[CQ-Contest] WSJT-X and contesting

[Randy Thompson K5ZD]

I agree.  However, I do believe ARRL made one fundamental flaw in their adoption of FT8.  Because FT8 can decode multiple signals at one time, anyone who uses FT8 must enter the Assisted category.  I think it is safe to assume the CAC was not involved in this decision.

I would have probably gone the other way.  All entries are allowed to use assistance whether they use RTTY, FT8, or MFQPXW345.  Once the computer is doing the decoding, why distinguish between assisted or not.

FT8 will be an interesting contesting mode.  It is error free so no busted calls.  But, it is subject to QRM and operator competence.

Randy, K5ZD


> -----Original Message-----
> From: CQ-Contest <cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Radio
> K0HB
> Sent: Monday, December 03, 2018 3:55 PM
> To: w5xd at writelog.com
> Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] WSJT-X and contesting
> 
> My short answer would be —
> 
> I tune up an audio signal on RTTY, click a button or two, and my computer
> makes a Q.
> 
> I tune up an audio signal on FT-8, click a button or two, and my computer
> makes a Q.
> 
> Same-oh, same-oh.
> 
> 73, de Hans, K0HB
> Fifty-five years of contests and still learning new stuff
> 
> 
> On Mon, Dec 3, 2018 at 12:39 Wayne, W5XD <w5xd at writelog.com> wrote:
> 
> > Fellow contesters,
> > ARRL has added WSJT-X as an allowable mode for next month's RTTY Round
> > Up. I am daring to speak from ignorance (I have yet to make a single
> > FT8
> > QSO) but will ask anyway whether this is a "good idea."
> >
> > There is a place for building robots to do battle with each other. I
> > have attended the Robotics competition once since they moved it to
> > Houston a couple of years ago. Here a reference:
> > https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc It is very exciting to
> > watch, and its clear it appeals to young people in a way that ham
> > radio contesting has not.
> >
> > But I ask the question of whether WSJT-X really fits into the current
> > definition of radio contesting? And does it fit so well that it ought
> > to be directly incorporated as an equivalent to RTTY into an existing
> > contest like Round Up? I have to, again, admit up front that the faces
> > in that firstinspired URL are all about 50 years younger than the
> > faces at my local radio contesting club and maybe that, over the long
> > run, is the only argument that counts.
> >
> > But, even as a geeky, introverted nerd, I have to counter that
> > contesting has a social aspect that appears missing when we all build
> > our robots to compete with each other and wake up at the end of the
> > weekend to see who won (or have I completely misunderstood FT8?) I
> > still like hearing the old calls year after year, and sadly missing
> > the ones that don't show up anymore.
> >
> > Wayne, W5XD
> >
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> >
> --
> 73, de Hans, K0HB
> --
> "Just a boy and his radio"™
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