
                     DIGTRX 1.48             by PY4ZBZ
 
                     Please READ all before operating !


      DESCRIPTION of DIGTRX:

  
 DIGTRX is an experimental program for digital transfer of any file type,
like texts, pictures, small programs, etc..., using RDFT:
Redundant Digital File Transfer.

 Although DIGTRX can transmit images, with much better quality than SSTV, 
DIGTRX is NOT a SSTV program. SSTV is an analogical modality only for
images and without possibility of error correction. SSTV scans slowly the
image line by line, like the old analog HF FAX system.

 DIGTRX transmits ANY file type, in one block and there is no scanning...
DIGTRX accepts the received file ONLY WITH NO ERRORS: only if all errors
caused by propagation effects, QRM, QRN, interferences, etc..., are
corrected during decoding in RX. The ability to correct errors depends
also on the REDUNDANCY used in the TX processing, and can be selected
with the "Mode" button.

 Comparing DIGTRX with SSTV is like comparing CD with vinyl LP !
 
 DIGTRX is a graphic user interface, for the RDFT Win32 Console Appl.
programs, created by Barry Sanderson KB9VAK, which do all the digital
signal processing for TX and RX.
   
 DIGTRX also performs direct audio recording and spectral analysis
of the received signal, and auto record/decode with AFC (+-150Hz),
and sends an optional ID (operators Call) visible in the waterfall.

 If the received file is a picture file : JPG, JP2, JPC, PNG, PCX, BMP
or GIF, it will be show in the RX window.

 If the received file is a text file TXT, or HTM or HTML, it will be shown,
and if the file is a MID sound file, it will be played automatically,
only if "Auto, Open RX file" is checked in "Setup". In this case, pictures
are shown in true size.

 If the option "Setup, Auto, Save TX file as precoded" is checked, a copy
of the coded TX wav file is saved in the folder "precoded", when a file
is loaded (and coded) for TX. This allows a fast future re-transmission,
without to have to re-do the whole digital coding and modulating process.  
 These files can be loaded in "File, Quick load..." 

 Only for Win 95/98 users: check "close the application on exit" in the 
MSDOS window properties, if you want to close automatically the 
DOS windows opened by DIGTRX, if they are allowed to open in Setup,
and also to close the Winoldap instances. 

 Since DIGTRX is "experimental" at the present time, some improvement 
and changes will be made in future versions. 

 Please let me know any problem with DIGTRX, or any error in this file... 
  
  
      INSTALLATION:
  
 Run DIGTRX***-setup.exe, and follow the instructions. 

 Then you can run digtrx.exe.

 To uptate an old installation, just copy/replace new files over the old
ones, maintaining any other file, to maintain the existent configuration.

  
  
      How DIGTRX works:   
  
 When receiving, DIGTRX allows recording a WAV file of the received
audio signal, in the correct format for subsequent decoding with Wav2bin.
   
 For transmission, DIGTRX generates, starting from the chosen file,
a WAV file that contains the audio signal corresponding to 8 DPSK 
modulated audio carriers, and two levels of Reed-Solomon block coding,
using Bin2sym, Modpm and Flt2wav.   
  
 More details about in http://www.svs.net/wyman/examples/hdsstv/ 

 For Auto RX/Decode, DIGTRX uses the L3c signal for start recording,
and T3c signal for stop recording and start decoding.
 
  
  
      USE of DIGTRX:   
  
    TO TRANSMIT:   
  
1 - Configure the Com port for PTT control, and RTS or DTR (in Setup).
    And if you have only one sound card, select Default(-1). 
    (Use the same hardware interface as for SSTV or digital modes)  
  
2 - Using TX tuning tones, adjust the TX audio level to obtain, for a 
    100 W transmitter, the following RF output powers: 60W, 30W and 15W,
    each one for 2 seconds, repeated twice during the 12 seconds tones.   
    (adjust with "TX Wave out level" cursor of DIGTRX)   
  
3 - Select the redundancy, that should be larger with more QRM (in Setup).   
  
4 - Select a file to be transmitted. (in File, Load...)   
    This file is then coded, modulated and converted to a WAV file.
    DIGTRX shows the time needed for transmitting this file.   
  
5 - After coding, the Wav file is now ready to be transmitted. Click 
    "Transmit" button for TX. 

    If the option "Use ID" is checked (in Setup, Waterfall ID, Use ID),
    the ID signal will be transmitted before the digital signal, and will
    be visible in the waterfall at receiving station.
    This ID needs to be created once before. (in Setup, Waterfall ID,
    Create new ID).  
  
  
    TO RECEIVE:   
  
1 - Verify the adjustment of the line-in or mic-in input of the sound
    card, (in Setup, Sound card input control or clicking the level meter
    or wave form display), so that the RX level meter bar is green,
    with deviation approximately in the middle, when receiving a digital
    transmission or tuning tones. If the bar is dark green,
    the level is too low, and if it is red, the level is too high.   
  
2 - Adjust correctly the receiver tuning:   
    the other station sends the tuning tones and the receiver is tuned in
    until the two picks in the spectrum coincide with the red markers 
    (1180 and 1520 Hz)
    (DIGTRX accepts tuning error not be greater than +-150 Hz)    
    
3 - Recording and decoding are fully automatic, you dont need to
    click any button, but only if " AUTO... RX (record and decode)"
    is checked in Setup.  
    If this option is not checked, it is necessary to click "Record"
    before the beginning of the digital signal. In this case, decoding
    will be done automatically at the end of the reception.  
  
4 - Wait for decoding...
    The time to decode doesn't just depend on the CPU speed, but also
    of the amount of errors introduced during the transmission!
    If OK (no errors), the file can be saved (in File, Save).
    If "Auto, Save RX file" checked, the file is auto saved in folder
    Autosave. (Autosave folder is created in the DIGTRX folder).
    If "Auto, Save RX file with time stamp" is checked, the the RX file
    is automatically saved with a "monthdayhourminute" stamp. 
  

      IMPORTANT:   
  
 - The TRCVR should have high frequency stability.   
 - You cannot retouch the tuning during the reception of a file!   
 - The tuning of the receiver should be adjusted before.   
 - It is recommended that the microcomputer be of at least 1 GHz.
 - The maximum recorded wav file is limited to 13MB, or about 10 minutes.
 - The maximum size for the file to transmit is limited to 64 kBytes.   
 - Do NOT use speech processor on TX and do not use DSP, NB, NR or
   narrow band filter on RX.

 - If you want ABORT DECODING:
     Close DIGTRX, and verify if Wav2bin.exe is not running,
     in task manager, pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del.
     If Wav2bin is running, close it. Then run DIGTRX again.

 - If you want ABORT CODING:
     Close DIGTRX, and verify if Bin2sym.exe, or Modpm.exe, or Flt2wav.exe
     are not running, in task manager, pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del.
     If one of these programs is running, close it. Then run DIGTRX again.
 


      Known problems for this version:


 - Second sound card is OK only for RX ...





	WHATS NEW:




 - Now using the new RDFT203 files for fast coding/decoding (with Cygwin).

 - Increased the width of Waterfall ID CALL to fit long calls.  
  
 - Included resize to 384 max x 288 max option (size of the TX/RX screens)
in Jp2 converter.  
  
 - Included a resource to outline provisorily the waterfall bug in
computers with P4 processor and Hyper Threading activated .  
  
 - Included an option for Auto codify BBR when receiving a bbreport.  
Eliminated the confirmation window, when receiving a bbreport not
destinated to you, or if the file to be corrected is not found.





	What was made in previous versions:


 - Included cod/decod speed info in "Tools".

 - Eliminated the limit of 6 bad blocks for decoding, but only if   
fast decoding is checked.  Made other small improvements.

 - Included an installer program.  
  
 - Included in " Setup, Options " an option to use the CYGWIN 
Linux emulator, that turns the decoding almost twice faster,
but with a 36 Kbytes limit for the file size.

 - Click with left mouse button in the waterfall to stop or run it (on/off),
or click with the right button for more options.

 - New layout of the main screen.  
  
 - New options for the spectrum analyzer: instantaneous or average
spectrum, vertical display lin or log, and several windows for FFT.

 - Included " Thumbnails of last TX files ", that saves the last 10
transmitted files: images, texts and HTML. The texts and HTML will only
be visualyzed clicking on the corresponding empty frame.  
  
 - Included an option to execute other programs from within of DIGTRX.

 - Increased the spectrum width for futures RDFT modes.  
  
 - New BBR, that now can be used by all the stations that receive the
file " BBR-*.rpt ", ( that substitutes the file " To-callr.rpt " ),
but only if ALL the repeated blocks in this file correspond exactly to the  
blocks needed to correct the image.  
  
Attention: This new version of BBR IS NOT COMPATIBLE with olders than 1.39

 - Included  ChirpPix, a new picture transmission mode for the waterfall,
created by Markus Wester DF6NM.

 - Now the value of the redundancy is saved and no Com Port is enabled  
in the first installation.  
  
 - Due to possible interferences in the recording of the RDFT signal, the 
" thumbnails " are disabled by default during recording.  
  
 - The vertical lateral white lines used in waterfall pictures are used  
as reference signal level for AGC of DIGTRX, and they should be used in
transmissions affected by QSB, like in SSB HF, to minimize brightness
changes in the received picture.  
In transmissions without QSB, as in FM VHF/UHF, these lines are not 
necessary and now they can be disabled. And in this case, AGC of DIGTRX  
should be turned off. 

 - Included shortcuts for the following buttons:

  Record  = F2
  Decode  = F3
  Suspend = F4
  MMK     = F5
  BBR     = F6
  AGC     = F7
  WF      = F8
  CallID  = F9
  1750Hz  = F10  
  Tuning  = F11
  Transmit= F12 

 - Included access to TWAIN sources, such as scanner and webcam.  
  
 - Now you can select any existent serial Com Port from your PC, for PTT
control and speaker muting during auto-record of digital signal.

 - Included in " Setup ", a new option " Auto, Record only (manual decode)",
that allows every RDFT signal to be recorded, but it will only be decoded
pressing the button " Decode ". This allows monitoring signals without
losing time in decoding those received with a lot of noise or strong 
interferences.  
The option " Auto, Decode only (manual record) " only records the signal
pressing the button " Record " at the beginning of the transmission, but in
this case, decoding is automatic at the end.  
  
 - Images with smaller size than 320x240 can be shown in original size,
in the RX and TX windows, if the option " Stretch small pictures " is not
checked (right mouse button click in the RX or TX windows).  
  
 - Included a button " BBR " (Bad Block Report) beside the button " MMK "  
(MapMaker) in the main screen of DIGTRX. Even if BBR and MMK are two
independent and different correction systems, BBR can be used for repairing
a file that was already partially corrected by MMK.  
The button " BBR " has the same function as " Tools, Codify bad block report
for TX ".
  
 - BBR: Now it is possible to transmit a file that contains only the bad
received blocks. The option " Auto, Open Mapmaker " in " Setup " should
be checked.  
 Mapmaker is not used by this new system, however just the folder  
"Corrupt-#1 ". Mapmaker continues working as in the older versions
of DIGTRX, in other words, it allows to correct files by retransmission 
of the whole file. This spends more time, but can be used by all the
stations that receive it (Broadcast).  
 BBR only repeats the bad received blocks (it is faster), but it only allows
to correct the file of the station that made the request (Point to point).

 How to use BBR:  
  
 A file " X " is transmitted by " CallT " and received by " CallR ".  
  
 If " X " is received with bad blocks (less the block zero!) by " CallR ",  
click in " Tools, Codify bad block report for TX " to generate a small  
file (bbreport.rpt) that, after being transmitted by the station " CallR ",  
informs the station " CallT " which blocks have to be retransmitted.  
   
 When the station " CallT " receives bbreport.rpt, then it is possible
to create a file " To-CallR.rpt " that contains only the requested blocks.
After being transmitted by " CallT ", this file will only be recognized by
the station that asked for the retransmission, for instance " CallR ", and
if received without erros, the file " X " will be corrected automatically.
(If " To-CallR.rpt " is received with errors, it should be retransmited
again by " CallT " until received ok by " CallR ").


 - Click the RX file name (first green line above the Record button)
or the TX file name (first blue line below the Transmit button),  
to view it.   

 - Added "1750 Hz" button for transmitting repeater control tone.

 - Included a color saturation control in " Image adjust " of the
Jp2 converter.

 - MapMaker now works totally automatic, (and without opening his  
screen), if " Auto, Open MapMaker " is checked in Setup.

 - Included an option for PTT command with RTS+DTR. In this case,
RTS or DTR cannot be used for speaker muting, but only TxD. 

 - Right click on waterfall allows Copy and Open with Jp2 converter.
If the waterfall is stopped (WF button), Copy or Open are made with
the actual (present) waterfall signal, not the freezed one.

 - Included an option for " Auto, Save files with bad blocks".  
(except GIF files with bad blocks). This option should be used with care,
because files with bad blocks can cause unexpected behavior of DIGTRX.  
If " Auto, Open MapMaker " is checked, the files with bad blocks are
already saved in appropriate folders (Corrupt#1 and #2) for future 
correction by MapMaker.  

 - " Thumbnails of any file folder " allows to Quick load
precoded files existent in " Precoded " folder or in any  
other folder, and it also allows to delete them. 
A precoded file consists of two files: the image (name.ext)
and the corresponding codified audio file (name-ext.pcw).

 - Added more options for Right click on RX picture. 
  
 - Improved " Thumbnails of autosave folder (RX history)". 
Now they can be shown up to 1000 images, classified in   
chronological order (the last received it is shown first).  
 CARE: if your "autosave" folder contains animated GIF files  
with errors, they can cause the immediate closing of DIGTRX,
when accessed. Therefore, delete all the files with errors.  
  
 - Files received with bad blocks are no more saved  
automatically. (They can be saved manually).  
  
 - Included an option to open MapMaker automatically when  
a file is received with bad blocks, and only if block zero is ok.  
  
 - Included an option to open images with errors with Irfanview,  
automatically, if you have this program installed in your  
computer. Irfanview gets to open files with errors   
that a lot of times DIGTRX doesn't get to open... 
  
 - Included an option for suspending the sound card and the serial
communication port to allow their use by another program like MMSSTV 
without closing DIGTRX.  
  
 - Included " Mapmaker " from N9AMR. This program was optimized for  
automatic use in DIGTRX:

MapMaker can be used to store the corrupt files received with RDFT
in order to repair the corrupt data when another transmission of the
exactly SAME data has been received, even with errors.
Repairing can be done only if the block zero is OK.
This second transmission can be received immediately after the first
or after receiving and saving other corrupt files with MapMaker.

1 - After receiving a file with bad blocks, click on " Map Maker ": 
Copies of Wav2bin decoding log, the RX file and a error map are stored
in the folder "Corrupt-#1". Then click "OK".

2 - After receiving again the same file and also with bad blocks, 
click on " Map Maker " again. This time the copies of the files are
stored in folder "Corrupt-#2". 

3 - Then click "TRY TO REPAIR" to start the repair on these two corrupt
files. The repaired file is saved into the "fixed" folder,
with the name "fixed-" added to the front of the file name. 
A new map file is also created for additional repairs later.

If "Autosave" is checked in Setup, the fixed file with NO errors is
saved in the Autosave folder, not in the Fixed folder.

If the file is not completely repaired, the files from the "fixed" folder
are copied to "Corrupt-#1" folder, with restored names. 
When the third transmission of the same file comes in, repeat repairing
from step 2.

If the file is completely repaired, then all the corresponding files in
"Corrupt-#1" an "Corrupt-#2" are deleted. If Autosave is checked,
then the corresponding files in "Fixed" are also deleted.

 - New JasPerLib.dll. And now no more problems with animated GIF images.

 - Added "Image adjust" in Jp2 converter : contrast, brightness, sharpen 
and soften.

 - In "Setup, Options", included new choices for recording time limit: 
10, 5, 3 or 1 minute.

 - All spaces in file names are now automatically substituted by
underscore when codified for TX. (RDFT do not allows spaces in file name)

 - The addition of the CALL to the file name can now be turned off to 
avoid very long names in case of multiple re-transmissions. In "Setup,
Call - Waterfall ID, Add ID (call) to TX file name". 
  
 - Now there are several possibilities to control "speaker mute"
hardware interfaces during auto-recording of a digital signal.  
The Com-port control signals RTS, DTR and TxD can be individually selected
allowing to use any existent interface for MMSSTV and/or ChromaPix,  
and also to create new interfaces for DIGTRX. The signal used for this  
function must be different from the signal used for PTT command.  
  
 - Images with very large dimensions (width and height in pixel), can be
resized when loaded in Jp2 converter, in two ways: 
 
 1 - automatically if " Setup " of the Jp2 conv. has one of these options  
checked: 640 max x 480 max or 320 max x 240 max.
  
 2 - manually, using the " zoom " and then the option " Resize..." in 
" Edit ".  
  
 The automatic way is much faster because the resizing is made before the
conversion to Jp2. Using this way is recommended.  
 Obs.: a high compressed Jp2 file will always have resolution loss and
therefore doesn't need to have the same dimensions of the original,
if it is very large.

 - Made several small improvements. And now every transmitted file  
will have his name preceded by the prefix (call) of the sender, to 
facilitate identification and organization of the files by the receiver.  
  
 - Now the new programs from Barry KB9VAK should be used: RDFT202A,  
because they allow to support larger frequency shift between the
beginning and end of a transmission, that can be caused by bad RX or TX
stability, or frequency variation caused by radial acceleration in
satellite operation. And there is no more problem with very small files.  

 - Improved Add Text: now you can add more texts to a picture.

 - Included the options " Select, Copy, Crop and Paste " in Jp2 converter,  
allowing to select (or cut) part of an image and insert images in another
image.  
  
 - Jp2 converter allows to select as target of the compression the maximum 
size in bytes for the compressed jp2 file.  
  
 - The window to name a pasted image from clipboard is not shown when
the option " Setup, Auto, Rename pasted pictures " is checked.
In this case, the pasted pictures default name is : timestamp+CALL.

 - Included the option " COPY and PASTE ", that allows to copy an image
from any other program or from the RX screen and paste this image in
the Jp2 converter and then codify for TX.  
  
 - Now the RX images are saved in thumbnails also with the time stamp
option checked.  
  
 - Included an option for over-writing images received with  
repeated name, in the " autosave " folder, without showing the
confirmation screen.  
  
 - Included an option to create pictures for the waterfall: PICFALL.

 - Included two thumbnails windows:

 One for the last 20 images received with Auto save activated,
shown in chronological order (the last RX in first position).
   
 The other allows to see thumbnails of any file folder,
shown in alphabetical order.
  
 Mouse right click on top of one of the thumbnails displays:  
file size, estimated time for TX, and the following options:  
view in true size, open with Jp2 converter, codify for TX,  
or delete the file.  
  
(obs.: GIF images are not shown, to avoid problems with 
animated GIF. Use View pictures for non animated GIF.)

 - New signal to stop recording in the case of transmission stopped
before the normal end. This signal is the " a4f : Abort ",
different from the signals " l3c : Record " and " t3c : Decode ".

   TX abort is not compatible with older versions than 1.11 !   
  
 - A Zoom function was included in Jp2 converter to facilitate the   
visualization of big images, and the compression range was increased. 

 - DIGTRX is not a graphic editor. However, it is now possible to add  
a line of text to the image to be transmitted, with 5 different styles,  
like transparent text for instance, using Jp2 converter in Tools.  
 This option only works if the computer video is configured in 24 bits
(True color) or better.  
  
 - The process of Auto-decoding was improved.  
  
 - Only if the file to be transmitted has a size larger than  
12 Kbyte, what corresponds to a TX time of about 140 seconds
(with redundancy of 20%), a warning screen will be shown.

 - The " Wave out level " adjustment now acts only during the transmission,  
with different memorized levels for RDFT and audio reproduction,  
leaving during the reception the value adjusted by the user before  
to execute DIGTRX. This allows for instance to play music on the computer  
with unaffected volume simultaneously during the reception of DIGTRX. 
  
 - Now the images converted to Jp2 will only be automatically saved in 
the folder Jp2temp if the option " Auto, Save converted to Jp2 pictures "
is checked in Setup.  
  
 - After the reception of an image, this will only be automatically  
shown in true size if the option " Display RX pictures in true size "  
is checked in Setup.

 - Included two new windows for TX and RX images visualization (and Scope). 

 - All the codified images, with " Auto, Save TX files as precoded " 
checked in setup, now can be loaded with preview, in " Quick load precoded
image files with preview " (starting from version 1.08) 
The precodified images with previous versions of DIGTRX can be used, but 
without preview, or they should be recodified.

 - Now you can made loop-back test (in "Options"). Use an external cable
between line out and line in, to monitor DIGTRX owns transmission.

- Included " Tools, Edit text for TX ", for create or edit a small text   
to be codified for transmission.

 - DIGTRX now can retransmit the last recorded RX audio signal,  
(for instance: voice, etc..), with " Replay last recorded audio file ",  
in " Tools ", with auto PTT control.
 This recording should be made clicking " Record " to begin and 
" Stop rec " to finish.
 The " Wave out level " can be readjusted during the retransmission and
will be memorized, with different values for analog audio transmission
and RDFT audio signals.

 - DIGTRX can also transmit any audio file (in *.wav format),  
in " Tools ", " Transmit audio file ", with proper " Wave out level "
adjustment for analog audio signals.

 - When aborting the transmission, stop signals are transmitted to force
stop of the recording (RX abort) from who is receiving, allowing to be 
ready for a new recording.  
  
 - Included a " Auto RX abort " with adjustable squelch: If the RX signal
level fall below the chosen value, the recording is aborted. This avoid
long recordings of useless signals in case of weak signal or signal loss.  
  
 - Included the function " replay " of the last received file: this can be
immediately codified for transmission.  
  
 - Included an " Self-test " for coding/decoding: DIGTRX decodes the own
file previously codified for TX. This allows to have an idea of the
decoding time under ideal no noise condition, and also testing the whole
digital processing.  

 - Improved waterfall. (works even if DIGTRX is minimized) 

 - DIGTRX is now compatible with SSTVPalMultiMode from VK4AES,
for TX and RX in digital mode.

 - The Jpeg2000 format conversion tool was improved, allowing a fine
adjustment of the compression rate and immediate visualization of the
results in image quality and size of the resulting JP2 file.
  
 All the converted JP2 files are saved automatically in a folder
"jp2temp" located in the DIGTRX folder, with the same name of the  
original picture, but with extension jp2.
 To save with another name or in another folder, use "Save as...".
 The jp2 picture can be codified immediately for transmission with
"Codify for TX".

 - To allow a better adjustment of the transmission level, DIGTRX measures
the third order intermodulation distortion (IMD), using the tuning tones.  
An absolute value smaller than 20 dB means that the transmitter who sent
the tones is overdriven, (or your receiver is saturated by a too strong
signal !) and should reduce the "Wave out level" control.

 - Now you can create and send small precoded messages, visible in the
waterfall.

 - DIGTRX now doesn't show more the DOS windows opened by the coding and
decoding routines. If you want to see them, check " Setup, Options,
Show DOS windows ".  

 - Only for tests, DIGTRX allows to accept files decoded with bad blocks,
to allow viewing images in JP2 and JPG format, under poor propagation
conditions, but obviously with some errors.  
Check in " Setup, Options, Accept bad blocks "!.  
This option should not be used to receive other files,  
because they will contain errors, in case there is a bad block!    

 - Digtrx now can receive a new file while decoding the last RX file.
This can not work on slow computers ! 
(enable in Setup, Options, RX ON while decode).
Decoding of this new file starts after the end of RX or at the end of
decoding of the last file. DIGTRX also can coding a file while recording
or decoding another one.
  
  
 

      73,  PY4ZBZ Roland.      py4zbz.roland@terra.com.br
