I've recently learned about these additions to the WSJTx.
You can stop reading here if you have no
interest.
Short version: WSJT team is creating a version of FTx that
sends any message of any length that you want.
Long version:
A problem with the WSJT message types (FT4, FT8, FST4, Q65,
MSK144) are that they can't send an arbitrary message (any text
message and length that you want).
RTTY and PSK can send any text that you want (with the new radios
it is trivial to send/receive RTTY, the tuning is shown and the
radio itself decodes the messages) but they are slow and create
(compared to WSJT) large messages.
The WSJT team is creating a version of FTx that sends any message
you want, it's called JRTTY.
The description below is from the Google AI
--------------------------------------------------------
JTTY
is an upcoming digital protocol being developed by the
WSJT-X
development team, the same group behind FT8 and JT65. Its goal is
to provide the familiar keyboard-to-keyboard chat and fast contest
feel of traditional RTTY, but with vastly improved weak-signal
performance and a significantly lower error rate.
[1, 2, 3]
While
standard
RTTY is a legacy mode most often seen during organized
contests like the ARRL RTTY Roundup, JTTY is aimed at bringing
modern, efficient signal processing to that conversational and
contesting style.
[1, 2, 3]
- Release
Status: JTTY is currently in active development
by the core WSJT team and is slated to debut in an upcoming
WSJT-X release candidate. [1]
- Operational
Goal: It is designed specifically for fast
RTTY-like contest exchanges and general keyboard-to-keyboard
QSO chatting, functioning similarly to older standards but
with superior error correction. [1]
- Third-Party
Support: Companion apps like JTAlert will need
time to integrate JTTY's free-form or variable-length
message structures once the mode officially rolls out.
[1]
You
can track the development and release of JTTY by checking the
WSJT-X
GitHub Repository or the
WSJT-X
Development Pages.
[1]
Special
& Enhanced Message Types
These
types are reserved for non-standard callsigns, contests, and
specific activities:
- Type
6: Arbitrary
Text / Telemetry. Allows for custom
alphanumeric messages up to 13 characters (e.g.,
W1AW
GIVING 73).
- Type
7: Compound
Call Signs. Encodes non-standard
prefixes/suffixes (e.g.,
/P,
/R,
or DXpedition formats).
- Type
8: DXpedition
/ Fox & Hounds Format. Used specifically
for rare DX stations managing heavy pileups.
- Type
9: Contest
Exchanges. Sends brief report codes or serial
numbers depending on the specific contest (e.g., ARRL
Field Day).
- Type
10: QSY
/ Message System. Used to command or request
a QSY (frequency change). [1,
2, 3, 4,
5]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More details on FTx:
Standard
Message Types (FT4, FT8, FST4, Q65, MSK144)
These
types are used for everyday contacts:
[1, 2]
- Type
0: Standard
QSO (e.g.,
CQ
W1AW FN42). Used for directional CQs and
standard callsign exchanges.
- Type
1: Grid
Locator Exchange (e.g.,
W1AW
K1JT FN42). Used to send your Maidenhead
Grid Square.
- Type
2: Signal
Report (e.g.,
K1JT
W1AW -15). Used to exchange signal-to-noise
ratios (SNR).
- Type
3: Acknowledgment
(e.g.,
W1AW
K1JT R-15). Sending a Roger (R) along with
the signal report.
- Type
4: Roger-Roger-Roger
(e.g.,
K1JT
W1AW RR73). Indicates all previous reports
have been received successfully.
- Type
5: 73
(e.g.,
W1AW
K1JT 73). Used to end the contact formally.
[1,
2,
3,
4,
5]
If you stuck with reading this to
here, thanks!
I'm particularly interested in the RTTY
part, I operate RTTY contests because they are so easy
with an IC-7610 and I had a teletype machine in the late
1960's & early '70s. Some other guys in my town and my
age had them, we built Terminal Units (modems but not
called that then) and used it on 2m AM with <10W
crystal controlled radios that Civil Defense gave us for
our emergency work.