Hello Joe et all,
Many thanks for the test, my findings are as follows:
The protocol worked fine for me
I received W1/KH7Z with a strong signal >0 but received -24 while I used
85W We could not complete the QSO. Did W1/KH7Z have a problem with his
receiver?
The contact with W7.KH7Z went very easy. I noticed a double confirmation:
155400 PA0TBR RR73; WA6ACU <W7/KH7Z> -21
155430 PA0TBR KH7Z RR73
The contact with K1JT went very smooth, no double confirmation. Thank you
for that QSO Joe!
Some concerns or suggestions for improvement:
1) I run 2 concurrent copies of WSJTX-RC4 and JTAlert with an ANAN-100D.
Instance A was set to 14.115 and Hound mode, Instance B was also set to
14.115 but with Normal FT8 mode
The frequencies displayed were somewhat confusing during transmit:
During receive all read 14.115 (as expected)
During transmit
WSJTX-A and the ANAN VFO-A jumped to 14.1155 (depends on TX frequency and
probably to do with "Fake it" Split operation)
*WSJTX-B jumped to 14.0745, ANAN VFOB stayed at 14.115 (seems that CAT B
is disabled when A transmits) *
Note that my specific ANAN software uses 2 CAT ports for the 2 instances of
WSJTX. Port 1 controls RX1, Port 2 controls RX2 of the ANAN by translating
the messages on port 2 back and forth.
Upon further testing I got different results. I also run into a condition
that when transmitting with B, the system woud transmit one frequency for
15 seconds, immediately followed by a transmission with a 2nd frequency for
15 seconds etc. After a change in frequency this condition also
disappeared....
*Question:* Should I do some thorough testing with the dual system?? Or are
concurrent receivers with Hound mode still under construction?
2) When the Settings window is closed using the OK button, the frequency is
changed to the standard frequency.
So when I set the frequency 14.116 and then change to Hound mode, the
frequency is reset to 14.074..
3) A configurable color for decodes of FT8 messages in Hound mode would be
nice.
4) An easier method to switch to Hound mode and back would be nice. Maybe a
checkbox on the main window or an FT8-Hound option in the Mode drop down
menu.
5) I am a bit concerned about the absence of slider control for the
received audio level. Since the slider control is no longer available I
have to attenuate the VAC Rx Audio by 20dB at my receiver side. That means
that I have a very low level in the VAC.
With 0dB attenuation I have approx 50% VAC signal or 80dB in WSJTX
With 20dB attenuation I see between 0 and 10% signal in the Sound panel and
between 40 and 60 dB in WSJTX.
*Question: *Where can I adjust the audio level in WSJTX either in menu or
source code? I like to do some comparison tests with different audio levels.
Sorry about the long email, I trust that it is useful though.
73,
Ton PA0TBR
On 3 May 2018 at 14:12, Joe Taylor <j...@princeton.edu> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I write to remind you of the third public test of *FT8 DXpedition Mode*
> scheduled for Saturday, May 5, 1400-1700 UTC. You are cordially invited to
> participate -- the more participants, the better!
>
> Our main goal is to simulate pileups in which many "Hounds" call and
> attempt to work a desirable rare DX station, the "Fox". The test will help
> us to validate software features that aim to maximize the practical QSO
> rate in such situations. We hope you can be there and try to work all
> three Foxes.
>
> Here's the detailed schedule:
>
> --------------------------------------------------------
> Date UTC Freq Fox Call Op Loc PEP Antenna
> (MHz) (W)
> --------------------------------------------------------
> May 5 1400 14.090 W1/KH7Z N1DG FN42 500 SteppIR
> May 5 1500 14.090 W7/KH7Z AA7A DM43 500 3el
> May 5 1600 14.090 K1JT K1JT FN20 100 Dipole
>
>
> All participating stations must use WSJT-X v1.9.0-rc4. If you don't yet
> have this program version, download links for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS
> are available near the bottom of the page here:
> https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html
>
> If you are compiling the program for yourself, be sure to use code
> revision r8642 or later, taken from the repository's WSJT-X development
> branch. All code revisions since r8642 perform identically in FT8
> DXpedition Mode.
>
> Detailed operating instructions are posted here:
> http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/FT8_DXpedition_Mode.pdf
> Some details in these instructions have changed, so be sure to read and
> follow the latest revision (dated April 26, 2018) carefully! Don't just
> try to wing it.
>
> As you will know after reading the instructions, Fox can conduct up to 5
> QSOs simultaneously, using frequency slots spaced by 60 Hz. Fox transmits
> in the frequency range 300-900 Hz above the USB dial frequency, in this
> case 14.090 MHz.
>
> If you can legitimately use more than one callsign -- your spouse's call,
> club call, etc. -- feel free to work each Fox multiple times. No dupe QSOs
> with the same call, though.
>
> Real-time liaison will be available on the "Ping Jockey Relief" chat page
> (PJB), https://www.pingjockey.net/cgi-bin/pingtalkB . Everyone should
> monitor this page for possible last-minute announcements of a frequency
> change, etc. To ensure that announcements from Fox stations are easily
> found, Hounds should monitor PJB but refrain from "chatter" there during
> the test.
>
> The deepest pileups will help us tune the final-release software for
> optimum performance on both Fox and Hound sides. After the test, please
> post any comments you feel will be helpful to one of our two email forums,
> wsjtgr...@yahoogroups.com or wsjt-devel@lists.sourceforge.net . You will
> need to be subscribed to the list in order to post there.
>
> We sincerely hope you can join us for this test, and that you will work
> all three of our Foxes!
>
> -- 73, Joe, K1JT (for the WSJT Development Group)
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------------
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>
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