[CQ-Contest] When is a FTn Contest QSO Complete?

Jim Brown k9yc at audiosystemsgroup.com
Sun Sep 1 16:32:11 EDT 2019


On 9/1/2019 12:25 PM, Randy Thompson K5ZD wrote:
> One thing this weekend confirmed is that the FT modes are not about rate.  They are about perfect copy in some very weak conditions.  Was quite surprised what I could work on 80 and 160 in late summer.

That's really their intended purpose, Randy. I've been using WSJT-X 
extensively on 6M to work E-skip with FT8 and meteor scatter with 
MSK144. I've used FT8 extensively on 160M to work EU from NorCal, and 
I've been wishing that JT9, which offers at least 4 dB greater noise 
immunity would take hold on 160. The mode dominates 630m and 2200m, and 
K1JT posted to the WSJT reflector a few days ago that he and Steven 
Franke are working on a "super JT9" that they hope will add a few more 
dB. I'd love to see FT8 vanish from 160, to be replaced by JT9. I picked 
up ten new EU countries last season using FT8; before that, I hadn't 
even HEARD EU on 160 for four seasons! This past season, I heard four EU 
stations (all during CQWW 160); only one heard me.

73, Jim K9YC


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