// Status=review

_WSJT-X_ is a computer program designed to facilitate basic amateur
radio communication using very weak signals. The first four letters in
the program name stand for "`**W**eak **S**ignal communication by
K1**JT**,`" while the suffix "`*-X*`" indicates that _WSJT-X_ started
as an extended branch of an earlier program, _WSJT_, first released in
2001.  Bill Somerville, G4WJS, Steve Franke, K9AN, and Nico Palermo,
IV3NWV, have been major contributors to development of _WSJT-X_ since
2013, 2015, and 2016, respectively. Bill Somerville died suddenly and
unexpectedly in December 2021; Uwe Risse, DG2YCB, joined the core
development team soon afterward, followed by Brian Moran, N9ADG
(2022) and John Nelson, G4KLA and Charlie Suckling, DL3WDG (2024). 

_WSJT-X Improved_ was developed by Uwe Risse, DG2YCB, using the same core
code base as _WSJT-X_ to incorporate many additional optional features for 
enhanced  operational functionality.  Transitioning from _WSJT-X_ 
to _WSJT-X Improved_ is straightforward. Original settings for _WSJT-X_ 
are preserved.

Everything described below for _WSJT-X_ also applies to _WSJT-X Improved_. 
It is only referred specifically to _WSJT-X Improved_ in this User Guide 
if the feature in question is only available there.

_WSJT-X_ provides spectral displays for receiver passbands as wide as
5 kHz, flexible rig control for nearly all modern radios used by
amateurs, and a wide variety of special aids such as automatic Doppler
tracking for EME QSOs and Echo testing.  The program runs equally well
on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux systems, and installation packages
are available for all three platforms.

*Version Numbers:* _WSJT-X_ release numbers have major, minor, and
patch numbers separated by periods: for example, _WSJT-X_ Version
2.7.0.  Temporary _beta release_ candidates are sometimes made in
advance of a new general-availability release, in order to obtain user
feedback.  For example, version 2.7.0-rc1, 2.7.0-rc2, etc., would
be beta releases leading up to the final release of v2.7.0.
Release candidates should be used _only_ during a short testing
period. They carry an implied obligation to provide feedback to the
program development group.  Candidate releases should not be used on
the air after a full release with the same number is made.

A companion program _MAP65_, written by K1JT, is designed for EME
communication using the JT65 and Q65 protocols. When used with RF
hardware providing coherent signal channels for two orthogonal
polarizations, the program provides automatic polarization-matched
reception for every JT65 or Q65 signal in a 90 kHz passband.  On the
Windows platform, _MAP65_ is installed automatically along with
_WSJT-X_.
