[wsjt-devel] WSJT-X 2.5.0-rc1 and MAP65 3.0-rc1

[Joe T. <jo...@pr...>]

Dear WSJT-X and MAP65 Users,

We are pleased to announce that a public Release Candidate WSJT-X 
2.5.0-rc1 is ready for download by beta testers.

WSJT-X in this release is nearly identical to that in WSJT-X 2.4.0.  The 
Q65 decoder has been enhanced to measure and compensate for linear 
frequency drift in Q65 signals.  In addition, the Windows installation 
package now includes version 3.0 of program MAP65.

Potential interests of users in this release candidate can be sorted 
into three main categories:

1. If you are currently using MAP65 for EME, we strongly recommend 
installing WSJT-X 2.5.0-rc1.  On the Windows platform this action 
automatically installs MAP65 3.0.0-rc1 as well.  MAP65 3.0 is a major 
upgrade that incorporates the Q65 mode, complete with support for LiveCQ 
and other features enjoyed by MAP65 users for many years.

2. If you are currently using an earlier version of WSJT or WSJT-X for 
EME, or using the Q65 protocol for any purpose, WSJT-X 2.5.0-rc1 offers 
a faster and more robust decoder for Q65.  If you are using JT65 or JT4 
for EME on any band, we recommend switching to the Q65 mode and 
encouraging others to do so using WSJT-X 2.5.0-rc1.

3. If you are not currently interested in Q65, EME, or MAP65, there is 
little reason for you to try WSJT-X 2.5.0-rc1.  For your present 
purposes WSJT-X 2.4.0 is just as good.

Please note that MAP65 is installed automatically only on the Windows 
platform.  Please let us know if using MAP65 in Linux or macOS would be 
important for you.

If you need more information on recent additions to the capabilities of 
WSJT-X and MAP65, these short papers may be of interest:

"Quick-Start Guide to FST4 and FST4W"
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/FST4_Quick_Start.pdf

"Quick-Start Guide to Q65"
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Q65_Quick_Start.pdf

"Quick-Start Guide to WSJT-X 2.5.0 and MAP65 3.0"
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/WSJTX_2.5.0_MAP65_3.0_Quick_Start.pdf

"Q65 Sensitivity in MAP65 3.0"
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Q65_Sensitivity_in_MAP65.pdf

Links for downloading WSJT-X 2.5.0 can be found on the WSJT-X Home Page,
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html
Scroll down to find "Candidate release:  WSJT-X 2.5.0-rc1".

WSJT-X and MAP65 are licensed under the terms of Version 3 of the GNU 
General Public License (GPLv3).  Development of this software is a 
cooperative project to which many amateur radio operators have 
contributed.  If you use our code, please have the courtesy to let us 
know about it.  If you find bugs or make improvements to the code, 
please report them to us in a timely fashion.

We hope you will enjoy using this beta release of WSJT-X 2.5.0 and MAP65 
3.0.0, and exercising the new mode Q65.  As a beta tester you should 
report on your experiences with new features, successful and otherwise, 
on one of the relevant WSJT forums.  Bugs should be reported by 
following instructions found here in the User Guide:

https://www.physics.princeton.edu//pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.5.0-rc1.html#_bug_reports

-- 73 from Joe, K1JT; Bill, G4WJS; Steve, K9AN; and Nico, IV3NWV