Why change signal reporting for PSK?

The traditional RST report was developed for CW communications to describe the quality of the code received by ear in terms of its Readability, Strength, and Tone.

Today, using more sophisticated technology, we print PSK text on our screens, but find the RST format lacks a clear measure for decoded text error, and S meters unable to differentiate the strength of the decoded trace from numerous other signals on a busy band.

Furthermore, the Tone designator does not "fit" the PSK mode, and operators with poor quality transmissions usually receive T9 reports as a matter of course, even though their transmissions look and sound distorted, occupying excessive bandwidth with QRM potential.

This confusing situation leaves the current RST reporting process open to mis-interpretation for the PSK modes, and results in operators giving erroneous reports, often giving a meaningless 599 to a weak and poorly modulated signal, followed by a request to repeat name and QTH etc.

 

The "RSQ" signal report proposal

An RSQ (Readability, Strength, Quality) report is proposed for PSK communications to ensure a more meaningful exchange occurs.

Readability is an estimate of average error free text decoding on the screen

Strength looks at waterfall trace or spectrum amplitude relative to noise

Quality describes the signal trace in terms of the presence of unwanted modulation observed on the waterfall or spectrum as additional unwanted sidebands 

Further information can be found here   

The RSQ Reporting table can be found here