Joe, I am new to this list (having only realised it was open for me to subscribe to this week). I was also one of those pesky DXPedition stations who wanted to (and originally had intended to) use Expedition mode pre-GA when I reach Vanuatu on the 16th of April.
I've now, out of respect of your now very clearly stated wishes this morning, made the decision that there will be no use of expedition mode from YJ0AG unless there is a GA release (which isn’t expected before the close of the expedition).. (see http://vk5gr-iota.net). Having said that, if the testing team were willing to allow me to join in the testing effort, I would be more than willing to run it as part of an extended test from Vanuatu (only if you agreed). I would only, however, offer to do this if it could be structured in such a way as to be beneficial to the team here. I see this as a real world opportunity to evaluate just how it will react over a wide variety of bands, propagation types and times of day. This suggestion is made with the knowledge that the user community will not behave and will use the wrong version of software, not set the right mode, not set their CAT controls etc etc. I feel that those inputs are in fact valid considerations for any Beta test. The earlier versions of the software are out there now and in a real world situation you will not be able to avoid those operator errors. Consider it destructive testing. Surely it would be worthwhile to consider all the bad things it does as well as the good in finalising the design? Of course, I would take all measures necessary to collect whatever logging and evidence your team requires in support of the testing. Ideally, (internet connectivity permitting) my intention would be to send you those logs whilst I am still on Vanuatu. Please give my request to participate in the project some consideration. I am not a coder, but my observation and testing skills hopefully could make a worthwhile contribution if the team was willing to include me. Regards, Grant VK5GR / E6AG / YJ0AG - IOTA DXPeditioner P.S. I realise I am unknown to this team. I offer the following to perhaps set the tone for my request more properly: * I have worked professionally in the cellular telecoms engineering arena for over 25 years and more recently systems architecture areas. I have in that time been involved in complex software development processes (albeit not down at coding level) in particularly around high level requirements and test plan design and execution. * I have been active in digital modes within the hobby for over 30 years having operated AX.25 networks, RTTY and PSK extensively as well as JT65, FT8, JT9 and others. * I have backgrounds in IARU (I was the VK liaison for a number of years) and HF/VHF/UHF Band Planning through my previous engagements on the technical advisory board of the WIA. Though this work perhaps I could also offer some commentary and feedback on frequency selection. You will note from my blog I have elected to use alternate frequencies that differ from your proposals. I am happy to discuss my choices and justifications down the track. -----Original Message----- From: Joe Taylor [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, 30 March 2018 5:46 AM To: WSJT software development Subject: [wsjt-devel] Premature use of FT8 DXpedition Mode Everyone paying attention should already know what's contained in this message -- but it's clear that some do not. The current General Availability (GA) release of WSJT-X is v1.8.0. That program version does not include FT8 DXpedition Mode. We have made beta-level "release candidates" available for the explicit purpose of testing FT8 DXpedition Mode. The release candidates have included cautionary warnings to the effect that in its present form, DXpedition Mode should be used only for controlled testing. A few operators or groups have ignored our warnings and tried to use FT8 DXpedition Mode in true pileup situations. The consequences are predictably bad -- especially when the offending operator(s) have chosen their frequencies badly and other operators are using a mix of program versions including v1.8.0, v1.9.0-rc2, v1.9.0-rc3, some version of JTDX. FT8 DXpedition Mode is not yet ready for “production” use. Until WSJT-X v1.9.0 is fully released -- not a beta-level "release candidate", but a full General Availability release -- DXpedition Mode should be used only in controlled test situations. The next public test of FT8 DXpedition Mode conducted by the WSJT Development Group will be conducted on April 7, a little over a week from now. You are cordially invited to join us for this test. See the announcement posted here yesterday (Subject: WSJT-X v1.9.0-rc3: Testing of FT8 DXpedition Mode) for details. -- 73, Joe, K1JT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ wsjt-devel mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wsjt-devel ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ wsjt-devel mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wsjt-devel
