Ham Radio Pro Software
WSJT-X
WSJT-X implements communication protocols or “modes” called FST4, FST4W, FT4, FT8, JT4, JT9, JT65, Q65, MSK144, and WSPR, as well as one called Echo for detecting and measuring your own radio signals reflected from the Moon. These modes were designed for making reliable, confirmed QSOs under extreme weak-signal conditions.
JT4, JT9, and JT65 use nearly identical message structure and source encoding (the efficient compression of standard messages used for minimal QSOs). They use timed 60-second T/R sequences synchronized with UTC. JT4 and JT65 were designed for EME (“moonbounce”) on the VHF/UHF/microwave bands. JT9 is optimized for the MF and HF bands. It is about 2 dB more sensitive than JT65 while using less than 10% of the bandwidth. Q65 offers submodes with a wide range of T/R sequence lengths and tone spacings; it is highly recommended for EME, ionospheric scatter, and other weak signal work on VHF, UHF, and microwave bands.
FT4 and FT8 are operationally similar but use T/R cycles only 7.5 and 15 s long, respectively. MSK144 is designed for Meteor Scatter on the VHF bands. These modes offer enhanced message formats with support for nonstandard callsigns and some popular contests.
FST4 and FST4W are designed particularly for the LF and MF bands. On these bands their fundamental sensitivities are better than other WSJT-X modes with the same sequence lengths, approaching the theoretical limits for their rates of information throughput. FST4 is optimized for two-way QSOs, while FST4W is for quasi-beacon transmissions of WSPR-style messages. FST4 and FST4W do not require the strict, independent time synchronization and phase locking of modes like EbNaut.
WSPR mode implements a protocol designed for probing potential propagation paths with low-power transmissions. WSPR is fully implemented within WSJT-X, including programmable “band-hopping”.
Documentation
Latest General Availability (GA) releases: WSJT-X 2.6.1
Changes from earlier versions, and in particular from versions 2.6.0 and 2.5.4, are described in the Release Notes.
If you will use the Q65 mode, please read the Quick-Start Guide to Q65. On Windows platforms, WSJT-X 2.6 also includes MAP65 3.0, a wideband polarization-matching tool intended for EME. If you will use MAP65, be sure to read the Quick-Start Guide to WSJT-X 2.5.0 and MAP65 3.0.
Upgrading from a previous version will be straightforward. There is no need to uninstall or move any files. If you want to make sure to have the latest list of default working frequencies, go to File | Settings | Frequencies, right-click in the Working Frequencies list, and select Reset.
Documentation: The WSJT-X 2.6.1 User Guide is available online. This document should always be your first source for help. Use your browser’s search facility to find a keyword or topic.
- English (v2.6) – html
- English (v2.6) – pdf
- German (v2.5) (OE1EQW)
- Swedish (v2.6.1) (SM7VRZ)
- French (v2.0) (ON4CN)
- Norwegian (v2.6) (LA6VQ)
- Italian (v2.0) (IZ8EEI)
- Russian (v2.1) (RA3TOX)
- Dutch (v2.6) (ON4CKT)
- Japanese (v2.2, pdf) (JA7UDE)
- Spanish (v2.2) (EA4BAS)
German translations of two associated documents by Enrico Schürrer, OE1EQW:
If you plan to use FT8 DXpedition Mode, be sure to read the FT8 DXpedition Mode User Guide.
- English: FT8 DXpedition Mode (K1JT)
- German: FT8 DXpeditions-Modus–Handbuch (OE1EQW)
- Polish: FT8 Tryb Ekspedycji DX dla stacji Hound (SP9TTG)
- Norwegian: FT8 DX-pedisjonsmodus Brukerveiledning (LA6VQ)
- Swedish: FT8 DXpedition-läget Bruksanvisning (SM7VRZ)
- Finnish: FT8 DXpedition Mode Käyttäjäopas (Finnish) (OH1KH)
- Japanese: FT8 DXペディションモードユーザーガイド (JA7UDE)
- Portuguese: FT8 DXpedition Mode (CT1EKD)
- French: Mode FT8 DXpedition Guide de l’utilisateur (F8RZ)
- Dutch: FT8 DXpeditie-modus Gebruikershandleiding (PD0NUD)
- Spanish: Guia de usuario del modo Expedición DX de FT8 (EA4TV)
- Chinese: FT8_远征模式 使用指南 (BG2KAJ)
- Italian: FT8_DXpedition_Mode (PY1ZRJ)
- Russian FT8_мода_для_DXpedition (UN0LL)
- Korean FT8 DXpedition Mode (HL3AMO)
- Croatian FT8 DXpedition Mode (9A2JK)
Versions of WSJT-X labeled with a “-rcx” suffix, for example WSJT-X v2.2.0-rc6, are Release Candidates sometimes offered temporarily for beta testing purposes. You should upgrade to the GA release when it becomes available. The -rc# program versions are not suitable for long-term general use.