06/02/2019

The WSJT-X Development Group has announced that a new beta version of the FT4 protocol now is available for testing in WSJT-X 2.1.0-rc6. The FT4 included in this "release candidate 6" version is not compatible with any previous release.

"Therefore, please stop using WSJT-X 2.1.0-rc5," the announcement said. "If you wish to use FT4 after today (June 2) or to take advantage of other recent program corrections or enhancements, you should use WSJT-X 2.1.0-rc6."

A short mock contest session to wring out the contesting features of FT4 is scheduled for June 4, 1900 UTC, through June 5, 0100 UTC.

"Get on the air whenever you can during this mock contest session, using dial frequency 7.090 or 14.080 MHz, as appropriate to the time of day," the announcement advised. "As in previous tests, be sure to check "RTTY Roundup messages" on the Settings | Advanced tab."

Changes, improvements, and bug fixes that have been made since WSJT-X 2.1.0-rc5 include:


o T/R sequence length increased from 6.0 to 7.5 seconds


o Symbol rate decreased from 23.4375 to 20.8333 baud


o Signal bandwidth decreased from 90 Hz to 80 Hz


o Allowable time offsets -1.0 < DT < +1.0 second


o TX 4 message with "RRR" now allowed, except in contest messages


o Audio frequency now sent to PSK Reporter


o Third decoding pass added


o Improved sensitivity: Threshold S/N is now -17.5 dB


o Improved S/N calculation


o In FT4 mode, Shift + F11/F12 moves transmit frequency plus or minus 100 Hz



Release candidate WSJT-X 2.1.0-rc6 will be available for beta-testing through July 21, 2019. It will be unusable during the ARRL June VHF Contest or during ARRL Field Day, and it will permanently cease to function after July 21, 2019. "If all goes according to plan, by that time we will have made a General Availability release of WSJT-X 2.1.0," the announcement said.

Downloadable installation packages[1] for WSJT-X 2.1.0-rc6 under Windows, Linux, and macOS are available on the WSJT-X web page:


[1] http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

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