Sorry to reply to my own thread and thanks for the off list replies.
After some reflection and assistance from a very helpful ham on the WSJT yahoo
list, my plan is to have a computer listen to FT8 on 50.313 while I drive and
in turn the computer will generate audible alerts when grids other than pre
defined "local grids" are detected. The catch is I may miss new calls within
my "local grids" but hopefully I'll be able to work them when I stop in each
grid. (I am NOT looking to exclude local stations.) The goal is to be able
to detect band openings on 50 MHz while I am driving between operating
locations during contest and I think I now have a simple solution that will
work.
I dislike cross posting others peoples messages so I won't repeat the messages
from the WSJT Yahoo list. I'd be happy to provide more info off list if anyone
is interested.
>From testing this in the shack over the last day the process seems to be
>"working." I even got an audible alert this morning that lead to me working a
>nice band opening on 50.313 with 20 watts into my HF vertical. This is more
>or less what I am envisioning doing while roving, detecting band openings
>while driving, parking in a safe place and either working stations with the
>1/4 wave whip on top of the truck, or perhaps putting up a mast and beam
>antenna.
I will probably still listen to the audio from 50.313 as well but now I have a
means to get an explicit alert when the computer detects distant grids. I'll
have to see how this actually works during the next contest.
73
Mark S
VE7AFZ
mark@alignedsolutions.com
604 762 4099
> On May 18, 2018, at 10:55 AM, Mark Spencer <mark@alignedsolutions.com> wrote:
>
> Hi:
>
> I'd be curious in hearing from other rovers about your plans for listening
> for band openings during contests on 50 MHz going forwards. My prior
> approach was to listen to 50.125 on a whip antenna while moving from site to
> site (in prior years while driving although I now have a short whip for my
> back pack setup as well.)
>
> Anyways I haven't heard much on 50.125 these days but am hearing audio on
> 50.313 via a three foot whip on my back pack setup so I suspect there is some
> form of a band opening (or there are a lot of stations within ground wave
> range of a three foot whip which I suspect is unlikely.)
>
> At this point I'm leaning towards simply listening for audio on 50.313 while
> moving then stopping and setting up the computer and hopefully getting a few
> more multipliers during band openings during the next contest.
>
> I suppose a radio with "dual watch" (i.e. listen to 50.125 and 50.313 at the
> same time) would also help.
>
> It be curious in hearing from other rovers (or anyone else) about this topic.
> I don't see my self making "in motion" on FT8 but if some one has ideas
> about that topic I'd be interested in hearing them as well.
>
> 73 and hope to work many of you during the June contest.
>
>
> Mark S
> VE7AFZ
>
>
> mark@alignedsolutions.com
> 604 762 4099
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