[CQ-Contest] FT8 vs FT4 in the Contest

[john at kk9a.com]

I have never operated FT8 or FT4 but I have enjoyed reading about the  
recent contest. It appears that there are some things that the FTx  
operator has no control over such as saying this was a good QSO and  
moving on. I read of instances were the automated software just keeps  
sending the grid over and over waiting for a confirmation. Is this  
correct? In other modes including RTTY the operator has complete  
control over what is sent and logged. It is also interesting that two  
different versions of FTx were used.

John KK9A


Edward Sawyer N1UR wrote:

I am reading with interest the discussion about the digi contest.   
Many people were repeating that FT8 was used more than FT4 to "pick up  
the casuals".  I thought that FT4 was a protocol that allowed a  
contest exchange.  So if the contest this weekend had a simple enough  
exchange (grid) that you don't need FT4, what's the point of FT4?   
 From reading posts, it seems that some of the slow rates were  
attributed to dividing the contest up between 2 incompatible modes.

Would it make more since to just use FT8 and make sure the exchange is  
FT8 compatible?

Just asking.

Another observation from the postings - while FT8 may be taking over  
much of the DXing activity, it doesn't seem to be any threat to the  
Contest activity.  It's a new interesting mode to try.  And we will  
see if it sustains good activity as it has time to develop.

73

Ed  BV/N1UR