FT8 DX Contest - 2019
Call: AB1J
Operator(s): AB1J
Station: AB1J
Class: Single Op LP
QTH: MA
Operating Time (hrs): 16
Summary:
Band QSOs
------------
80: 42
40: 126
20: 117
15: 29
10:
------------
Total: 314 State/Prov = 34 Countries = 39 Total Score = 22,995
Club: Yankee Clipper Contest Club
Comments:
This is a mysterious contest. The sponsor, the European FT8 Club, seems distant
and aloof and apparently does not publish their contest results. Maybe submitted
logs go straight into Write Only Memory. Instantaneous maximum entropy.
There was a companion FT4 contest at the end of February. It's interesting that
I did about the same with FT4 then as with FT8 now: 297 FT4 QSOs (17 hours) vs
311 with FT8 (16 hours). I've found this generally true in FT contests with both
modes, like the 2019 FT Roundup, where I came out about equal on both modes. The
advantages and disadvantages of each mode seem to balance out. I myself prefer
FT8.
I was impressed again just how difficult FT contesting is. I find it much more
work than RTTY, for example. Those who think FT modes are just computers talking
to each other while their brain-dead ops stare vacantly at monitors haven't
actually tried it. It's not like that at all, especially in contests. If you
relax, you're a goner. I became unusually tired and clumsy as the hours wore on.
It's exhausting and fatiguing and on Sunday morning my right arm, shoulder and
neck were tired and sore from all the extreme mousing I did in the contest.
In spite of the concerns about automated QSOs. I think there isn't enough
automation in WSJT-X for contest operation. There should be special contest
command sequences, one for running and one for S&P, along with additional
enhancements. Things can get clumsy now, with quick decisions needing to be made
in a split second. We need more automation, not less.
Then there's my poor log. Because of all the logging problems in FT contests, I
paid even more attention this time. More automation could help here, too. It
would be interesting to see my log check report, although I doubt there will be
one.
One piece of automation to avoid is auto-logging. Turn it off. Activate the
logging prompt feature and manually log only when you are confident about the
QSO. Or cancel it.
I hope everyone is safe and well. This is a difficult moment for citizens of
planet Earth.
73,
Ken, AB1J
Flex 6500
N1MM Logger+ WSJT-X v2.1.2
20m & 15m attic dipoles
80m & 40m & outside 66' stealth wire, manual tuner and inside
counterpoise
LoTW eQSL ClubLog
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
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