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WSPR (amateur radio software)

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WSPR
Developer(s)Joe Taylor, K1JT
Initial release2008
Written inC++ (GUI), Fortran, C [1]
Operating systemCross-platform
Available inEnglish, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian
TypeAmateur radio and DSP
LicenseGPL
Websitewsjt.sourceforge.io

WSPR (pronounced "whisper") is an acronym for Weak Signal Propagation Reporter. It is a protocol, implemented in a computer program, used for weak-signal radio communication between amateur radio operators. The protocol was designed, and a program written initially, by Joe Taylor, K1JT. The software code is now open source and is developed by a small team. The program is designed for sending and receiving low-power transmissions to test propagation paths on the MF and HF bands.

WSPR implements a protocol designed for probing potential propagation paths with low-power transmissions. Transmissions carry a station's callsign, Maidenhead grid locator, and transmitter power in dBm. The program can decode signals with a signal-to-noise ratio as low as −28 dB in a 2500 Hz bandwidth.[2] Stations with internet access can automatically upload their reception reports to a central database called WSPRnet, which includes a mapping facility.

The WSPR Protocol

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The type of radio emission is “F1D”, frequency-shift keying. A message contains a station's callsign, Maidenhead grid locator, and transmitter power in dBm.[3] The WSPR protocol compresses the information in the message into 50 bits (binary digits). These are encoded using a convolutional code with constraint length K = 32 and a rate of r = 1⁄2.[3][4] The long constraint length makes undetected decoding errors less probable, at the cost that the highly efficient Viterbi algorithm must be replaced by a simple sequential algorithm for the decoding process.[3]

Protocol specification

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The standard message is <callsign> + <4 character locator> + <dBm transmit power>; for example “K1ABC FN20 37” is a signal from station K1ABC in Maidenhead grid cell “FN20”, sending 37 dBm, or about 5.0 W (legal limit for 630 m). Messages with a compound callsign and/or 6 digit locator use a two-transmission sequence. The first transmission carries compound callsign and power level, or standard callsign, 4 digit locator, and power level; the second transmission carries a hashed callsign, 6 digit locator, and power level. Add-on prefixes can be up to three alphanumeric characters; add-on suffixes can be a single letter or one or two digits.

  • Fields of a standard message:
28 bits for callsign,
15 bits for locator,
5 bits for power level,
2 bits for message type,
total: 50 bits.
  • Forward error correction (FEC):
non-recursive convolutional code with constraint length K = 32, rate r = 1⁄2.
  • Number of binary channel symbols:
nsym = (50 + K − 1) × 2 = 162.[3]
  • Keying rate is 12000⁄8192 = 1.4648 baud.
  • Modulation is continuous phase 4 FSK, with 1.4648 Hz tone separation.
An Agilent Modulation Domain Analyzer 53310A showing the narrow band 4-FSK signal produced by a Raspberry Pi.
  • Occupied bandwidth is about 6 Hz
  • Synchronization is via a 162 bit pseudo-random sync vector.
  • Each channel symbol conveys one sync bit (LSB) and one data bit (MSB).
  • Duration of transmission is 162 × 8192⁄12000 = 110.6 s.
  • Transmissions nominally start one second into an even UTC minute: e.g., at hh:00:01, hh:02:01, etc.
  • Minimum S/N for reception is around –34 dB on the WSJT scale (2500 Hz reference bandwidth).

Applications

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Raspberry Pi as WSPR transmitter

The protocol was designed to test propagation paths on the LF, MF and HF bands. Also used experimentally at VHF and higher frequencies.

Other applications include antenna testing, frequency stability and frequency accuracy checking.

Usually a WSPR station contains a computer and a transceiver, but it is also possible to build very simple beacon transmitters with little effort.

For example a simple WSPR beacon can be built using the Si 570,[5] or Si 5351.[6] The Raspberry Pi can also be used as WSPR beacon.

Density distribution of WSPR spots, January 2014 vs July 2014, using only most distant reception per spot.

An accurate clock is essential both for transmission and decoding of received signals.

MH370 hypothesis

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In May 2021, aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey suggested examining historical WSPR data as a way to define the flight path of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on 8 March 2014.[7] In November 2021, Godfrey stated his belief that his analysis indicates the aircraft flew in circles for around 22 minutes in an area 150 nautical miles (280 km; 170 mi) from the coast of Sumatra before vanishing, later proposing a search area centered around 33°10′37″S 95°18′00″E / 33.177°S 95.3°E / -33.177; 95.3.[8][9][10][11]

As of March 2024, the validity of Godfrey's claim is yet to be established.[12] On 6 March 2024 the BBC documentary Why Planes Vanish: The Hunt for MH370 examined Godfrey's claim and reported that scientists at the University of Liverpool were undertaking an analytical study of the possibility of using WSPR technology to locate the missing aircraft. The University stated they would release their results within 6 months.[13][14]

History

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WSPR was originally released in 2008.

References

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  1. ^ "Program Development and Licensing". wsjt.sourceforge.io/devel.
  2. ^ "WSJT Home Page". WSJT Home Page.
  3. ^ a b c d Joe Taylor, K1JT: WSPRing Around the World. QST November (2010), p. 30-32.
  4. ^ "G4JNT: The WSPR Coding Process: Non-normative specification of WSPR protocol" (PDF).
  5. ^ WSPR Beacon with Si 570 and Atmel AVR http://wsprnet.org/drupal/sites/wsprnet.org/files/si570wspr.pdf
  6. ^ QRSS/WSPR Transmitter Kit https://qrp-labs.com/
  7. ^ Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 left 'false trails' before disappearing, new research suggests, Anne Barker, ABC News Online, 2021-05-05
  8. ^ Browning, Simon (3 December 2021). "MH370: Could missing Malaysian Airlines plane finally be found?". BBC. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  9. ^ Thomas, Geoffrey (2021-09-07). "Breakthrough technology giving real hope for a new search for MH370". Airline Ratings. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  10. ^ Thomas, Geoffrey (2022-06-25). "MH370 TRACKING EXPERT DEMONSTRATES HIS TECHNOLOGY ONCE AGAIN". Airline Ratings. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  11. ^ Thomas, Geoffrey (2022-10-28). "MH370: New Research Paper Confirms WSPRnet Tracking Technology". Airline Ratings. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  12. ^ Thomas, Geoffrey (2022-11-02). "MH370 New Location Critics Sunk". Airline Ratings. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  13. ^ "Why Planes Vanish: The Hunt for MH370" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  14. ^ Wilson, Natalie (7 March 2024). "Could disrupted radio signals locate MH370? Theory is examined in new documentary". The Independent. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
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Further reading

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GDTAAA WSPRnet MH370 Analysis Flight Path Report (Self-published, Dropbox)

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