On 12 Sep 2009 at 9:09, John Andrews wrote:
> As you point out, the WSPR program does not seem to have a way to
> compensate for far-off actual sampling rates. But WSPR's author, K1JT,
> has a jack-of-all-trades program called WSJT that DOES allow for
> calibration. WSPR is one of a number of modes offered in WSJT. So, that
> might be a way out for those stuck with on-board audio setups.
I had a quick play with WSJT7. But it looks as if WSPR was an add on to
the original program, its implementation is a bit basic and the GUI
totally different from the separate WSPR program.
1. The bands seem to be pre-programmed in, you select just by the band
and there seems to be no means of setting a custom frequency. 500kHz
(and 60m) are noticeably absent, there is no 'other'.
2. The displayed decodes are a different format and it only tells you
the call decoded, dB strength and a DF figure in Hz from presumably
what it considers the centre of the WSPR spectrum - not the actual
frequency, and the time of the decode is not given.
3. There is no band map, the upper right hand corner is taken up with a
moon data window which may be of interest to moon bounce people.... and
this cannot be turned off.
4. There is a seperate waterfall display in a seperate window, which
may be useful to some.
5. Although it obviously decodes in the same 2 minute periods it does
not show this by displaying 'waiting to start' at any time, it shows
'receiving' continuously. I also failed to work out how to set any TX
periods, or how to be sure I had turned them off.
6. There seems no option to upload spots.
7. And if you select any other soundcard input than the default 0 one
it crashes at startup. From a Google this is a well known problem...
8. Supplied documentation is patchy. The main manual does not even
mention WSPR mode and the additional quick guide for WSPR talks a lot
about theory but virtally nil about actually using it.
I didn't get round to doing any sound card calibration, it obvously can
be done but even that looked to be a bit fiddly. I hope K1JT does add a
calibration routine to WSPR to address this issue.
73 Dave G3YMC
http://www.davesergeant.com
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