Wsjt X Not Reading Radio via Signal Link
Since the original website disappeared, Leicester Radio Lodge decided to reproduce a copy here.
The Former Codger's Guide to JT65A and JT9 via WSJT-X Software
By Andy K3UK
(This article may be freely reproduced with credit to the author)
Version one.01 , a work in progress.
Introduction:
Later on a few hours of use, I feel the new WSJT-10 is very useful. When I wrote the Complete Bozo's Guide to JT65A years ago, I teased the WSJT author, Joe Taylor K1JT, for being so smart. There is an element of that same sentiment when because the WSJT-X software with the new "dual mode" capability. Bated from the intellect that goes in to the appearance of the software , the GUI is simple and constructive, at that place is also the brain ability that came up with the amazing "separate" transmission method that is the centerpiece of WSJT-Ten V1.ane . Despite Joe beingness a pretty smart bloke, I see he has a "team" of hams helping with the development of this project . This group of smart people have fabricated weak signal DXing via the JT65A and JT9 style much easier for us in the bozo classes. Our cheers should go to Joe K1JT plus AC6SL, AE4JY, G4KLA, PY2SDR and VK4BDJ.
What Is It ?
For those still in the dark ages, JT65A and JT9 are digital modes that have become quite popular inside the by few years. They are not "rag chew " modes where you have a 10-fifteen minute "chat" about your recent surgery , or the blue LED'south that you installed in your $5000 Icom. These are digital modes where you commutation your callsign, grid square, and signal study , and a brief "73", via a series of 46 second transmissions that your estimator decodes. The nature of these digital signals is such that fifty-fifty VERY weak signals are detected and decoded by your computer'due south sound card, thus most operators use these modes at power levels below 5 watts. Many utilise power levels below ane watt. Above 10 watts is frowned upon!
History:
It is ever interesting to see how our attitudes and abilities change as we age. When I wrote the Complete Bozo's Guide to JT65A, I made fun of the length of fourth dimension JT65A takes for a QSO to be completed. Those were the days of rapid-burn RTTY battling, where we worked 5 QSOs per minute , and did so without much effort. Nowadays, I like the fact that there is a 46 second transmission followed by a fourteen second period that allows my brain and my computer to reverberate on the meaning of life (information technology is 42) and to have a good recall about the callsign and bespeak report that is nigh to pop up on my machine. I can take a minute or and so between transmission cycles, log the QSO, wait the other station upwards on HamQTH or QRZ, double check I actually accept an antenna plugged in, and engage in a few 2nd of meditative mindfulness exercises designed to help me cope with the fact that my old brain screwed up once more and since I sent "73" rather than the expected signal level information. In nigh some other 10 years, we should be at the developmental level where our brain'due south are aided by a cognitive assistant in WSJT-XX V100.1 . When we press a "macro" out of sequence, WSJT WSJT-XX V100.ane will say " Excuse me Sir, are yous actually sure you lot want to do this? You are going to look really stupid sending 73 earlier you lot even send your bespeak report". That aforementioned 2023 version of WSJT=20 volition besides come with a sub-mode feature that instead of detecting weak signals, information technology will discover moisture levels in your shack. As your drool content exceeds the drool "squelch" level automatically set by WSJT=Twenty V100.i (this is based an your historic period and the outcome of a cerebral functioning examination that y'all complete in the configuration area) , a bib comes out and wipes your chin periodically.
I digress (something that sometime codger's do a lot). Anyway, the intention behind WSJT-X V i.ane (may be up to one.2 past the time yous read this) is to allow us to monitor 2 different digital modes at once. Every bit a younger ham, I would have idea "who needs special software to do that? " You tin always open up a JT65A application and and then a software packet that decodes JT9, have two applications running at the aforementioned time. Well, you could.. but WSJT-Ten at present makes dual mode monitoring much easier. In fact, it automates the whole process. Your old brain does not even need to know what mode you are decoding or what mode you need to exist transmitting with. Joe and his team of smart dudes have care of all that for us.
What Skills Do I Need ?
1. The ability to set your computer's clock accurately and keep it synchronized
2. The ability to connect your radio to a audio bill of fare for receive and transmit (receive only, if an SWL).
3. Be able to utilize a computer mouse or keyboard (fingers, anxiety , or olfactory organ will work just fine). I have non tried it with a bear upon screen.
Where do I go the software ?
Bold you recollect which folder you downloaded the software to, become to that folder and click on the WSJT-X file. The install volition go to a folder that you specify, . Once you have washed this, boot up the plan. Take a deep jiff, gear up to be amazed
Setting Up The Software:
Kicking up the software, and then click on SETUP , you volition observe this in the upper left-hand corner. Then click on CONFIGURATION. Identify your callsign in the appropriate box and also you Maidenhead grid square. You then take to practise perhaps the most tricky role, set up the software to exist controlled past your transceiver. That is of import for most digital manner software applications, but even more important for WSJT-X. That is considering the software performs some voodoo magic , and the rig control is the essential ingredient for the magic potion.
If you already have digital mode software like Fldigi, Winwarbler, DM780, Mixw, Digipan, RMS Limited, Airlink Limited, or Multipsk, WSJT-X will almost likely work if you lot use the same settings for rig command and PTT. Rig command allows WSJT-10 to know what frequency y'all are on , and PTT ("push-to-talk") enables your transceiver to switch between receive and transmit status . In the surface area marked RIG, select your model/make of radio from the list and fix baud charge per unit, comm port, and other parameters that vary from brand to brand of radio. IF you prefer (I exercise) , y'all can accept an application similar Commander (DX Lab Suite) or Ham Radio Palatial control your radio. WSJT-X interfaces well with Commander, my preferred rig control software.
You lot should as well pay attending to the "POLLING" interval. I thought this was a reference to whether I wanted the Gallup Company to call me asking if I all the same idea Rand Paul was crazy. I set it to cipher, I received no calls from Gallup, but rig control was non fully operable. And so some younger, smarter, hams told me that Polling was a reference to how oftentimes the software says "What'southward Up?" to the radio . The software needs to know "what'southward up" every now and once more, to know which frequency, way, your radio is using. "Polling" sounds technical, thus better than a little ready-up box that says "Yo radio, what's up?"?.
Make certain you tick the box ("check" to those that speak American) that says "ENABLE CAT". This is non a reference to your cat , Tiddles. This is the term used to imply your radio is controlled by the computer.
After you take put in the various specification for your radio and computer , you also need to tell WSJT-X which sound device yous are using for audio IN (from radio to computer) and audio OUT (from computer to radio, to antenna, to other end of the world).
That is about all you demand to do to prepare things upwardly. At that place are a few other bells and whistles , more often than not placed there to remind us old codgers that nosotros are increasingly technologically challenged. I'll explain the bells and whistles later in this article.
Play around with the PTT and Cat test buttons, If they fail, double check you settings, make sure your radio is ON. If they withal practice not piece of work, bring together the WSJT mail listing and ask for help. Many radios perform PTT functions via Cat. This is just to confuse me. Some radios practice not support PTT via CAT. Some operators likewise prefer to accept a split PTT function. If you are going to use True cat AND a divide PTT, you will need to specify Two serial ports in the WSJT-Ten software configuration surface area.
Hither is a quick video of me setting upwardly WSJT-Ten for my radio.(I had added no explanations because it seems self-explanatory. I may add more details when I update this article )
In the above video, I briefly display card of options that a user can decide to utilise, or non to use. You see this list when you click on Setup in WSJT-X . I have opted to enable:
- "Log dB comments to log". This places the signal study I receive from the other station in the log book department of WSJT-X
- "Prompt me to log QSO" . With this option enabled, when I send my 73 message, or my free text message, the log book pops up and reminds to log the QSO
- "Blank line between decoding menstruum". This inserts a blank line between decoding periods , makes it like shooting fish in a barrel for you to read.
- "Brandish distance in miles". Those us former codgers that take Nonetheless not gone metric! WSJT calculates distance between your grid foursquare and the other station'due south grid.
- "Double Click on calls sets TX enable" WSJT-X defaults to a state where y'all have thje press the Enable Tx button before a PTT places your rig in transmit. As an erstwhile codger, I e'er forget this step. Then ,just when a Due north Korean station is calling "CQ" , I call up I am near to piece of work him just to discover my rig does not go in to transmit and the North Korean DX is denied the pure privilege of working K3UK! If you set the "Double Click on calls sets TX enable" option, the double click on a call that is CQing save you the enable Tx step.
- "TX disabled after sending 73". You know us old folks are infamous for driving forth for miles with our left blinker ("indicator" to the Brits) on, right ? Well Joe K1JT thought about us when updating his software. Masny of u.s. have stopped working the station merely to "foget" that TX was still enabled and we accidentally send our 73 message again. Enable this pick prevents this.
- "Track TX Watchdog" . Am I the only one to decide to become to the kitchen in the middle of a QSO? Then , subsequently getting that soda , I forget I was even in a QSO and sit downwardly to watch TV in the living room. Meanwhile every minute my rig is transmitting "P5DX K3UK r -3" over and once more at one minute intervals! Turning this option on will prevent this.
I left the remain options unchecked.
Bolshevik Prevention Feature
There is one other useful option. To activate this you have to get inside the CONFIGURATION screen. (SETUP then CONFIGURATION) . See the tick/check box next to "ID after 73" ? This option sends your callsign in CW at the end of your QSO, the function where y'all have sent "73". You might recall this is a useful option, but but a "option". However, USA operators need to exist aware that that at least one Bolshevik "official observer" has sent written detect to JT65A operators who do not ID with their callsign at the end of a manual. This tin can happen if your concluding manual says "TU In-Five 3W", or something like that. Having the "ID after 73" box checked will save you a pinkish slip from the bolshie apparatchik.
OK, plenty of the meaningless chatter, how exercise we operate this matter ?
Previously, JT65A and JT9 operators were like folks living in apartheid Southward Africa. JT65A operators loaded their software and were bars to the common JT65A frequencies. Cruelly, just (perhaps deliberately), the JT9 operators transmitted just ii kHz away, languishing in the Townships close to the city. JT65A operators could hear and fifty-fifty see these JT9 folks, simply they had no manner of agreement what was beingness said. The JT65A operator could switch to JT9 software and finally operate ... but when they did this... they were taunted past the sounds of JT65A but a few Hz away. Joe Taylor and his team have become the Nelson Mandela of the JT-modes. Via WSJT-Ten you lot can now speak and decode JT65A and JT9 at the same time. Split up software is not needed. In fact there is not much of a brain that is needed. You don't even need to know which mode you are hearing or seeing, the software does the thinking for yous.
To receive BOTH modes at same time, you practise need to set the software. Click on Mode at the top of the WSJT screen and select JT65 and JT9.
To illustrate this to an onetime codger, pictures are ameliorate than words (information technology is like being a child again , when picture show books were easier than reading Chaucer)
In this screenshot there are both the "waterfall" that displays the signals, and the decoded content of the signals that pop-up after WSJT-X has had a skilful "think" near what it just heard. The decoded signals popular up on you screen around l seconds to 59 seconds of every minute. You lot will meet this in the video links likewise .
In the orangish ellipse on the waterfall screen, yous will see the tell-tale signs of a JT65A signal. In this screenshot the 22:01 bike has about six different transmissions existence received , some squished on top of each other. In the Yellowish ellipse , you will see much narrower vertical lines. Each vertical line represents a unmarried JT9 signal. I added a blue ellipse that highlights the dividing line WSJT-Ten has been fix for. Signals below 2500 Hz are JT65A and signals above 2500 Hz are JT9. You lot can vary that setting if y'all want. It is set in the box next to SLOPE at the lesser of the waterfall.
In the screenshot above , practice you lot see the little green circumvolve to the left of the frequency readout ? Green indicates that WSJT-Ten is communicating fully with the radio . If yous take an orange push button* instead, that means you practice not have full communication with your rig. If y'all click on the orange circle, the software will communicate with the radio and update. Set you "polling" to a number greater than zero to maintain regular communication with you rig.
And so, here you can see how simple Joe's software has fabricated things for usa old timers. Ii modes , 12 simultaneous QSOs and we only take to click on the desired station. The software is smarter than united states of america and knows which style you want established.
Calling A Station:
So, lets say I wanted to work one of the stations calling CQ at 2201. Let me pick, G0BHK from the above screenshot . G0BHK is in England and thus a much meliorate person to talk to than anyone else in the earth. All I would need to do is double click* on the green line (dark-green means he is calling CQ) . The software would be then ready to transmit. Since his decoded line of text has a # sign, I know the software will choose JT65 every bit the mode. Since that decoded line says 2170 under the FREQUENCY column, the software will conform my postilion on the waterfall to 2170 Hz and my rig will transmit on the desired frequency .
I said it was easy merely before I really phone call a station, I need to do mayhap the virtually important thing in setting upwardly, something that takes advantage of the voodoo magic in the software. In my rig (and yours) , I need to prepare for SPLIT functioning. In VFO-A I set the mutual JT65A frequency and in VFO-B I prepare for the mutual JT9 frequency. The common JT65A frequencies are stored in a drop-down list within the software. Usually JT9 signals start 2 kHz above the usual JT65A frequency. In my example, on 20M, VFO-A is fix for 14076.000 and VFO-B 14078.000 , both USB. My rig is in Split up style and will transmit using VFO B. The voodoo magic is that WSJT-X changes the rig's frequency so that your JT65A or JT9 betoken is transmitted on the correct office of your 4 Khz range.
Take a look at this video (you may demand to open "full screen" to get best details)
In this video, I prove I am an sometime codger by getting the audio capture settings wrong! So, the video has no audio. Never listen, the only thing you would have heard is a agglomeration of JT65A and JT9 signals wailing abroad. If you lot listen carefully, you can hear my TV'south audio with Andy Murray at Wimbledon! In that location is some other video referenced later in this article, information technology has sound .
The first video shows a brief few seconds of me monitoring a four kHz chunk of spectrum and and so a bunch of decoded signals arrive. I choose a CQ call. I call the station, station responds . I reply once more with a bespeak written report. The station does not get my report. So I send once more, increasing my ability to 10 watts (only to get a good demo video). After the station sends RRR , indicating that he received all my info.. I send a personalized xiii character message saying thank-you lot and referencing my power and antenna type.. Discover that all I did was identify my rig for the correct VFO A and VFO B base of operations settings and click on the signal I wanted to work. The WSJT-Ten did all the figuring out of where to actually transmit my audio. For this QSO, I was at 3410 Hz in the waterfall , then WSJT used 14078 and a center audio frequency. If I had selected a JT65A bespeak with a lower position in the waterfall, WSJT-Ten would take changed my transmit frequency . Note that I set up my rig's USB filter width to four.4 Khz. That is so I can decode audio over the usual JT65A-JT69 range, usually 4 kHz. Nigh modern rigs have the power to accept a receive filter in the 4 to v Khz range. Y'all do not need to change you lot transmit filters, the software'due south magic removes the need for that.
The adjacent video shows me receiving a signal that happens to be JT65A. I endeavor to answer and when I transmit you volition meet the voodoo magic at work. My VFO B switches to 14076 to work the lower frequency used by the ZP5 station. Some gars with the telephone call sign K1SEA beats me to the ZP5 then I try someone else.
In the videos , you will see me using the ANSWERING CQ messages from TAB 2 of the message options . They are fairly self explanatory. The usual sequence is, y'all respond to a CQ with your call and grid foursquare. The other station replies with your callsign her callsign and your signal written report in dB. You answer with a "roger" and their dB study (R+dB push button) . The other station , if they got your report, volition send "RRR" (Roger, Roger, Roger) and you lot ship either the "73" push or a "Costless message" that you create in the Free Msg box. That free letters can non be longer than 13 characters, spaces included!
Help With Signal Reports:
It is extremely helpful if yous join the many hams that report the callsigns and SNR to the rest of the world. WSJT-X does this via use of PSK Reporter. by Philip Gladstone. If y'all go to SETUP then CONFIGURATION in WSJT-Ten, so bank check the box "Enable PSK Reporter" , any signals your station received are send to PSK Reporter. The maps and log feature at PSK reporter are very useful
More to come up.
Questions or to bespeak out stupid mistakes: Email K3UK at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you want official data try the links below
for farther information, please refer to the Official User'southward Guide:
www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/WSJT-X_Users_Guide.pdf
the extended Users Guide for v1.one mentioned in the beta annunciation:
www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/WSJT-X_Users_Guide_v1.1.pdf
and change log:
www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx_changelog.txt
*The "double click" feature places the station y'all are calling in to your transmit buffer. Double clicking tin can as well automatically "enable transmit" or yous tin can set things up where you HAVE TO click on the ENABLE TX button . Click on the SETUP bill of fare (upper left of software) and see the "Double click on calls " option. That same menu gives you other useful options. In the first video you will see the options I have called to actuate.
Source: https://www.g3lrs.org.uk/training/guide-to-wsjt-x.html
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