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New
Features in WSJT-X 2.0
September 17, 2018
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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
Enhancements to the FT8 decoder ensure that in most situations decoding
sensitivity is slightly better than for the old protocol. Symbol rates and
occupied bandwidths are the same as before, and false-decode rates are
significantly lower. The decoding threshold for MSK144 is a fraction of a
dB higher than before, owing to the slightly larger message payload and
higher code rate.
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.
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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
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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.
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1. Standard QSO
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CQ K1ABC FN42
K1ABC W9XYZ EN37
W9XYZ K1ABC -11
K1ABC W9XYZ R-09
W9XYZ K1ABC RRR
K1ABC W9XYZ 73
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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
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CQ FD K1ABC FN42
K1ABC W9XYZ 6A WI
W9XYZ K1ABC R 2B EMA
K1ABC W9XYZ RR73
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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
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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
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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
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RTTY Roundup: January 5-6, 2019
VHF Sweepstakes: January 19-21, 2019
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