WSJT-X 2.0

[IK0ZCW]

"The first candidate release (WSJT-X 2.0-rc1) is now available for download and use by beta testers", Joe, K1JT announced on 17 September. WSJT-X 2.0 will be a major upgrade, whose many new features and
enhancements since Version 1.9.1 are summarized here:
http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/New_Features_WSJT-X_2.0.txt
If you plan to use the beta-test release candidate, you must read the "Quick Start Guide to WSJT-X 2.0" first: http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Quick_Start_WSJT-X_2.0.pdf
Further details and a download link to the Windows installation package can be found on the WSJT-X web site: http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html
This candidate release is your first chance to test the new features and provide feedback to the WSJT Development Group (the mailing list can be found at https://sourceforge.net/p/wsjt/mailman/wsjt-devel/).

[IK0ZCW]

A fourth candidate release ("RC4") of WSJT-X 2.0 has been available for download and use by beta testers since 13 November. The"Quick-Start Guide to WSJT-X 2.0" has been revised and extended, and must be
read thoroughly before using RC4:
http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Quick_Start_WSJT-X_2.0.pdf
The version of FT8 (and of MSK144 as well) in the new release is not backward-compatible with the original protocol. This means that anyone using an earlier version of the software will be unable to decode transmissions from users of v2.0.0-rc4, and vice-versa. "To minimize this cross-protocol interference we suggest initially using the RC4 release at audio TX frequencies 2000 Hz and higher. As more users upgrade their software to RC4 or later, activity can gradually move downward in audio frequency. By December 10 or very soon afterward, everyone should upgrade to the full WSJT-X 2.0 general availability (GA) release".
Download links for RC4 on Windows, Linux, and macOS can be found on the WSJT-X web page: http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html.

[IK0ZCW]

A fifth candidate release ("RC5") of WSJT-X 2.0 has been Available for download and use by beta testers since 26 November. The "Quick-Start Guide to WSJT-X 2.0" has been updated, and must be read thoroughly before using RC5:
http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Quick_Start_WSJT-X_2.0.pdf "RC5 is stable, works well, and fixes the known problems in RC4. It is likely that the General Availability (GA) release of WSJT-X 2.0, scheduled for 10 December, will be nearly identical to RC5.
We recommend using RC5 (and therefore the v2.0 FT8 protocol) in the conventional FT8 sub-bands at audio TX frequencies 2000 Hz and higher.
Inevitably the necessary transition from v1.x to v2.0 protocols for FT8 and MSK144 will cause some confusion and cross-protocol interference. Users of v1.9.1 and earlier are unable to decode transmissions from users of RC4 and later, and vice-versa.
As more users upgrade their software to WSJT-X 2.0 - and particularly after the General Availability (GA) release on 10 December - the new protocol should start to dominate the conventional FT8 sub-bands. As soon as possible after 10 December, and certainly by 1 January 2019, everyone should be using WSJT-X 2.0 or a compatible v2.0 version of derivative programs such as JTDX or MSHV".
Download links for RC5 on Windows, Linux, and macOS can be found on the WSJT-X web page: http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html.

[IK0ZCW]

The General Availability (GA) release of WSJT-X Version 2.0.0. has been available for download since 10 December. "If you have been using version 1.9.1 or earlier, or one of the candidate releases v2.0.0-rc#,
it's important to upgrade now", K1JT says. "The original protocols for FT8 and MSK144 are no longer supported. With v1.9.1 and earlier you cannot communicate with WSJT-X 2.0 using these modes. We now recommend using WSJT-X 2.0 anywhere in the conventional FT8 and MSK144 sub-bands. Everyone should upgrade to v2.0 by no later than January 1, 2019". Links to installation packages for Windows, Linux, and Macintosh are available here: http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html