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Re: [VHFcontesting] Changing from WSJT to SSB...

To: John Kludt <johnnykludt@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Changing from WSJT to SSB...
From: Mark Spencer <mark@alignedsolutions.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2019 12:09:24 -0700
List-post: <mailto:vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Yep good points.

At this point in time however, my attitude seems to be:

The more time I spend contesting on VHF and up running the current WSJT-x modes 
the less I enjoy that style of operation.    Some how something seems to have 
been lost in the transition away from older modes such as FSK441.  I suspect 
the issues are far more involved than just changing modes.  The tipping point 
for me was when I decided I needed an FT8 alerting system in my truck to detect 
band openings on 50 MHz while driving.  After one contest operating that way I 
began to loose interest in FT8.   I realized I enjoy listening to static with 
my ears while operating (:

73

Mark S
VE7AFZ 

mark@alignedsolutions.com
604 762 4099

> On Sep 18, 2019, at 11:50 AM, John Kludt <johnnykludt@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> All
> 
> But should we not be looking at why FT8 is dominant and not trying to figure 
> out ways to put the genie back in the bottle?.  Maybe it has to do with the 
> apparently declining number of "good CW ops" or the number of people who even 
> know Morse Code.  Maybe it has something to do with the ability to be 
> successful, whatever that means, with less than a KW and stacked beams.  
> Maybe it has to do with the possibility that for a station who mostly does 
> S&P it is more efficient than SSB S&P.  Remember the job of the little 
> stations is to maximize their score, not the score of the big multi/multi run 
> stations.  And I get it, that is bad news to the multi/multi players. 
> 
> We will get it figured out.  It is a hobby and it is about having fun.  Being 
> the 6m band captain for a multi/multi believe me I get it.  But I also know 
> we can't fix it by turning the clock backwards.  Genies do not like to go 
> back in the bottle.
> 
> John
> Sent from my Verizon Motorola Smartphone
>> On Sep 18, 2019 13:11, Mark Spencer <mark@alignedsolutions.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Or perhaps be able to work a station twice on one band using any two 
>> separate modes (ie. Digital, Phone or CW) 
>> 
>> That way operators who didn't want to run digital could run Phone and CW and 
>> still be able to work stations twice on each band.   
>> 
>> 73 
>> 
>> Mark S 
>> VE7AFZ 
>> 
>> mark@alignedsolutions.com 
>> 604 762 4099 
>> 
>>> On Sep 18, 2019, at 11:03 AM, Dave <kdcarlso@gmail.com> wrote: 
>>> 
>>> If you got rid of the two signal rule you would actually reduce the 
>>> activity. If there is a rule change I would support the idea of being able 
>>> to work a station twice. Once on digital and once on CW or SSB. That would 
>>> help reduce FT8's dominance. 
>>> 
>>> Dave 
>>> N2OA 
>>> 
>>>> On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 9:59 AM RT Clay <rt_clay@bellsouth.net> wrote: 
>>>> 
>>>> I think the mode switching problem (and people getting "stuck on FT8") 
>>>> has been made worse by the recent change in ARRL VHF contest rules that 
>>>> allows single ops to transmit simultaneously on multiple bands. It was 
>>>> easy 
>>>> for example for me to set up a single computer with two sound cards and 
>>>> two 
>>>> radios running FT8. I think many ops now want to have a radio running 6M 
>>>> FT8 all the time to catch weak openings on that band. 
>>>> Only allowing a single signal at once on ANY band (like HF contests) would 
>>>> discourage single ops from trying to cover multiple bands on FT8. 
>>>> 
>>>> Technically It is not easy to have a computer+two radios on FT8 and easily 
>>>> switch back and forth from SSB (keeping a soundcard for voice messages of 
>>>> course). Yes, you can go to multiple computers instead. 
>>>> 
>>>> Also, allowing internet chat rooms I think has made FT8 use take priority 
>>>> over SSB/CW, just because it is much easier to do FT8 + internet compared 
>>>> to SSB/CW + internet. 
>>>> Tor N4OGW 
>>>> 
>>>>     On Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 7:41:47 AM CDT, N1BUG < 
>>>> paul@n1bug.com> wrote: 
>>>> 
>>>> This is a situation I am going to have to investigate and try to 
>>>> deal with as soon as I have some quality free time for radio... 
>>>> hopefully in about 5 to 6 weeks. 
>>>> 
>>>> Call it over thinking things if you want, but of necessity band 
>>>> switching tasks are complicated here. I am active from LF to UHF and 
>>>> can only afford to have one good transceiver. VHF band switching 
>>>> involves switching 28 MHz IF to the appropriate transverter, 
>>>> reducing power output from the transceiver, enabling the correct
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