Fw: [Wsjt-x-improved-community] Versions with SuperFox mode ready for download

[David Tanks]

Another FYI. This one is for the Improved version, as well as details relative to both versions.

David AD4TJ

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Uwe, DG2YCB via Wsjt-x-improved-community <wsjt-x-impro...@lists.sourceforge.net>

To: Wsjt Improved <wsjt-x-impro...@lists.sourceforge.net>

Sent: Monday, July 1, 2024 at 09:54:09 AM EDT

Subject: [Wsjt-x-improved-community] Versions with SuperFox mode ready for download

Dear WSJT-X_IMPROVED Users,

I am pleased to announce that our new versions with SuperFox mode of both WSJT-X and wsjt-x_improved are now available for download. We've worked hard on it over the past weeks/months! Furthermore, all installers of my 'improved' version now provide highDPI scaling (4K support). New with "240701-RC5" is that this function can be switched off, and that there is an option for another GUI tweak (the latter primarily intended for the AL version).

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. Right-clicking on the FT8 button toggles SuperFox mode on/off for either Fox or Hound, allowing quick transitions between SuperFox and old-style Fox and Hound operation. Further details on SuperFox mode can be found in the SuperFox User Guide and on the Jarvis 2024 DXpedition homepage. Or just watch this video.

IMPORTANT: Hounds must use either WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc5 or wsjt-x_improved 2.7.1-devel "240701-RC5" (or a later release, when available) to receive SuperFox messages!

Note: With regard to our new SuperFox mode, I have programmed all my improvements directly in WSJT-X as well, so that the source code for this part is identical with wsjt-x_improved.

Here comes the changelog:

A. Changes to both WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc5 and wsjt-x_improved 2.7.1-devel "240701-RC5":

SuperFox mode:

• The SuperFox mode behaves operationally like the present Fox and 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 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 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 will transmit normal FT8 signals, as in the old-style Fox and Hound mode.  QSOs will be logged as FT8 mode.
• 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 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" flag if the transmitted signature is valid, and the on-screen "Super Hound" label will turn from red to green.
• Hound operation should begin by selecting "Special operating activity", "Hound", and "SuperFox mode" on the Settings -> Advanced tab. Alternatively, right-clicking on the FT8 button toggles SuperFox mode on/off for either Fox or Hound, allowing quick transitions between SuperFox and old-style Fox and Hound operation.
• SuperFox stations can send free text messages of up to 26 characters together with messages to as many as 4 Hounds.

Other enhancements:

• Corrected a flaw that caused "Log automatically" to not work for the ARRL Digi Contest.
• Control elements for special operating activities are now disabled (grayed out) if the respective function is not applicable.
• Corrected a longstanding flaw that caused "Start new period decodes at top" to stop working properly after some time. (Note: adoption of an "improved" feature).
• Right-click mouse press events are now less error-prone. (Note: adoption of an "improved" feature).
• Improved the readability of the first line when "Start new period decodes at top" is checked. (Note: adoption of an "improved" feature).
  
• 4-digit grids are now logged for certain contest modes to ensure that the log complies with contest rules. (Note: adoption of an "improved" feature).
  
• The Fox Tx frequency is now saved and restored separately.

B. Changes exclusively to wsjt-x_improved 2.7.1-RC5 "240701-RC5":

• All versions of wsjt-x_improved now provide highDPI scaling (4K support). This function is enabled by default, but can now be switched off via the checkbox at Settings/Advanced. The highDPI scaling feature usually results in a better and proportionally correct display of the control elements on high-resolution monitors (2K, 4K, 8K, etc.). However, this applies primarily to Windows. My code should theoretically also work on Linux, but this depends on the distribution. MacOS offers its own 4K support out of the box.
  
• The Advanced tab of the Settings dialog has now a new "GUI tweaks for high-resolution monitors" group box. Besides highDPI scaling there is also a new "Increased height of the tab widget" checkbox. This option is primarily intended for the AL version.
  
• Some minor improvements and bug fixes.
  
• Update to hamlib 4.6_2024-06-27_SHA=745e72.

Enjoy the new version, and in particular our new SuperFox mode!

73 de DG2YCB,
Uwe
________________________________________
German Amateur Radio Station DG2YCB
Dr. Uwe Risse
eMail: dg2...@gmx.de
Info: www.qrz.com/db/DG2YCB

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[David Tanks]

More info on the SuperFox mode.

David AD4TJ

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Uwe, DG2YCB via Wsjt-x-improved-community <wsjt-x-impro...@lists.sourceforge.net>

To: Jürgen Sturhahn <dl...@darc.de>; "wsjt-x-impro...@lists.sourceforge.net" <wsjt-x-impro...@lists.sourceforge.net>

Sent: Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 04:52:28 AM EDT

Subject: Re: [Wsjt-x-improved-community] Versions with SuperFox mode ready for download

Hello Jürgen,

Firstly, this already results from theoretical considerations. Joe answered a similar question on the WSJT GROUP forum as follows:

FT8 transmissions, and each stream of old-style Fox transmissions, each convey a 77-bit payload.    Necessarily, when multiple streams are used the 1/N^2 law is in effect and signal strength is reduced.

SuperFox transmissions do not use "streams", and they always convey a payload of 319 bits. For one QSO at a time FT8 is more efficient, and uses much less bandwidth.  But for many simultaneous QSOs the SuperFox approach (wider bandwidth, a highly effective Q-ary polar code, 128-FSK constant envelope modulation) wins by a large margin. 

Then there have been of course a number of comparative tests (mostly performed by Steve K9AN or Joe). If I remember correctly, the results showed a system gain of between 9.9 and 12.7 dB

73 de DG2YCB,
Uwe
________________________________________
German Amateur Radio Station DG2YCB
Dr. Uwe Risse
eMail: dg2...@gmx.de
Info: www.qrz.com/db/DG2YCB

Am 04.07.2024 um 07:02 schrieb Jürgen Sturhahn:

Regarding the 10 dB system gain compared to standard fox: Is there somebody in the group who can explain or give me some information how this has been calculated?