New versions K1JT weak signal digital modes

Bob, G3WKW, has passed on this information from Joe Taylor K1JT:

"Date: Fri, 07 Aug 2015 16:28:19 -0400

Several people have asked for an update on development of the "Fast modes" in WSJT and WSJT-X.  So here's a brief summary.

First, a review of some relevant terms and motivations.  It's convenient to think of the various WSJT protocols ("modes") in two groups:

*Slow modes* -- JT4, JT9, JT65, and WSPR.  These modes are designed for communication with extremely weak signals -- often too weak to be heard. Target propagation modes include EME and long-distance troposcatter on HF-and-up bands, and QRP Dxing on the LF, MF, and HF  bands.  Relevant signal amplitudes are approximately constant over a minute and more, aside from so-called "libration fading" for EME. Transmit/receive sequences are 1 minute for JT4, JT9, and JT65, and 2 minutes for WSPR.

*Fast modes* -- JTMS, FSK441, ISCAT, and JT6M -- and now also *FSK315* (implemented in WSJT) and *JT9E* through *JT9H* (implemented in WSJT-X. These modes are made for communication with rapidly varying signals:for example, meteor scatter, ionospheric scatter, airplane scatter, and scatter off the International Space Station.  The decoders are designed take advantage of short enhancements of signal strength.  T/R sequences are 30 seconds (or sometimes even shorter).

Bill, ND0B, has implemented a trial version of FSK315 in WSJT.  Think of this mode as FSK441 slowed down to 315 baud; the bandwidth is therefore narrow enough to make the mode legal in the "CW and data" portion of the 10 meter band.  Bill and a few others have been experimenting with FSK315 and also ISCAT-A on 10 meters, under dead-band conditions, using meteors and ionospheric scatter propagation.

I have implemented experimental submodes of the JT9 protocol in the program branch WSJT-X v1.6.1.  As with JT4 and JT65, letters following the "JT9" designator indicate increased spacings between the FSK tones. Traditional JT9 (now also called JT9A) has tone spacing 1.736 Hz, so the signals used at HF and below have total bandwidth 9*1.736 = 15.6 Hz.  The widest of the new submodes, JT9H, has tone spacing 200 Hz and therefore bandwidth 9*200 = 1800 Hz.

When used with the standard 1-minute periods, the wide JT9 submodes should be useful for the same purposes as the wide JT4 submodes: microwave EME, for example, where libration fading can cause Doppler spreading of 100 Hz or more.  Used in this way, all JT9 submodes are "slow" modes; they use 1-minute T/R periods and keying rate 1.736 baud, and they send the full 85-symbol message protocol in 85/1.736 = 48.96s.

Optionally, the wide JT9 submodes can now also use "fast" keying rates equal to their tone spacing.  "Fast JT9H", for example, uses keying rate 200 baud, so the full message protocol is transmitted in 85/200 = 0.425s.  The message is sent repeatedly for the full Tx period, in the same way as done for the other fast modes.

The fast JT9 submodes should be very effective for meteors and ionoscatter propagation, especially on the 6 meter band.  Sensitivity should be similar to ISCAT, or perhaps slightly better.  Because JT9 includes strong forward error correction, decoding results are like those for all the slow modes: you should see messages exactly as they were transmitted, or nothing at all.

Tests of the fast JT9 submodes are currently under way, with excellent results.

   -- 73, Joe, K1JT"

Good Es on 6m and 10m WSPR

Es is good today on both 10m and 6m WSPR with lots of spots both given and received. On 6m CT, EA and CN8 have all been spotted and my own signals have been spotted in Morocco and Portugal on 6m. Apart from CN8, no stations spotted or spotting me on 6m outside Europe.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Aug 8th 2015

Things are looking slightly more promising on 10m. Sunspot number has risen to 95 (K=3) and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair" rather than "poor" as it has been for weeks. Whether we see any real DX on 10m WSPR remains to be seen.

4X1RF (3519km) again spotting me on 6m WSPR

Since lunchtime, 4X1RF (3519km) has again been spotting my 1W ERP WSPR signal on 6m. I am pretty convinced this is E layer, but remain skeptical this is multi-hop Es which is the conventional wisdom. 3519km is a long way for Es multi-hop. This path seems pretty regular so I wonder if some other E layer mechanism is going on? Possibly some E layer chordal hop?  Signal levels suggest even lower power would have been successful such as 250mW or even less. So far today he has spotted me 6 times already. He has spotted me on several days this season as well as last summer. There are a reasonable number of stations active on the 6m WSPR band.

UPDATE 1607z:  Yesterday was one of the worse days I can recall in recent months on 6m and 10m WSPR. Today has been one of the best with plenty of Es on both bands.  Both are "magic" bands and you can never be quite sure what the day will bring.

UA3ARC spotting me very early on 10m WSPR

Already before breakfast my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been spotted several times on Moscow by UA3ARC (2446km) . This could be F2? Most probably Es, I guess.

UPDATE 0834z:  Widespread Es on 10m WSPR early with spots from right across Europe already. On 6m WSPR no Es spotted yet.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri Aug 7th 2015

Sunspot number is 80 today (K=2) and 10m remains "poor".

UK prices for Japanese radios

My comments on UK prices for Japanese radios was also reported on www.amateurradio.com yet not one dealer or Japanese manufacturer has said, "not so".

OK, they may not read the blogs mentioned (mine and http://www.amateurradio.com/) but I think I must have hit the nail on the head and that we are indeed paying too much for Japanese gear here in the UK. My own blog is read by thousands most days, so the silence tells me a lot.

Get those prices down please.

I want dealers and manufacturers to make fair profits and to remain in business but, please, don't rip us off.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs August 6th 2015

Sunspot number is 87 today (K=2) and 10m is expected to remain "poor". Es today has been pathetic and I have seen no evidence of any F2 propagation on 10m.  Roll on autumn and winter conditions now!

Poor Es

Although here I am talking here of 10m and 6m WSPR, things may be better on other modes with higher levels of activity. So far today I have received just 1 spot on 10m WSPR by Es and none at all so far on 6m.  It feels like the Es season is largely over, although this may just be a blip.

UPDATE 2145z:   There was quite a bit of Es on 10m WSPR this evening, but nothing seen by Es on 6m WSPR. I am going QRT now on all bands until breakfast time tomorrow.

2m/70cm beam down

After about a year of service, I have taken down my beam for 2m and 70cm which was not working as it did. In the near future I want to erect big-wheels instead. According to Wimo literature they have an omni pattern and a single big-wheel has a gain (horizontal) of 3dBD. Spacing between a 70cm big-wheel and a 2m big wheel needs to be 1.5m. This gain is a little down on the beam but needs no rotating. At the moment I think I'll install a single big-wheel for 2m and one for 70cm both fed with low loss coax on a single mast as high as I can. These should suit my operating fine. I monitor beacons and take part in some 2m and 70cm contests from home in a non-intensive way. A couple of big beams would be nice but these would need a rotator.

10m - dead here

This must go down (so far at least) as my worst day on 10m WSPR in years. All day I have been spotted by not a single station.  I have exchanged spots with G0OQK several times on 6m. I was wondering if my 10m WSPR beacon was working but I did several hard resets and resync'd to internet time and checked modulation and time sync with the FT817.  It is modulated and changes frequency on even minutes just as it should do.   No, I just think today has been a bad day here.

UPDATE 2037z:  G4IKZ (18km) has been spotting me from 1908z.  He has either just switched on or turned his beam my way. No Es all day though on 10m WSPR.

A big THANK YOU

There are some really kind people in the world.  I have received so many kind and caring emails in the last 18 months all wishing me a speedy recovery from my stroke. Thank you.

Today, in the post, was a small package containing a professional PCB with a built preamp for 136/472kHz. There wasn't even a postmark on the stamp and no note inside. Some kind and generous person just posted me this anonymously.  I honestly can't thank you enough. This is so kind. It will definitely get used.

When you see all the hate and cruelty in our world it is easy to think that most people are unkind. They are not. My stroke has taught me that there are very very many kind and caring people in this world. This very kind person did not even want to reveal his identity. Thank you. I really really appreciate your kindness.

Time to bring down the VHF/UHF yagi antenna?

From the recent tests with G3KKD it looks like my 3el 2m and 5el 70cm beam (or the feeder?) is faulty. I may take it down to see what the issue is. I had plans to replace the hand-rotated beam with big-wheels which have a little gain (3dBD) and do not require turning. I noticed the VSWR was rather high the last few times the yagis were used. Last night, even with just a halo and a run of lossy feeder I did almost as well as with the beam on 2m, so a single big-wheel plus a run of low-loss feeder should see an improvement of 2-4dB over the halo, if not more.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed Aug 5th 2015

Sunspot number is 68 today. K=1.  10m conditions remain "poor". So far today, despite a hard reset and resync of the beacon to internet time, my 10m WSPR beacon has been copied by no-one.

Ian G3KKD visit

G3KKD came over this morning to collect his DATV kit and 2m portable antenna.  He stopped for a coffee and I showed him my 472kHz and 136kHz kit, my optical kit and WSPR kit. Although Ian has used WSPR, his main interest is ATV. Sadly there are few TV enthusiasts locally these days. Even the local ATV repeater is very quiet these days.

No, I do NOT grow flowers on my head! My XYL took the photo.

6m Es today (so far)

A rather disappointing start on 6m WSPR today.  Only 1 station spotted by Es DK8NE (755km) at 0944z. Apart from this station, only G0OQK (98km) copied by tropo.

2m UKAC tonight

I may try the 2m leg of the UKAC this evening using my halo fed with the non-too-brilliant feeder. This is a totally different antenna and feeder to the one which may be faulty. My voice is not good, so I probably won't stop on too long.

2m UKAC Aug 4th with 5W and a halo

UPDATE 2110z:  In the end, after about 1 hour of operating I managed 8 QSOs with the halo, UR58 (lossy feeder), and 5W from the FT817. I was quite pleased with the results considering the very poor antenna and low power.

2m digital TV

At the moment I am doing a test over a 7 mile path with G3KKD who has a 1W 2m digital TV TX.  The signal is getting across the path, but too weak to decode. We are about to try a different 2m antenna at my end. G3KKD wants to try the path to Luton (he has a friend Arthur there) but wanted to try this shorter path first. There is a core of keen DATV experimenters all trying to reach each other.  I am not sure if anyone in the UK is using the 4m NoV band for digital TV tests.

UPDATE 1652z:   Success!  Using Ian's 3el 2m antenna on his portable mast we were able to see pictures well over the 7 mile path with 1W DATV on 2m. This means my antenna or feeder are not working correctly. When I swap to a big-wheel or big-wheel stack with new feeder it may well perform better than I expect.

6m WSPR - CN8LI again

CN8LI (2113km) is coming in pretty well on 6m WSPR again. We exchanged spots just after lunch. He is still a good signal here at nearly 1400z.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues August 4th 2015

Sunspot number is 62 (K=2) and 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor".  Es may be the saving grace on both 10m and 6m. We are still very much in summertime conditions. As yet, I have seen no evidence of transatlantic openings by Es on either 10m WSPR or 6m WSPR. There may well have been openings but with few stations active (especially on 6m WSPR) these may have gone unnoticed.

SignaLink off overnight

Overnight I spotted G0OQK (98km) several times on 6m but he did not copy me. Then I realised my interface was off so it worked on RX but not TX. Now on!

ON7KB (299km) again spotted on 6m WSPR

There was Es today on 6m and what appears to be tropo in the form of a WSPR spot of ON7KB (299km) quite recently. I shall stick around on 10m and 6m WSPR overnight. I did a hard reset of the 10m beacon about an hour ago so it should be spot-on during the night. The 6m WSPR is directly linked to internet time, so should be fine.  I'll go back to 630m (472kHz) WSPR tomorrow evening, unless 6m is magic tonight and shows signs of transatlantic DX, which I somehow doubt.

UPDATE 2112z:  All quiet on 6m WSPR now.  I shall have to give random MS another go on 6m. I listened (looked) a few seasons back and was surprised what came through using one of the digital modes (forget which one though!).

Project "on hold" - AM Tenbox

Like many of my projects, this transceiver is "on hold" due to my stroke. I am still too unwell to do much in the way of designing and building. One day, not too far away, I hope to complete this project. If anyone else wants to do this, please use my schematic as a starting point. With a small PCB it would make a nice club project.

It will make an ideal simple rig for nattering across town, especially as 10m loses its fizz and starts to act more like a vhf band again. Such conditions may be with us for years. I fancy putting this in a box like the old Heathkit Lunchboxes with a proper LS amp and LS.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/tenbox .

Windows 8.1 - NOT amateur radio

More from the font of all knowledge Steve G1KQH. Like many, I had no idea about this key and hidden menu:

Did you know about this command on Windows 8.1 ?

Subject: Windows Key + X | Windows 8 Forums

Did you know about this on Windows 8.1?

http://www.win8forums.com/threads/windows-key-x.758/

6m WSPR

So far, 6m WSPR has been quite productive today with quite a few EU stations (and CN8LI) spotting me or being spotted by Es. As long as conditions remain like this I shall stick on 6m WSPR.

10m/6m Es - early morning Italians

They call it sporadic E or Es yet it is surprising how often my 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m is copied in Italy very early in the mornings, often before breakfast. Whatever triggers the Es must be just right for this path early in the morning. Often Scandinavians and more northern stations are more common later in the Es season and in the evenings.

UPDATE 0708z:  Now DK7UG is spotting my 10m WSPR beacon strongly. No signs here of Es on 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 0906z:  One Italian spot by Es on 6m WSPR so far - IU1DZZ (973km) at 0748z.

UPDATE 1132z:  EA1KV (1304km) spotting me on 10m WSPR but only Nick G0OQK (98km) being copied on 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1205z:  EA1KV and I are exchanging spots on 6m WSPR and CN8LI (2113km) just spotted on 6m WSPR.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon August 3rd 2015

Sunspot number today is 51 (K=3) and 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor" today.  Es will be the main mode for EU and nearer DX.

WSPR-AXE-CW oddity

A local, David G0LRD reported that my time sync was well adrift despite me doing a reset against internet time very recently. A hard reset (all power removed for over a minute) seems to have fixed the issue, which is possibly a bug in the software.  David suggested it could have been a very short power outage?   In future I'll do a hard reset more frequently. This little beacon has served me well for over 6 months and is often on 24/7.

East Anglian Churches blog updated - NOT amateur radio

This Friday we went by train to Norwich with our "London" grandchildren. We visited the Castle Museum and Norwich Cathedral, which is definitely one of the finest in England.

See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .

G4IKZ beaming south on 10m?

My local 10m WSPR reporter G4IKZ (18km) must have his Moxon beam aimed south as he has not spotted me for some hours, even though he is reporting Spanish stations by Es. My 500mW WSPR beacon has not been spotted for some hours now by anyone.  10m is definitely harder going on WSPR than it was. I hope things improve as autumn comes.

At the moment there are 31 stations worldwide shown as active on 10m WSPR. A little while back this would have been 100 or more. There may be more who have not spotted/been spotted in the last 10 minutes, but numbers are down.

UPDATE 1620z:  I QSYed from 6m down to 630m at 1600z. Still on 10m WSPR at same time. No MF WSPR spots given or received on MF as yet.

Back to 472kHz WSPR tonight

As 6m has proved predictable with little in the way of DX around, I shall be going back to 472kHz WSPR this evening. As my ERP is still very low (5mW) I do not expect many to copy me at this time of the year. I shall remain on 10m WSPR at the same time, but may decide to go QRT overnight on the 10m band.

UPDATE 1623z:  I QSYed from 6m down to 630m at 1600z. Still on 10m WSPR at same time. No MF WSPR spots given or received on MF as yet.

UPDATE 1950z:  It is still light here. So far, no spots given or received on 472kHz WSPR. Maybe things will improve after dark?  This s my worst start on 472kHz WSPR this summer.

UPDATE 2056z:  At 2038z G8HUH (250km) was spotted. He is one of the better stations on the band, so not too surprised to copy him. He has copied me on 472kHz WSPR this summer. He is my best DX on 136kHz from the old QTH. I have not tried 136kHz from this QTH with the shorter baseline earth-electrode "antenna", well not yet.

UPDATE 2100z:  I have just been spotted on 472kHz WSPR by G6AVK (78km).

Prices of Japanese radios?

I wonder when the next round of price drops will come on Japanese gear? The big Japanese players such as Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood have had an easy ride of late and been able to dictate prices. Now the competition is waking up, I expect they will be facing tougher times.

The latest exchange rates (UK pound to Japanese Yen) is £1 is worth about 193 Yen. Not many years ago it was less than 130 Yen to the pound. In real terms, Japanese goods should be much less expensive. At the moment both the UK dealers and Japanese are doing very well thank you from a customer base prepared to pay high prices. Expect big falls between now and the year end. This will be partly due exchange rates becoming much better (for those in the UK) and partly due to the increasing threat from the non-Japanese suppliers. Don't you find it amazing how low cost some Chinese hand portables are compared with similar products from Japan? Rip-off come to mind - charge high prices for Japanese goods as long as the suckers pay.

No, the age of UK amateur radio consumers being taken for a ride is ending. The next time you discuss prices with UK dealers remind them of competition and exchange rates! At the moment their margins must be very high. Japanese goods are priced too high in the UK - fact. A few years ago I was more sympathetic, but not any more. UK consumers should pay a fair price with the dealers getting a fair margin, but please don't take us all for mugs. I shall buy when the prices are fair and not before.

If I have this wrong, I shall be interested to hear the dealers viewpoint. Exchange rates have got vastly better and I do not see this reflected in end user prices here in the UK.  Someone is making very handsome profits.

Consumers - vote with your wallets and do not buy overpriced radios.  I have said before, the FT817 is classic example: all development costs were recovered years ago, so the price should be considerably lower than it is. Dealers have dropped the price somewhat, but it is nowhere near what it should be for a very mature design.

Overnight results - 6m and 10m WSPR

Apart from ON7KB (299km) presumably by tropo was spotted a few times in the early hours, it was quiet here on 6m WSPR apart from G0OQK (98km).

On 10m WSPR there was some Es to Spain and Italy around breakfast time.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun August 2nd 2015

Sunspot number is 70 today  (K=3 so more disturbed than yesterday) and 10m is expected to remain "poor" today again.

Overnight on 10m and 6m WSPR

Although I am not expecting great things, I shall remain on 10m and 6m WSPR overnight tonight.   After this, I shall almost certainly switch to MF instead of 6m overnight. I am still hoping for transatlantic Es on 6m WSPR but I have not caught a single Es transatlantic opening in 2 years of trying! The ends just do not justify me continuing this venture as activity levels are too low on WSPR on 6m. In the last few months, apart from CN8 and 4X1, the WSPR spots have all been European.

Yaesu FT991 - first price drop

I see that MLS is selling the FT991 this weekend at around £150 discount. I think, with the favourable exchange rate, we will see further drops this year and I expect the price will be £999 or less before the year is out. This is a nice radio with lots of good features and I will almost certainly buy one when the price drops below £1000, but not before.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri July 31st 2015 (historic)

Sunspot number climbed to 83 (K=4) but 10m conditions remained "poor" yesterday. There was some Es on 10m, but not widespread.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Aug 1st 2015

Sunspot number was 71 today (K=1) but 10m propagation is again "poor". Es is the only real hope for DX on 10m and 6m.

UPDATE 1827z:  There was some Es to Iberia earlier this morning on 10m WSPR and a brief Es opening to Scotland later, but not what I'd call spectacular.

UPDATE 1832z:  There was Es on 6m today, with SM0FUS (1383km) and EA1KV (1304km) spotted on 6m WSPR. No spectacular openings. G0OQK (98km) has been spotted very consistently through the day.

Yesterday's solar and 10m report

Although this was written it did NOT appear as I must have been distracted before pressing the  "publish" button.  My apologies.

Off air last night

Overnight I decided to go QRT on all bands.  I have now switched on 10m and 6m WSPR.