Significant changes in store for FT8 and MSK144 with WSJT-X Version 2.0 WSJT-X co-developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, has announced that major changes are coming to the FT8 and MSK144 digital protocols when WSJT-X version 2.0 arrives in a few months. Taylor said version 2.0 should be ready for prime time by January 2019. "Much of the necessary programming is finished," Taylor said in a post to the Packrats reflector. "Many of the new features have been tested on the air and we find them to work well." Taylor was quick to point out that the new capabilities are not yet publicly available, not even in beta form. He said that he, Steve Franke, K9AN, and Bill Somerville, G4WJS, have been developing "enhanced versions of the MSK144 and FT8 protocols that extend the message payload to 77 bits." "Do not rush to download something," he cautioned. "There is more testing and code optimization to do." He said current plans call for a beta-testing period "probably starting in mid-to-late September," with a full release "possible a couple of months later." Thanks to Emil, ZS1XB and SARL News for this item http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2018/july/wsjt-x-version-2-0.htm
I think this will add some much needed improvements. Anyone know how to get on a beta list with them? Couldn't find anything on the site.
More importantly, does Joe Taylor think it might be a good idea to consult the amateur community much more widely before launching his ideas of amateur radio on the bands? Other notions of radio are available - and should be discussed.
FYI - there is a WSJT group on Yahoo with nearly 5000 members of which Joe K1JT and others in the development team are members and frequent participants. Their is an active and lively dialog on FT8 and related modes, hundreds of forum posts per month. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/wsjtgroup/info
Others are free to use JT65 and FT8 and whatever other modes may be introduced in the future...or not. This is democracy in action, and should be embraced.
