[CQ-Contest] FT8 vs FT4 in the Contest

[Richard Ferch]

N1UR said: "...what's the point of FT4?"

The exchanges in the two modes are identical. The difference is that FT4 is
twice as fast as FT8, but of course you don't get something for nothing.
FT4 is less sensitive than FT8, and it appears to be less successful at
copying in the presence of QRM. QRM is also worse, because the bandwidth of
individual signals is twice as high in FT4 as in FT8, so there is room for
fewer non-interfering signals within the audio bandwidth of a typical
receiver.

The contest rules give more points for long-distance QSOs than for nearby
QSOs, and the multipliers are distributed geographically. Once you have
worked enough nearby stations, the only way to get new multipliers is to
look for DX, which usually means weaker signals. So, as in many DX
contests, participants have to choose between going for rate or going for
QSO points and multipliers. This is usually a tactical decision, depending
on propagation and on what everyone else is doing.

All else being equal, if you are going for rate, the speed advantage of FT4
makes it the obvious first choice, but if you are looking for high-point
QSOs and multipliers, and especially after you have worked all the easy
multipliers, then you might be more successful using FT8. All other things
are not always equal of course.

73,
Rich VE3KI