[CQ-Contest] Robotic contest operating, why knot?

[Jim Brown]

On 12/18/2018 11:58 AM, Peter Voelpel wrote:
> You mean it is not possible to run unattended FT-8 qsos?

Why not download the software, install it, read the manual, and try 
making some QSOs? In addition to the usual collection of casual hams, 
you'll also run into a lot of respected contesters and DXers.

FT8 and MSK144 operate on a 15-sec TX-RX cycle. Each station transmits 
for about 12 sec, up to 30-40 transmissions appear, other stations have 
about 2 sec to read through the decodes before it's their turn to TX in 
response. A responder who chooses to call is likely to be decoded if he 
is able to respond fast enough that his TX starts within the first 2-3 
seconds. That isn't easy! The automation in WSJT-X, which can be turned 
on and off, does two things. First, it enables a station calling CQ to 
automatically respond to the first decoded station who responds, without 
needing to search though a screen-full of calls, most of which are not 
calling him. Second, it allows the QSO to proceed in a standard sequence 
without operator intervention. WSJT-X then goes out of TX mode until the 
operator chooses to TX again.

The only difference between K6SRZ forgetting to turn off his FT8 CQ when 
leaving the shack and leaving WriteLog calling CQ while he takes a 
bathroom break is that the FT8 caller is rewarded with a QSO, while the 
contester responding to his CQ machine during his break is not.

73, Jim K9YC