10 days after the last RC we have WSJT-X 2.4.0-rc3.

It looks like the changes are mainly bug fixes, and this release is focussed on Q65. I guess it’s time to build more antennas!

Release notes at: https://physics.princeton.edu//pulsar/k1jt/Release_Notes.txt

Announcement at:

https://sourceforge.net/p/wsjt/mailman/message/37240209/

Downloads in the normal place: https://physics.princeton.edu//pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

WSJT-X 2.4.0-rc2 has been announced.

This includes bug fixes and improvements to Q65 and removes the ISCAT mode. Expect 2.3.1 soon too.

Release notes at:

https://physics.princeton.edu//pulsar/k1jt/Release_Notes.txt

Announcement at:

https://sourceforge.net/p/wsjt/mailman/message/37233410/

Downloads at: https://physics.princeton.edu//pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html as normal.

#hamradio

So ofcom is updating spectrum licenses to require that all stations comply with EMF exposure regulations because people are afraid of 5G and “electro-sensitivity” (TIL).

Here’s my favourite bit of the latest consultation:

Some, mainly confidential, respondents raised fears that 5G and other technologies could be used for surveillance and crowd control purposes.

At least the requirements will be fairly easy to comply with!

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/214663/emf-implementation-update.pdf

Hot on the heels of 2.3.0 WSJT-X 2.4.0-rc1 has been announced!

This adds a new experimental mode, Q65, “for minimal two-way QSOs over especially difficult propagation paths.”

Announcement at:

https://sourceforge.net/p/wsjt/mailman/message/37211965/

Downloads at: https://physics.princeton.edu//pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html as normal.

#hamradio

Oooh, now WSJT-X 2.3.0 GA has been released.

Release notes at: https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Release_Notes.txt

Announcement at:

https://sourceforge.net/p/wsjt/mailman/message/37210392/

Downloads via: https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

Headline features are “FST4 and FST4W, new digital protocols designed particularly for the LF and MF bands.”

There’s a 64-bit arm release for Pi users and a caveat that you might need to generate some locale config ( https://sourceforge.net/p/wsjt/mailman/message/37210475/).

#hamradio

Hot off the press: WSJT-X 2.3.0-rc4 is out.

This is a “stop-gap” to verify some changes in hamlib, plus a few other small changes.

Release notes at: https://physics.princeton.edu//pulsar/k1jt/Release_Notes.txt

Announcement at:

https://sourceforge.net/p/wsjt/mailman/message/37204989/

#hamradio #wsjt

Just reading about the Raspberry Pi Pico: https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/raspberry-pi-silicon-pico-now-on-sale/

It’s a microcontroller rather than a computer like the rest of the Pis but it seems super cheap compared to other similar products and it looks like it’ll be well supported.

ARRL reminds radio users that using radios for crime is a crime:

http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-issues-enforcement-advisory-radio-users-reminded-not-to-use-radios-in-crimes

Has anyone here come across “C Connectors” aka MIL-STD-348 ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_connector / https://www.amphenolrf.com/connectors/c-type-connectors.html)

Dad has a dummy load which uses this sort of socket and I can’t find parts! They look like really chunky BNC connectors, I’m assuming from the MIL code that it’s ex-military from the US.

One for the watch list - Radio Society of Great Britain

4.1K subscribers

RSGB Tonight @ 8 - Amateur Radio Construction with Steve Hartley, G0FUW and Pete Juliano, N6QW

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/pdRouTwx52g

Steve G0FUW (GQRP chair and known for Bath distance learning in the UK) + Pete N6QW (homebrewer extraordinaire).

Should be interesting!

#hamradio