-----Original Message----- From: Moon-net-bounces@list-serv.davidv.net [mailto:Moon-net-bounces@list-serv.davidv.net] On Behalf Of Joe Taylor Sent: Monday, June 27, 2005 4:15 PM To: Giorgio Marchi Cc: Moon-net Subject: Re: [Moon-net] WSJT developments Dear Giorgio, Many thanks for posting news about future plans for the Italian EME contest, and for your excellent suggestions for possible enhancements to WSJT. > Hello Joe, a brief explanation of the sense of this message. > After the widespread diffusion and acceptance of your incredible weak-signal decoding system,in our recent Italian EME meeting we discussed the future of our CW-only contest. In the end it was decided to dedicate to digital modes a specific contest, digital-modes-only, which will probably be held on 11-12 March 2006, while mantaining our classical-modes-only contest which we usually have in the fall. It was felt that it was unfair to compare qsos made with analog and digital systems, expecially because at present true random is extremely difficult to achieve with digital modes. > I think this difficulty is partly a mind-set on the part of EME operators. Of course it is harder to find an inaudible signal calling CQ than an audible one; but a good real-time waterfall display (e.g., Spectran) can reveal the presence of just about any JT65 signal that WSJT can decode. We must train ourselves to take best advantage of this capability. > Since you are considering a major upgrade to JT65, this could be the right moment to introduce some mods which could help in contests. Specifically, present monitor mode starts decoding AFTER the minute has passed, making it difficult to follow a qso and step in at the right moment. Since the transmission ends around the 50th second, in qso mode the decode starts immediately, i.e. before the end of the minute, and with a fast cpu it is possible to see the decode and click on the call before the minute ends. It would be very useful to be able to monitor the band in "monitor mode" (with the visual help of a waterfall display), obtain useful decodes BEFORE the minute ends, and go to "qso mode" with the minimum number of actions. I completely agree that program enhancements designed to facilitate and encourage random EME operation should be assigned a high priority. Alterations to the Monitor mode, very similar to what you suggest, are near the top of my "To Do" list. > An example: > WSJT is in "monitor" mode, you tune in 1 kHz steps pausing 15 seconds on each new frequency, on the waterfall you see the unmistakable square wave of a 73. You dont know who is calling, so you wait. In the next minute you see the square wave of the correspondent's 73, then in the next minute the trace shows a more complex signal, so it is probably a cq, with a fast cpu at second 55 you decode the call (presently you would obtain this at second 8 of the next minute). > Ideally, clicking on the call should: > a- shift from monitor to qso mode > b- recognize who is txing first > c- send calls and OOOs immediately This is almost exactly what I have planned, except that under (c) I would transmit calls but not OOOs. (Surely, when responding to a CQ, and not having copied both calls, one should not yet send a report.) > Present contest tecnique for big stations is to keep calling cq and simultaneosly self-spot on the internet, smaller stations get very few answers with this technique so they tune around keeping an eye on the internet screen. Not being able to monitor the frequency, very often they start calling when a qso is already in progress. Additionally, nobody searches on the band, everybody tunes the frequencies advertized on internet. Whilst this is the most logical way to operate on a weekend, many feel that contests should be centered on random type operation. I fully agree. The more random, the better. I would think that announcing a "probable CQ frequency" in advance of the contest, as is done by many CW stations, would be OK; but self-spotting *during* the contest would be forbidden (or perhaps would make one "Assisted", if that is allowed by the rules). > I am enjoying operating EME with WSJT in the present version, but I feel the above would be a big step towards wider acceptance and less criticism of digital modes. Many many thanks for the effort you are devoting to this facet of our hobby. > 73, Gio IK1UWL -- 73, Joe, K1JT _______________________________________________ Moon-Net posting and subscription instructions are at http://www.nlsa.com/nets/moon-net-help.html