diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS index 05c6cb7f7..ddfe183c8 100644 --- a/NEWS +++ b/NEWS @@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Copyright 2001 - 2024 by Joe Taylor, K1JT, and the WSJT Development Team July 1, 2024 ------------------------- -WSJT-X 2.7.0 Release Candidate 5 introduces a new "SuperFox" mode, a +WSJT-X 2.7.0 Release Candidate 5 introduces "SuperFox" mode, a powerful new tool designed to help DXpeditions make digital QSOs at very high rates. RC5 also brings several other improvements and bug fixes. @@ -26,29 +26,30 @@ SuperFox mode: Hounds mode but uses a constant envelope waveform for Fox's transmissions rather than sending concurrent streams of up to five normal FT8 signals. This approach means that up to 9 messages can - be transmitted with no signal-strength penalty, resulting in a - system gain of about +10 dB compared to the conventional Fox/Hound - operation with 5 slots. + be transmitted simultaneously with no signal-strength penalty, + resulting in a system gain of about +10 dB compared to the + conventional Fox/Hound operation with 5 slots. - - IMPORTANT: Older revisions of WSJT-X and derivative programs cannot - decode SuperFox transmissions. Hounds must use WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc5 (or - a later release, when available) to be able to receive SuperFox - messages. + - IMPORTANT: Older revisions of WSJT-X and derivative programs will + not be able to decode SuperFox transmissions. Hounds must use + WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc5 (or a later release, when available) to receive + SuperFox messages. - - Hounds chasing the DX station transmit normal FT8 signals, as in - the already familiar Fox and Hound mode. QSOs are logged as FT8 + - Hounds chasing the DX station will transmit normal FT8 signals, as + in the old-style Fox and Hound mode. QSOs will be logged as FT8 mode. - - When in SuperFox mode, Hound stations may call at any frequency in - Fox's received passband, including the range 0 - 1000 Hz. Hounds - do not QSY to a lower frequency for their final transmission. + - When using SuperFox mode, Hound stations may call at any frequency + in Fox's received passband, including the range 0 - 1000 Hz. + Hounds do not QSY to a lower frequency for their final + transmission. - SuperFox Operation requires the Fox operator to use a valid digital - key. Keys will be issued in advance for legitimate DXpeditions by + key. Keys will be issued in advance to legitimate DXpeditions by the Northern California DX Foundation, and will be kept secret. - Every SuperFox transmission includes a unique digital signature. - Hounds receiving a SuperFox message will see a "CALLSIGN verified" + Hounds receiving a SuperFox message will see a " verified" flag if the transmitted signature is valid, and the on-screen "Super Hound" label will turn from red to green. @@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ Other enhancements: decodes at top" is checked. - 4-digit grids are now logged for certain contest modes to ensure that - the log complies with the contest rules. + the log complies with contest rules. - The Fox Tx frequency is now saved and restored separately. diff --git a/Release_Notes.txt b/Release_Notes.txt index b340c7aaa..1b003a5fa 100644 --- a/Release_Notes.txt +++ b/Release_Notes.txt @@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Copyright 2001 - 2024 by Joe Taylor, K1JT, and the WSJT Development Team July 1, 2024 ------------------------- -WSJT-X 2.7.0 Release Candidate 5 introduces a new "SuperFox" mode, a +WSJT-X 2.7.0 Release Candidate 5 introduces "SuperFox" mode, a powerful new tool designed to help DXpeditions make digital QSOs at very high rates. RC5 also brings several other improvements and bug fixes. @@ -26,29 +26,30 @@ SuperFox mode: Hounds mode but uses a constant envelope waveform for Fox's transmissions rather than sending concurrent streams of up to five normal FT8 signals. This approach means that up to 9 messages can - be transmitted with no signal-strength penalty, resulting in a - system gain of about +10 dB compared to the conventional Fox/Hound - operation with 5 slots. + be transmitted simultaneously with no signal-strength penalty, + resulting in a system gain of about +10 dB compared to the + conventional Fox/Hound operation with 5 slots. - - IMPORTANT: Older revisions of WSJT-X and derivative programs cannot - decode SuperFox transmissions. Hounds must use WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc5 (or - a later release, when available) to be able to receive SuperFox - messages. + - IMPORTANT: Older revisions of WSJT-X and derivative programs will + not be able to decode SuperFox transmissions. Hounds must use + WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc5 (or a later release, when available) to receive + SuperFox messages. - - Hounds chasing the DX station transmit normal FT8 signals, as in - the already familiar Fox and Hound mode. QSOs are logged as FT8 + - Hounds chasing the DX station will transmit normal FT8 signals, as + in the old-style Fox and Hound mode. QSOs will be logged as FT8 mode. - - When in SuperFox mode, Hound stations may call at any frequency in - Fox's received passband, including the range 0 - 1000 Hz. Hounds - do not QSY to a lower frequency for their final transmission. + - When using SuperFox mode, Hound stations may call at any frequency + in Fox's received passband, including the range 0 - 1000 Hz. + Hounds do not QSY to a lower frequency for their final + transmission. - SuperFox Operation requires the Fox operator to use a valid digital - key. Keys will be issued in advance for legitimate DXpeditions by + key. Keys will be issued in advance to legitimate DXpeditions by the Northern California DX Foundation, and will be kept secret. - Every SuperFox transmission includes a unique digital signature. - Hounds receiving a SuperFox message will see a "CALLSIGN verified" + Hounds receiving a SuperFox message will see a " verified" flag if the transmitted signature is valid, and the on-screen "Super Hound" label will turn from red to green. @@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ Other enhancements: decodes at top" is checked. - 4-digit grids are now logged for certain contest modes to ensure that - the log complies with the contest rules. + the log complies with contest rules. - The Fox Tx frequency is now saved and restored separately. diff --git a/doc/user_guide/en/new_features.adoc b/doc/user_guide/en/new_features.adoc index dc11a72ba..1d9b9b688 100644 --- a/doc/user_guide/en/new_features.adoc +++ b/doc/user_guide/en/new_features.adoc @@ -1,11 +1,12 @@ [[NEW_FEATURES]] === New in Version {VERSION_MAJOR}.{VERSION_MINOR} -_WSJT-X 2.7_ introduces a new program called *QMAP*, a new Special -Operating Activity *Q65 Pileup*, an option to *Update Hamlib* at the -click of a button, and a number of other enhancements and bug fixes. +_WSJT-X 2.7_ introduces a new program called *QMAP*, new Special +Operating Activities *Q65 Pileup* and *SuperFox mode*, an option to +*Update Hamlib* at the click of a button, and a number of other +enhancements and bug fixes. -- QMAP and Q65 Pileup mode are of particular interest to those engaged +- *QMAP* and *Q65 Pileup* mode are of particular interest to those engaged in Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communication, but other applications may be found for them as well. QMAP is currently available for Windows only; it is derived from MAP65, an older program used since 2007 for @@ -19,6 +20,15 @@ click of a button, and a number of other enhancements and bug fixes. Quick-Start guide posted here: https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/Quick_Start_WSJT-X_2.7_QMAP.pdf +- *SuperFox mode* behaves operationally like the old-style Fox and + Hounds mode but uses a new constant envelope waveform for Fox's + transmissions. Messages can be transmitted simultaneously to as many + as 9 Hounds with no signal-strength penalty, resulting in a system + gain of about +10 dB compared to the older Fox-and-Hound operation + with 5 slots. Further details on SuperFox mode can be found in the + Quick-Start guide posted here: + https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/SuperFox_User_Guide.pdf + - A button *Update Hamlib* now appears on the *Settings -> Radio* tab. On Windows it allows the user to automatically download and install the latest version of the rig-control features in Hamlib. The