Configuring the WSJT options properly is important in order to
make successful QSO, so please read carefully the following lines. This
information is regarding version 5.9.5 but it should be applicable also to newer
versions.
When you run WSJT, by clicking on its link in the
"Start" menu, three windows will be open. The one with the title
"WSJT 6 by K1JT" is the main window, another window "WSJT
5.9.5" shows information about the program start and status and the third
windows "SpecJT" is used to graphically show the audio received.
This window "WSJT 5.9.5" is merely informative and contain debug
details that could help K1JT when analyzing problems. You can minimize it (but
don't close it) as you won't need it for the normal operation.
This window "WSJT 6 by K1JT" is the main window and where you will
spend most of the time during operation. You will certainly get familiar with
this window, but for now let's use the "Setup - options" menu to
configure the program.
Here you should enter your callsign, locator and the RS-232 (COM port) number
used for the PTT. You must also choose "EU" or "NA"
depending on your location and then click the "Reset defaults" button
(if you are neither in Europe nor in North America then leave the default
value).
Using the "Mode" menu you could choose the mode you
want to use depending on the band and propagation mode. As a guideline they are
used as follows:
FSK441 is intended for Meteor Scatter on 144 MHz and higher
bands
JT6M is intender for 50 MHz
JT65B is the mode used for Moon Bounce on 144 MHz
Now is time to check the reception, so you should select
the desired mode and click the "Monitor" button. The received signal
will be graphically shown in the "SpecJT" window, so let's learn a
little more about this window
Near the right upper corner there are several selection boxes to select
the speed and presentation mode of this window. Options 1 to 5 will show a
waterfall display specially intended for the JT65x modes. Option 1 provides a
less detailed diagram while option 5 shows the received signal with maximum
detail. Initially you should select the fastest possible speed, but you have to
bear in mind that this will mean a heavy workload of the processor and that in
fact speed 5 wouldn't be practical unless you have a really fast PC (Pentium IV
over 2 GHz). On the other hand options H1 and H2 show the signal horizontally
and they are intended for FSK441 and JT6M modes. H2 updates the graphic faster
than H1, but it also requires a faster computer. Choosing a lower speed will not
affect the decoding capability of the program, but only the way in which the
signal is graphically shown.
At the bottom of the window "SpecJT" you will see, beside
the clock, three sliders and an "S-Meter" showing the audio level.
Using the slider at the left of the S-Meter you should adjust the gain till the
value shown is close to 0 (zero) dB. If it's not possible to adjust it enough
with the slider then you can also do it using the "Options - Rx volume
control" menu. The other two sliders control the brightness and contrast of
the diagram and you can use them to adjust it to your personal needs. Finally,
you should choose the colour palette you like the most using the "Options -
Palette" menu. The default value is "Linrad" and it's possibly
the best option in order to distinguish the signal traces from the noise.
Configuring this window properly is very important for the JT65x modes, because
in general it will be the only way you'll have to detect the presence of
signals, too weak to be heard by the human ear.
Now that the "SpecJT" window is configured, let's tune
the main window options in order to optimize the performance of the program. You
can see that in the bottom left corner of this window two decimal numbers, with
values close to 1, are shown (for instance "1.0069 1.0069"). These
values indicate the percentage of deviation of your audio card (both in input
and in output) with respect to the desirable sampling rage (11025 Hz). If the
values shown here are between 0.9990 and 1.0010 it means you have a good audio
card (as far as the sampling rate is concerned), but if they are outside that
range then you should use the "Setup - Options" menu and enter the
values shown in the bottom left corner of the main windows in the "Rate
in" and "Rate out" input fields of the configuration window. It's
important to do this because then the program will be able to compensate the
difference and the coding/decoding algorithm will work more efficiently.
If you are in Europe you should also tick the "FSK441
- No Shorthands" option in the "Decode" menu, because those
shorthand messages can't be used in Europe in order to consider an MS QSO as
valid. Additionally in the "Decode - JT65" menu there are different
options that affect the JT65x mode and that you also have to configure. The
first of them "Only EME calls" forces the program (if ticked) to only
take into account the callsigns marked as "Active on EME" in the
CALL3.TXT and so, in general, you would like to have this option disabled.
Next option "No shorthands if TX1" means, if checked,
that the program will not try to decode messages of the RO, RRR or 73 types
(texts 3, 4 & 5) while you are transmitting text number 1 (only callsigns).
Because of the fact that when you are transmitting that text the other station
is supposed to answer with text number 2 (callsigns and OOO) it seem logical
that the program don't have to try to decode other types of message, so it could
be good idea to check this option.
The four last options in the "Decode - JT65" menu control
how the decoding algorithm will behave. "No deep search" is the less
sensitive option (but provides more guarantees that the decoded text is correct)
while "Include Average in Aggressive Deep Search" is the most
sensitive (but can lead to generate more false decodes).. In general I would recommend you
select "Normal Deep Search", at least till you get
enough experience with the program in order to distinguish the texts properly
decoded from the false decodes.
Well, now you already have WSJT fully configured and optimized
for your own use. It's time to start trying to listen to some signal, get used
to the program and even read the operating manual ..hi !
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