Interacting with WSJT-X

SpotCollector Online Help Contents

SpotCollector can accept connection requests from up to 16 instances of WSJT-X:

one instance of WSJT-X running on the same computer on which Commander and SpotCollector are running, configured to use Commander to control the transceiver to whose audio input and output it is connected via a soundcard; the Rig selector on the Radio tab of this WSJT-X instance's Settings window is set to DXLab Suite Commander
- the instance of Commander running on the computer on which SpotCollector is running is referred to as the local Commander instance
- the instance of WSJT-X running on the computer on which SpotCollector is running is referred to as the local WSJT-X instance.
multiple instances of WSJT-X running on the same computer on which SpotCollector is running, each directly controlling a transceiver to whose audio input and output it is connected via a soundcard; the Rig selector on the Radio tab of this WSJT-X instance's Settings window is set to the transceiver model, and the tab's Serial Port Parameters and PTT Method panels are configured appropriately.
- to start multiple instances of WSJT-X on the same computer, initiate them from a CMD window using the rig-name command line argument, as described in the WSJT_X User Manual
multiple instances of WSJT-X, each running on another network-connected computer, and configured to use Commander to control the transceiver to whose audio input and output it is connected via a soundcard; the Rig selector on the Radio tab of each WSJT-X instance's Settings window is set to DXLab Suite Commander.
multiple instances of WSJT-X running on one or more network-connected computers, each directly controlling a transceiver to whose audio input and output it is connected via a soundcard; the Rig selector on the Radio tab of each WSJT-X instance's Settings window is set to the transceiver model, and the tab's Serial Port Parameters and PTT Method panels are configured appropriately.
- to start multiple instances of WSJT-X on the same computer, initiate them from a CMD window using the rig-name command line argument, as described in the WSJT_X User Manual

When connected to one or more instances of WSJT-X, SpotCollector

creates or updates a Spot Database Entry for a station decoded by an instance of WSJT-X, recording the station's grid square and current Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)

the Entry's Network field will be set to WSJTX
the Entry's Source field will be set to your callsign
the Entry's ActualSNR, will be set to the reported SNR
if the reported SNR is smaller than the Entry's ActualSNRMin field, the Entry's ActualSNRMin will be set to the reported SNR
if the reported SNR is larger than the Entry's ActualSNRMax field, the Entry's ActualSNRMax will be set to the reported SNR

creates or updates a Spot Database Entry for a station reported with an SNR by a station decoded by an instance of WSJT-X
- the Entry's Network field will be set to WSJTX
- the Entry's Source field will be set to the callsign of the reporting station
- the Entry's ActualSNR, ActualSNRMin, and ActualSNRMax fields will all be set to -9999, which in the Spot Database Display are displayed as blank
updates the font colors and background colors used by WSJT-X to display callsigns in its Main window's Band Activity panel to reflect award need and eQSL/LoTW participation, respectively
if enabled, sets the font color used by WSJT-X to display CQs in its Main window's Band Activity panel
if enabled, sets the font color used by WSJT-X to display the words 73 and RR73 in its Main window's Band Activity panel
if enabled, sets the font color used by WSJT-X to display your callsign in its Main window's Band Activity panel
responds to the selection or specification of a new DX Call in WSJT-X by optionally
- directing DXKeeper (if running) to filter its Log Page Display to show previous QSOs with the callsign
- directing DXView (if running) to lookup the callsign
- directing Pathfinder (if running) to invoke its automatic search for the callsign's QSL information
responds to double-clicking a Spot Database Entry whose station is operating in a K1JT mode (FT4, FT8, JT65, JT65A, JT65B, JT65B2, JT65C, JT65C2, MFSK144, Q65, WSPR) by
- directing DXKeeper (if running) to filter its Log Page Display to show previous QSOs with the Spot Database Entry's callsign
- directing DXView (if running) to lookup the Spot Database Entry's callsign and, if the CTRL or ALT keys have were depressed during the double-click, rotate your antenna to the appropriate short-path or long-path heading respectively
- directing Pathfinder (if running) to invoke its automatic search for the Spot Database Entry's callsign's QSL information
- if a sub-band in the Spot Database Entry's band is defined, if the Entry's band and mode correspond to the instance of WSJT-X running on the same computer on which SpotCollector is running, and if Commander is also running on that computer, then Commander directs the transceiver to
  - QSY to the bottom of the mode's sub-band in the Spot Database Entry's band
  - change mode to that specified in the Transceiver mode for WSJT-X panel
responds to right-clicking a Spot Database Entry and selecting the QSY command from the pop-up menu if the Entry's station is operating in a K1JT mode (FT4, FT8, JT65, JT65A, JT65B, JT65B2, JT65C, JT65C2, MFSK144, Q65, WSPR), if a sub-band in the Spot Database Entry's band is defined, if the Entry's band and mode correspond to the instance of WSJT-X running on the same computer on which SpotCollector is running, and if Commander is also running on that computer, by directing Commander to direct the transceiver to
- QSY to the bottom of the mode's sub-band in the Spot Database Entry's band
- change mode to that specified in the Transceiver mode for WSJT-X panel
responds to a "logged QSO" report for a callsign from an instance of WSJT-X by directing DXKeeper (if running) to log the QSO
- Information logged
  - information specified on the WSJT-X Settings window's General tab
    - Station Callsign
  - information present in the WSJT-X Log QSO window when you click its OK button
    - Callsign
    - Start date and time
    - End time and time
    - Mode
    - Band
    - Report Sent
    - Report Received
    - Grid Square
    - Name
    - TX Power
    - Comments
    - Operator
    - Exchange Sent (not described in WSJT-X documentation; do not use)
    - Exchange Rcvd (not described in WSJT-X documentation; do not use)
  - the DX grid square extracted from the most recent Spot Database Entry on the logged band in the logged mode, if no Grid Square is specified in the WSJT-X Log QSO window
  - Antenna Azimuth, Antenna Path, and Distance
    - based on the most recent rotation command DXView sent to the rotator it's controlling, if DXView is running and controlling a rotator
    - computed assuming a great circle short path if DXView is not running, or is not controlling a rotator, or has not yet sent a heading to the rotator it's controlling
  - the SFI, A, and K from the WWV panel on SpotCollector's Main window
  - information provided by an override, if one is specified for the callsign
  - eQSL.cc membership information from the eQSL database, if installed
  - LoTW membership information from the LoTW database, if installed
  - information provided by a callbook lookup that is not specified in the WSJT-X Log QSO window, if enabled
  - Defaults for missing items
- Options
  - query the callbook currently selected in DXKeeper
  - upload the logged QSO to eQSL
  - upload the logged QSO to LoTW
  - upload the logged QSO to ClubLog
  - upload the logged QSO to your QRZ Logbook
- If DXKeeper does not confirm execution of the Log directive within 15 seconds, or if a new Log directive arrives before the previous Log directive has been completed, then SpotCollector will inform you, and append the QSO's ADIF record to a file named UnloggedQSOs.adi in its Databases folder. After this happens,
  - direct DXKeeper to import UnloggedQSOs.adi with duplicate checking enabled
  - delete UnloggedQSOs.adi