Date
1 - 12 of 12
Locked WSPR decodes but FT8 doesn't #WSJTX_config #Windows07
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HF
WSJT-X version is 1.8.0
This is a request for a clue to troubleshoot my setup. Audio comes from my Drake R8B audio out via an audio transformer and potentiometer to the laptop's microphone port. The R8B has a TCXO reference oscillator. It has been working great, decoding WSPR signals for years, most recently on 8 meters. This is my first try to decode FT8. I am not trying to transmit FT8. The R8B is set for 2.3 kHz bandwidth and USB. AGC is off. To troubleshoot FT8 reception, I have changed over to 10 meters. The waterfall screen is full of FT8 signals. They fit nicely between the green lines that delineate the 15-second windows. When signals are present, the vertical green bar on the left is in the 50 to 60 dB range. I have resynchronized my computer's clock to nist; it's within a half second. I have tried "Normal" and "Deep" decode settings. WSJT-X's Monitor button is light blue. The progress bar moves to the right during the 15-second window. The box in the lower left is bright green and says "Receiving". The Decode button flashes blue as the received signals go quiet for a few seconds before they start again. There are no decodes. Zip. Nada. When I shift back to WSPR mode and retune to the WSPR frequency on the same band, it does decode the WSPR signals. It's gotta be something simple, but I can't figure it out! I've searched the user guide and other FT8 introductions. Thanks in advance! Halden VE7UTS |
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Reino Talarmo
Hi Halden,
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I think that there is a very simple reason for not decoding FT8. I think that 1.8.0 uses 72 bits messages and versions starting with 2 uses 77 bits messages preventing decoding of the old FT8 coding. 73, Reino OH3mA -----Original Message-----
From: main@WSJTX.groups.io [mailto:main@WSJTX.groups.io] On Behalf Of HF via groups.io Sent: 23. tammikuutata 2023 23:27 To: main@WSJTX.groups.io Subject: [WSJTX] WSPR decodes but FT8 doesn't #WSJTX_config #Windows07 WSJT-X version is 1.8.0 This is a request for a clue to troubleshoot my setup. Audio comes from my Drake R8B audio out via an audio transformer and potentiometer to the laptop's microphone port. The R8B has a TCXO reference oscillator. It has been working great, decoding WSPR signals for years, most recently on 8 meters. This is my first try to decode FT8. I am not trying to transmit FT8. The R8B is set for 2.3 kHz bandwidth and USB. AGC is off. To troubleshoot FT8 reception, I have changed over to 10 meters. The waterfall screen is full of FT8 signals. They fit nicely between the green lines that delineate the 15-second windows. When signals are present, the vertical green bar on the left is in the 50 to 60 dB range. I have resynchronized my computer's clock to nist; it's within a half second. I have tried "Normal" and "Deep" decode settings. WSJT-X's Monitor button is light blue. The progress bar moves to the right during the 15-second window. The box in the lower left is bright green and says "Receiving". The Decode button flashes blue as the received signals go quiet for a few seconds before they start again. There are no decodes. Zip. Nada. When I shift back to WSPR mode and retune to the WSPR frequency on the same band, it does decode the WSPR signals. It's gotta be something simple, but I can't figure it out! I've searched the user guide and other FT8 introductions. Thanks in advance! Halden VE7UTS |
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Correct, somewhere along the line, the FT8 message was changed. Don't remember what release but certainly since version 1.8.
-- John P. WA2FZW |
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Martin G0HDB <marting0hdb@...>
Halden:
As Reino OH3MA has explained, the 1.8.0 FT8 version of WSJT-X that you're running is entirely non-compatible with versions that have been in use for about four years; you really need to update your version of WSJT-X to the latest release (v2.6.1). The following is an extract from the release notes that accompanied the release of v2.0 in December 2018: "WSJT-X 2.0 cannot communicate in these modes [FT8 and MSK144] with other stations using WSJT-X v1.9.1 or earlier. Please help by urging everyone to upgrade no later than January 1, 2019." As an aside, the earlier, pre-2.0 versions of FT8 and MSK144 used a 75-bit payload whereas all versions from v2.0 onwards use a 77-bit payload. -- Martin G0HDB |
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HF
Thanks Reino, John, and Martin! I'm sure I saw something about FT8 protocol changing but surely ignored it because I had no interest in FT8 whatsoever. That old version had been doing just fine listening to WSPR over the years. But now, several people are using FT8 to explore propagation on 8 metres. It can help find brief propagation openings. So I'm now paying more attention. Per your suggestion, I downloaded and installed 2.6.1 which collects plenty of transmissions.
It sure would be convenient for the 8m project if I could monitor for both FT8 and WSPR at the same time. Cheers, Halden VE7UTS |
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JTAlert Support (VK3AMA)
On 26/01/2023 4:10 pm, HF via groups.io wrote:
It sure would be convenient for the 8m project if I could monitor for both FT8 and WSPR at the same time.Easy. Just run two instances of WSJTX. Have one monitoring FT8 and the other WSPR. de Laurie VK3AMA |
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HF
Hi Laurie,
Would I need 2 sound cards for this, or two whole computers? Or an OS other than Windows(tm)? Halden |
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JTAlert Support (VK3AMA)
On 27/01/2023 10:42 am, HF via groups.io wrote:
Would I need 2 sound cards for this, or two whole computers? Or an OS other than Windows(tm)?Single sound card and single Win computer works for me and I routinely run with 5 WSJTX instances running as part of my testing with JTAlert. de Laurie VK3AMA (JTAlert author) |
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Alan G4ZFQ
On 27/01/2023 10:13, JTAlert Support (VK3AMA) wrote:
Single sound card and single Win computer works for meWhat needs to be said is run 2 instances of WSJT-X with both of them connected to the same soundcard. Then you can decode 2 modes at the same time. 73 Alan G4ZFQ |
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HF
Wow, I didn't think a single soundcard could send data to 2 programs.
I tried it. I made a copy of WSJT-X and opened it. It asks whether to delete a lock file, whatever that is. I guessed "no". Then it said it can't have multiple instances with the same radio. Since I'm only listening (and since I don't have means for computer control of my R8B), my radio in both cases will be "None". When I entered a radio name on the instance that was already running, it complained that it couldn't communicate with that radio. So it seems that both have to be "None". Is there a way to add another radio placeholder to avoid this error message? Cheers Halden |
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Alan G4ZFQ
On 28/01/2023 05:51, HF via groups.io wrote:
it said it can't have multiple instances with the same radio.Halden "Instances" is another word often used to mean "profiles". It is described in the manual, I have notes here https://sites.google.com/site/g4zfqradio/setting_wspr_power#h.vo01d81k81wc 73 Alan G4ZFQ |
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Michael Black
You need to run a 2nd instance of WSJT-X.
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e.g. wsjtx -r rig2 You can modify a copy of the shortcut to add that switch. Mike W9MDB On Friday, January 27, 2023 at 11:51:27 PM CST, HF via groups.io <incorridge@...> wrote:
Wow, I didn't think a single soundcard could send data to 2 programs. I tried it. I made a copy of WSJT-X and opened it. It asks whether to delete a lock file, whatever that is. I guessed "no". Then it said it can't have multiple instances with the same radio. Since I'm only listening (and since I don't have means for computer control of my R8B), my radio in both cases will be "None". When I entered a radio name on the instance that was already running, it complained that it couldn't communicate with that radio. So it seems that both have to be "None". Is there a way to add another radio placeholder to avoid this error message? Cheers Halden |
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