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Re: Topband: CQ Zones

To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: CQ Zones
From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <lists@subich.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2021 14:16:50 -0500
List-post: <mailto:topband@contesting.com>
On 2021-03-09 1:56 PM, Preston Smith wrote:

In the JT modes with weak signals the program copies a portion of the
call and completes the call by comparing the partial call to a call
sign data base.

*THAT IS NOT TRUE* you need to study Joe Taylor's modes/code more
carefully.  Joe Taylor's current software does not use any list of
calls or callsign database although some versions allow *EME* operators
to add previously worked/copied calls to a short list of callsigns -
much like a human operator might have a notepad with a list of rare
DX known to be on a given band at a particular time.

Some of Joe Taylor's protocols will also accumulate partial calls or
partial exchanges until a full exchange is completed - again like a
human operator assembling a call prefix, call suffix, report and
state over multiple transmissions even though no one transmission
is complete and without errors.

There is nothing in Joe Taylor's software that "makes up" complete
QSOs where the information has not been transmitted and received.
Anyone who says otherwise is simply slandering K1JT and his team.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 2021-03-09 1:56 PM, Preston Smith wrote:
Note: Below I refer to the various modes developed by K1JT
and his team as JT modes.

Yes the JT modes should have their own categories for awards
and NOT be mixed with traditional modes. Reason being that
all the JT modes (FT4/8, JT65, JT9, FST4 and others) are
unlike traditional modes. In traditional modes (CW, SSB, RTTY,
Pactor, Amtor etc) the operator or machine must actually copy
the call sign of the station being worked.  In the JT modes
with weak signals the program copies a portion of the call
and completes the call by comparing the partial call to a
call sign data base.

In JTDX that call sign data base file ALLCALL7 presently
contains more than 93,000 calls and is periodically increasing.
WSJTx has a similar call sign data base.

A curious op could copy the data base file, rename it, and
delete all but a few calls in the original. Then see how
well the JT modes copy weak signals. My hunch is they wouldn't
copy much better than a good CW op but that is TBD.

The transition from AM to SSB was quite different in that
the two modes were identical in what they achieved, two way
chatter back and forth between operators. It was clear that
SSB would prevail. That useless carrier had to go.

All that being stated this op has worked JT65, FT8 and now
FST4 almost exclusively outside of contests for ~2 years.
That's where the action is for better or worse.

73 back to 28074
Pres, N6SS


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