WSJT-X howto on 7610

1

I have WSJT-X copying FT8 traffic using my LAN-connected 7610 and wfview. But I can’t figure out the CAT and rig control settings for WSJT-X. Since I’m not using the USB CIV port on the Icom, is there some pseudo device created for programs like WSJT-X? Or is this a feature yet to be implemented? Or did I miss something in the manual?

Thanks so much for your work - wfview is awesome!

73,
Doug K4DSP

2

Hi Doug,

Good question. The pseudo-terminal only works with the Linux build. Under Linux, a “fake” serial port appears at /tmp/rig, which other programs can latch on to as though it is a real serial port. We do have some stuff coming out soon though which will alleviate the issue in Windows. Phil can elaborate on this, I’m not really sure what the status is for the various options.

Thanks,

–E
de W6EL

3

Hi Doug,

I just read your comment on the Downloads page at wfview.org, and realized you are running linux. What you need to do, is configure WSJT-X to use /tmp/rig as a serial port. The baud rate is, I believe, not important – pick whatever is the default. If WSJT-X doesn’t let you put in the pseudo-term device, simply configure the program for an IC-7610, save the settings, and then exit. The WSJT-X settings file (according to a google search I ran) is located at ~/.config/WSJT-X.ini. Edit the file so that the serial port device is “/tmp/rig”.

Now, once you have WSJT-X tricked into using the pseudo-term, here are some tips:

  1. Open wfview first, and confirm operation of the rig.

  2. Second, open WSJT-X.

  3. If you do happen to close WSJT-X, you’ll need to close wfview and re-open it to establish the pseudo-term device. I hope to get that working more smoothly in the future.

Let me know if you run into any trouble. I don’t do FT-8 myself, but others on our project do and have made this method work.

73,

de W6EL

4

Although you are running on Linux, I thought I would just add a quick word about this functionality in Windows was proceeding.

Currently this can be made to work using Serial Port emulation software. I have tested VSPE http://www.eterlogic.com/Products.VSPE.html so far but any software that can create a “pair” of virtual serial ports should work.

At the moment, the serial port number expected at the wfview end is COM20: this is hardcoded. Using VSPE (or whatever) create a pair of serial ports with one end being COM20: and whatever number you choose at the other end. Then once wfview is restarted you can connect WSJT-X (or any other software that supports CAT control) to the ‘other end’ of the pair of COM ports and it should work!

Before release 1 of wfview, I hope to have a more elegant solution to this with the ability to select the port of your choice but it is currently fixed at COM20!

73 Phil M0VSE

5

Thanks Elliott, that took care of things, and WSJT-X is working fine now.
73,
Doug K4DSP