compiling WSPR and WSJT for Linux and Windows

I have been out of the loop for compiling my own  packages of WSPR and WSJT for a couple years now due to other family and work commitments.  Now I am getting settled again and getting back to it.

Having a recent look at the WSJT home page shows me that there have been some changes since the changeover to QT4 IDE suite, now there is a fully bundled SDK, called JTSDK 2.0 which includes  QT5 and other required tools and libraries, to make a standardised full development kit,  available  for both Windows and Linux platforms.

This is a major step forward in making it easy for Hams to be able to compile WSJT and WSPR against their own desired Linux O/S platform.  I had found it very time consuming  having to debug and compile over and over for each Linux O/S that I wanted to try this on and then do it all over again when I did an update to the particular Linux O/S, whether it be Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu or Centos O/S's.

Here is the link to the WSJT Development page which describes the JTSDK 1.0,

http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx-doc/dev-guide-main.html

which references the replacement by JTSDK 2.0 which is here on Sourceforge site

https://sourceforge.net/projects/jtsdk/

Congratulations to Joe Taylor and the  JT Development teams for the ongoing development  and providing this SDK.

9cm band plan from WIA as of Feb 2016

3398.000 - 3400.000 NARROW BAND MODES      For operation in any part of Australia
3398.000 - 3398.100 EME only
3398.100 - 3398.400 CW / SSB
3398.100 Calling frequency: national primary
3398.200 Calling frequency: national secondary
3398.220 - 3398.240 Digital DX modes
3398.400 - 3398.600 Beacons
3398.600 - 3400.000 Experimental
3400.000 - 3575.000 NO OPERATION IN ACMA RESTRICTED AREAS

 3398.100  the new call frequency  instead of 3400.100

  go to www.wia.org.au/members/bandplans/data/  to get latest bandplans

3.4 GHz (9cm) Activity Day, 25th April 2016 - post mortem

A good day with good weather and high visibility made for good microwave activity,  I went to location just east of Lithgow, (33.4859 S, 150.1886 E QF56CM at 1141m ASL, along with Dom VK2JNA and Geoff VK2AVR.   We  first worked Justin VK2CU/p at Mt Lambie (33.4716 S, 149.9881 E, QF46XM at distance of 21km bearing 272deg,  60/9 signal on FM on 3400.1 MHz.

Then we tried to work Kim VK2ASY/p at the Pinnacle Lookout, (33.3437 S, 149.0289 E, QF46MP, south west of Orange and near to Mt Canobolis, at height of about 1150m ASL bearing 277deg, a distance to us of 108km, but unsuccessful in receiving Kim or Kim receiving us.   Kim did receive Justin VK2CU over at Mt Lambie, a distance of about  87km between them.  Might have been a power output problem for Kim's transmitter.

Then we made contact with Matt VK2DAG/p and Dave VK2JDS/p at Gowan (33.1468 S, 149.3541 E, QF46QU at 1000m ASL bearing 296deg and distance of 85km, successfully working both at signal of 50 on USB, on 3400.1 MHz, with fair bit of QSB,

All stations using the GARC 3.4 GHz panels, except for Justin who had a 3.4 Ghz panel plus a 3.4 Ghz  Minikits xvter, but it was not working too well on TX.

Contacts made between 0400 utc to 0500 utc

3.4 GHz panel with FT-817ND aimed at Justin VK2CU at Mt Lambie QF46XM

Geoff VK2AVR and Dom VK2JNA  portable at QF56CM   1141m ASL very pleased  to make some 3.4 GHz contacts.

Dom VK2JNA and Geoff VK2AVR  portable  at QF56CM  1141m ASL

3.4 GHz panel with FT-817ND aimed at VK2DAG and VK2JDS portable Gowan QF46QU

We running 2w from the FT-817ND into the transverter panel, an IF of 444.1 MHz   =  3400.1 MHz tp produce  less than 1w output.

Dom and Geoff continued the afternoon by perusing some more potential microwave sites, next time we we do a microwave day we  will bring 1.2 GHz  and 10 GHz gear.

I looked at a location on the way back towards Bell, along Chifley Road, at QF56DM, (33.4941 S, 150.2675 E, 1130m ASL)  a good clear, high spot that would give takeoff back to Somersby (Central Coast through Newcastle) so we could work Gary VK2KYP from here.

3.4 GHz (9cm) band Activity Day Monday 25th April

another 9cm (3.4Ghz) Microwave Activity day happening again, this time on Anzac Day, Monday 25th April, aimed to create activity on the 9cm microwave band.
We planning to operate from the NSW Central West,  i.e Lithgow-Bathurst-Orange area.

next 23 on 23 microwave activity day - Saturday 23rd April 2016

Saturday April 23rd will see the next 23-on-23 for 2016. 

As has been the past practice, where the 23rd falls on a weekend the events operating time have been shifted from the evening to a day-time activation event. This has also allowed operators to take full advantage of the time, and head for the hills to trial their /P stations, investigate new paths and hopefully complete a contact with a new station (or more) that they wouldn't normally from their home station. It also provides an opportunity to activate other uWave bands. 

A suggested schedule: 
2:00pm (04:00z) - 03:00pm (05:00z) 23cm SSB/CW only 
3:00pm (05:00z) - 5:00pm (07:00z) 13cm and other uWave bands 

Liaison - 
147.000 Repeater (if the RDRC would again be happy with that) 
40m - 7.150MHz (is that still the recommended QRG?) 
Mobile/cell phone 
VKLogger iChat '23&Above' 

As a number of 23cm operators do not participate in the VKLogger or Facebook forums, please let those who may be interested know by taking a moment to share the plans with them. 

However to allow others to plan their participation, could you please advise your interest, availability and any suggested enhancements to the schedule in the VKLogger thread.

acknowledgment of famous microwavers

http://www.smpte.org.au/main/?p=3164

Two very smart and now very famous hams,  Jack VK2TRF and Greg VK2TPL,

I heard Jack on air some time ago during a quick return visit home, he said he was on a project in Africa, but did not elaborate, now we know what that project was.

The above article  will explain more of their exploits and showing the technical abilities of ham radio ops.

congratulations to Jack and Greg.

3.4 GHz QSO Party post mortem

we had 9 portable ops on 3.4 Ghz (9cm band) across the Sydney basin / Central Coast region today, there was Dave VK2JDS at Kurrajong Heights, Justin VK2CU and Roger Harrison VK2ZRH at Parramatta, Nick VK2FS + Geoff VK2AVR operating the Manly-Warringah Radio Society club station VK2MB at Terrey Hills, and Matt VK2DAG and Gary Beech VK2KYP and Steve VK2XDE  at Mangrove Mountain.. 

It was also good to see a contingency of ZL's operatoring on 3.4 GHz joining in on the day, ZL1TPH, ZL1SWW, ZL1AVZ, ZL1TBG working amongst themselves.

Of course there were several active ops from Geelong ARC and nearby, VK3WRE, VK3ALB, VK3ACG, VK3PY, VK3AKK, VK3BQJ.

As for my contacts, Ioperated from the old Army Artilley School at North Head (QF56pe),  I worked Dave VK2JDS on FM, USB and PSK31, then VK2MB on FM. Attempts were made to work VK2CU and VK2ZRH at Parramatta and Matt VK2DAG at Mangrove Mountain but unsuccessful.  My longest contact was with Dave VK2JDS at 69km

Dave VK2JDS  was able to work VK2MB, then VK2 CU and VK2ZRH at Parramatta, then VK2DAG, VK2KYP and VK2XDE at Mangrove Mountain..

Next, will  plan to do 23cm and 3cm portable.

3.4 Ghz QSO party

this coming Sunday 21st February, (from 10am to 12noon AEDST) is the inaugural  3.4 GHz QSO party,  an idea from the Geelong ARC to promote activity on the 3.4 GHz (9cm) band, based on the recent source of ex-commercial  surplused panels which have been modified to 3.4 GHz.

There will be a group in Geelong area, some more in VK5 and a group in Sydney basin to try and make as many contacts as possible.   In Sydney we have VK2JDS coming down from Bathurst to operate from Kurrajong Heights, matt VK2DAG and Gary VK2KYP up Central Coast,  Nick VK2FS, Geoff VK2AVR operating from Terrey Hills  and I to operate from North Head.

Not sure if the Brisbane microwave guys have got their  panels converted and operational yet.

For those interested in gettng onto 3.4GHz the Geelong ARC now have some more panels for sale, see
Geelong ARC 3.4 GHz Project

4th October, 2015 - my first 3.4Ghz contact, 0110 to 0115 UTC, worked VK2JDS and VK2AVR/p , distance 500 metres at QF46, we finished modifications and tested our transverter units that came from Geelong ARC, .75w o/p FM, 60/9 signals at each end, ready to do some serious 3.4 GHz terrestrial activity. Now have 1296Mhz, 3.4GHz and 10Ghz transverters ready to go.

http://vk3atl.org/3400.php

23cm EME portable activity - 2nd October 2015

VK2KFJ/p long weekend 23cm EME activity, all on JT65C, using 5 metre dish and 120w from QF46

2nd Oct 2015, 2205 utc, PA3CQE, Frans, JO21 Nederlands, -11dB 1296.064, Az 303deg, El 14deg, Doppler -770Hz

2nd Oct 2015, 2211 utc, VK5FA, Andy, QF95mm, -26dB, 1296.070, Az 301deg El 12.5deg, Doppler -3kHz

2nd Oct 2015, 2225 utc, UA9YLU,Victor, MO92hx, -13dB 1296.070, Az 300deg, El 10.6deg, Doppler -1.8khz