AS RELEASED by Dr JH Taylor K1JT and Team, Steve (K9AN), and Bill (G4WJS) https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/…http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k… “Soon after the “FT8 Roundup” held on December 1-2, 2018, we started serious work on a faster, more contest-friendly digital mode that can compete with RTTY-contesting QSO rates while preserving many of the benefits of FT8. The result is FT4 — a new digital mode specifically designed for radio contesting. Over the past month a small group of volunteers have been conducting on-the-air tests of FT4. The early tests were very successful and helped us to make a number of important design decisions. We believe FT4 has considerable promise for its intended purpose. We’ll soon be ready for testing by a larger group. If you might be interested in participating and offering your considered feedback, please read the descriptive document “The FT4 Protocol for Digital Contesting”, posted here: http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k… We plan to post downloadable installation packages for WSJT-X 2.1.0-rc5 on April 29, one week from today. The document linked above includes – Instructions for installing WSJT-X 2.1.0-rc5 and FT4 configuration – Operating instructions for FT4 – Basic description of the FT4 protocol, modulation, and waveform – Detailed sensitivity measurements for FT4 under a wide variety of simulated propagation conditions – Schedule for upcoming test sessions Please consider helping us to make FT4 a successful mode for digital contesting With best wishes and 73, — Joe (K1JT), Steve (K9AN), and Bill (G4WJS)”