
3. TU; K1ABC G3AAA R 559 0194 ARRL RTTY Roundup
|
|
3. W9XYZ K1ABC R 589 MA ARRL RTTY Roundup
|
|
4. CQ PJ4/K1ABC
|
|
4. CQ YW18FIFA Nonstandard call
|
|
4. <KA1ABC> YW18FIFA RR73 Nonstandard call
|
|
4. <W9XYZ> PJ4/K1ABC RRR Nonstandard call
|
|
4. <W9XYZ> YW18FIFA Nonstandard call
|
|
4. <W9XYZ> YW18FIFA 73 Nonstandard call
|
|
4. PJ4/K1ABC <W9XYZ> Nonstandard call
|
|
4. PJ4/K1ABC <W9XYZ> 73 Nonstandard call
|
|
4. YW18FIFA <W9XYZ> RRR Nonstandard call
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
In the above list, callsigns enclosed in angle brackets (e.g.,
|
|
<PJ4/K1ABC>, <YW18FIFA>) are transmitted as hash codes. They will be
|
|
displayed correctly by receiving stations that have copied the full
|
|
callsign without brackets in a previous transmissiion. Otherwise the
|
|
receiving software will display <...>. Hash collisions are possible
|
|
but should be rare, and extremely rare within a particular QSO.
|
|
|
|
Some minimal message sequences that take advantage of the new 77-bit
|
|
formats are illustrated below. Model QSOs 1 and 2 are the same as
|
|
those used by the old FT8 and MSK144 protocols, and QSO number 3 is
|
|
the same as the existing FT8 DXpedition Mode. Model QSOs 4 through 9
|
|
were not possible with the old protocols.
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
1. Standard QSO
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
CQ K1ABC FN42
|
|
K1ABC W9XYZ EN37
|
|
W9XYZ K1ABC -11
|
|
K1ABC W9XYZ R-09
|
|
W9XYZ K1ABC RRR
|
|
K1ABC W9XYZ 73
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
2. Short-cycle QSO
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
CQ K1ABC FN42
|
|
K1ABC W9XYZ -09
|
|
W9XYZ K1ABC R-11
|
|
K1ABC W9XYZ RR73
|
|
W9XYZ K1ABC 73
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
3. FT8 DXpedition Mode
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
CQ KH1/KH7Z
|
|
KH7Z K1ABC FN42
|
|
K1ABC KH7Z -12
|
|
KH7Z K1ABC R-14
|
|
KH7Z W9XYZ EN37
|
|
... possibly other callers ...
|
|
K1ABC RR73; W9XYZ <KH1/KH7Z> -08
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
4. ARRL Field Day
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
CQ FD K1ABC FN42
|
|
K1ABC W9XYZ 6A WI
|
|
W9XYZ K1ABC R 2B EMA
|
|
K1ABC W9XYZ RR73
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
5. ARRL VHF Contests
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
CQ TEST K1ABC/R FN42 "/R" is optional
|
|
K1ABC/R W9XYZ EN37 on either callsign
|
|
W9XYZ K1ABC/R R FN42
|
|
K1ABC/R W9XYZ RR73
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
6. ARRL RTTY Roundup
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
CQ TEST K1ABC FN42
|
|
K1ABC W9XYZ 579 WI
|
|
W9XYZ K1ABC R 589 MA
|
|
K1ABC KA0DEF 559 MO
|
|
TU; KA0DEF K1ABC R 569 MA
|
|
KA1ABC G3AAA 529 0013
|
|
TU; G3AAA K1ABC R 559 MA
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
7. EU VHF Contest
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
CQ TEST G4ABC/P IO91 "/P" is optional
|
|
G4ABC/P PA9XYZ JO22 on either callsign
|
|
PA9XYZ 590003 IO91NP
|
|
G4ABC/P R 570007 JO22DB
|
|
PA9XYZ G4ABC/P RR73
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
8. Compound or nonstandard callsign calling CQ
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
CQ PJ4/K1ABC
|
|
PJ4/K1ABC <W9XYZ>
|
|
W9XYZ <PJ4/K1ABC> -11
|
|
<PJ4/K1ABC> W9XYZ R-09
|
|
<W9XYZ> PJ4/K1ABC RRR
|
|
PJ4/K1ABC <W9XYZ> 73
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
9. Compound or nonstandard callsign answering CQ
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
CQ W9XYZ EN37
|
|
<W9XYZ> YW18FIFA
|
|
<YW18FIFA> W9XYZ -11
|
|
W9XYZ <YW18FIFA> R-09
|
|
YW18FIFA <W9XYZ> RRR
|
|
<W9XYZ> YW18FIFA 73
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
RELEASE SCHEDULE: Candidate releases of WSJT-X 2.0 will have built-in
|
|
expiration dates after which they cannot be used. Target dates for
|
|
planned releases are as follows:
|
|
|
|
September 17: -rc1 (expires Oct 31)
|
|
October 15: -rc2 (expires Nov 30)
|
|
November 12: -rc3 (expires Dec 31)
|
|
December 10: GA Full release of WSJT-X 2.0
|
|
|
|
WSJT-X 2.0-rc1 provides the first chance for beta testers to use the
|
|
new 77-bit messages. It supports the old (v1.9.1) FT8 protocol as
|
|
well as the new message types illustrated above. To avoid QRMing
|
|
legacy FT8 users with incompatible messages they can't decode, and to
|
|
help concentrate testing activity into a few sub-bands, we recommend
|
|
using the new FT8 capabilities on the 40- or 20-meter bands at dial
|
|
frequencies 7.078 or 14.078 MHz. These frequencies are offered as FT8
|
|
alternatives on the drop-down frequency-selection control on the main
|
|
window.
|
|
|
|
The new MSK144 is fully functional for QSOs between any two stations
|
|
using a WSJT-X v2.0 release. MSK144 is not backward compatible with
|
|
earlier program versions. Therefore during the testing period,
|
|
approximately Sept 17 through December 10, we recommend using the new
|
|
MSK144 capabilities on 50.380 MHz (IARU Region 1) or 50.280 (Regions 2
|
|
and 3). By specific arrangement, or as soon as most regular users
|
|
have upgraded to a v2.0 release, MSK144 activity can be moved back to
|
|
50.360 (Region 1) or 50.260 (Regions 2 and 3).
|
|
|
|
By design, our proposed release schedule will make WSJT-X 2.0 usable
|
|
for all relevant ARRL operating events and Eurpoean VHF contests after
|
|
January 1, 2019.
|
|
|
|
Dates of relevant upcoming ARRL contests
|
|
----------------------------------------
|
|
RTTY Roundup: January 5-6, 2019
|
|
VHF Sweepstakes: January 19-21, 2019
|