[CQ-Contest] WSJT-X For contests - Dry Run

[Keith Dutson]

You are not alone.  I think use of data modes in contests is for computer users, not traditional contesters.  Like RTTY, the new data modes should have their own contests, apart from the regular phone and CW modes.  That way, everybody can be happy.

73, Keith NM5G

-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest <cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Paul O'Kane
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2018 3:50 PM
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] WSJT-X For contests - Dry Run

As we move ever closer to fully-automated data modes, the divide between data and non-data modes gets bigger.  When and if the operator becomes incidental, what will be the point of such contest QSOs - other than bragging that my software is smarter than yours?

WSJT-X may be the "flavour of the month" now - but, next month, or certainly next year, something "better" will turn up - as the potential for "new and improved" data modes is limitless.  Some see this as progress in amateur radio and contesting - I see it as progress in automated two-way data processing over RF.

It seems to me that any mode that is not and can not be decoded by individual contesters (people) in real-time does not truly represent amateur radio.  But what would  I know, being just an old-fashioned (outdated?) contester who keeps to phone and CW :-)

Some will argue that we have to keep up, we can't stop progress, and that amateur radio and contesting are evolving.  I say that data modes are evolving into something else entirely.

73,
Paul EI5DI



On 23/10/2018 19:40, Brian Moran via CQ-Contest wrote:
> Joe, K1JT posted announcement of a dry-run to test WSJT-X in a contest setting. The post was to the WSJT-X mailing list, but it's about contesting, so it's likely relevant to readers of this list, as well.  Upcoming versions of the WSJT-X software will have the ability to make some contest exchanges, and I'm sure the WSJT-X development team could benefit from the collective expertise of long-time contesters. Here's an excerpt from the announcement:
> A one-hour "practice contest" will be held tomorrow (Wednesday evening,  NA time) using the FT8 mode and the ARRL RTTY Roundup rules.
>
> Date and time: Thursday, 25 October 0200-0300 UTC
>
> Dial frequency 7.078 (and higher, in 2 kHz increments, if too much QRM). Everyone works everyone.
>
> To participate you must use WSJT-X 2.0.0-rc3
>
>
> See the link above for the entire announcement-Brian N9ADG 
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest


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