
I am pleased to announce general availability of version 1.0 of WSJT,
a software package designed for amateur radio communication at VHF
using the technique of high speed meteor scatter.  The software can be
downloaded from URL http://pulsar.princeton.edu/~joe/K1JT.  A full
distribution if provided, as well as a special package for easy
upgrade from an earlier version.  WSJT is free and available to anyone
for amateur radio use.

Beta-release versions of WSJT have been widely used throughout North
America and Europe over the past two months.  Several thousand hame
have downloaded the program, and many thousands of QSOs have been made
with it on the 2 and 6 meter bands.  Most of these QSOs have been
under "dead band" conditions and without benefit of meteor showers.
Typical paths for this type of communication are in the range 500 to
1400 miles (800 to 2250 km).

The program has evolved through several beta releases, and will no
doubt continue to evolve.  Version 1.0 contains a number of
enhancements from in both performance and convenience.  Most hams who
have tried WSJT have found it easy and fun to use -- a big step beyond
high speed CW, and a *vast* step beyond SSB, for meteor scatter work.
WSJT does not require any proficiency with Morse code.

OVERVIEW OF FEATURES
--------------------

   - Same hardware and operating system requirements as PSK31, 
     WinMSDSP, and other soundcard based amateur radio software
   - Uses four-tone frequency-shift keying at 441 baud
   - Makes highly effective use of SSB audio bandwidth
   - Produces a clean transmitted spectrum
   - Transmission speed 147 characters per second, or 8820 LPM
   - Converts barely audible pings to solid copy on critical 
     short messages


HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
----------------------------------

   - SSB station for one or more VHF bands
   - Computer running Windows 95, 98 or ME.  Windows 2000 and
     a beta release of Windows XP have also been found to work,
     although the present level of testing has been less.
   - 75 MHz Pentium or faster CPU
   - Monitor running at 800 x 600 or higher resolution
   - At least 32 MB RAM
   - At least 40 MB of free disk space
   - Windows-compatible soundcard
   - Station interface like those required for PSK31, MFSK16,
     Hellschreiber, etc.  The DTR or RTS line of one COM port is used 
     to key your transmitter's PTT line.  Standard connections are 
     required between your radio's audio output and the computer 
     soundcard input, and vice-versa.


UPGRADING FROM A PREVIOUS VERSION
---------------------------------

If you are already a user of WSJT, please read the file UPDATE.TXT to
see a detailed list of changes.  Then upgrade your station to version 
1.0 as soon as possible.  You will be glad you did!

If you would like to communicate with me about WSJT, please send email
to k1jt@arrl.net.  

	 		 -- 73, Joe, K1JT
