Just for clarity, this is V 2.0 of WSJT-X Bill is referring to…..not WSJT (WSJT is currently at version 10.0)

WSJT-X is the program that contains the MSK144 and FT8 capabilities Bill is referencing. Some on the reflector may not understand the difference.

Ron

WW8RR

From: Fourlanders [mailto:fourlanders-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bill Pence
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2018 11:31 AM
To: Fourlanders
Subject: [Fourlanders] Wsjt 2.0 testing

All,

John W4SQC and I completed some wsjt 2.0 testing yesterday.

We set the new message formats and some contest modes, specifically the vhf contest modes and field day exchange.

*AND*

we tested the very important contest versus non contest mode operation that broke the current version of wsjt.

we found that calling a contest station from non contest mode had a perfectly sequenced qso as well as a CQ in contest mode working a non-contest mode responder worked perfectly as well.

As most of you know this has been a problem for previous contests when a station was inadvertently not in contest mode.  this would cause delays in completing a contact or even  not completing a contact at all.  

so the good news here is that stations in contest mode are able to work stations that are not in contest mode seamlessly.  The wrong grid indications as well as the failure to sequence the QSO have been resolved.

Please be aware that for the January contest it will be very important for people to be on wsjt  2.0. as the new software will be doing 77 bit payloads for ft 8 and the msk144 protocol is  different and not backwards compatible.

The wsjt 2.0 General release should be available around the middle of December.  the current release date is planned to be December 10th 2018.

I would encourage you to get the current release candidate then do some experimenting with the new message formats.

Regard,

Bill Pence

KI4US