[Fourlanders] Digital Modes This Weekend

[Jim Worsham]

It has nothing to do with being afraid of digital modes or anything like
that.  It has more to do with having a job that sometimes requires me to
work 60 or more hours a week.  For example, I left the house this morning at
7 AM.  I just got home an hour ago at 9 PM.  You do the math.  Some contests
(like this one) I am doing good to just get the basics ready in time.  As
far as using these modes on higher bands is concerned I will admit that I
don't know much about it (that job thing again).  It just seemed to me that
since we are talking about MS and there isn't as much of that once you get
above 144 MHz that running these modes wouldn't do you much good.  If I am
wrong I stand corrected.

73
Jim W4KXY

-----Original Message-----
From: fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Robin Midgett
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 11:07 AM
To: fourlanders at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Fourlanders] Digital Modes This Weekend

Not worth it above 2m?????
The digital modes are notorious for completing paths at AND below the noise
floor. It seems obvious that the digital modes are most valuable above 2m,
where path loss is a greater issue. Already in place are stations (fine
stations at that!) interfaced with sound cards and computers, all that is
required is to learn the basics of running the software to complete a QSO.
Guys, pardon me for pointing out the obvious, but if the Fourlanders aren't
willing to step out into new modes and/or methods, the success of the club
as a team is limited to what has already been accomplished. The success or
failure of digital modes on one band doesn't mean the same success or
failure on anther band. We've seen conditions such that either 6 or 2 can be
the best band in any given contest weekend, even trading status from
Saturday to Sunday between 6 & 2, or nearly running neck & neck.
Give it a try! If you're concerned about damaging expensive equipment
(HPAs) with a new mode, how about bypassing that equipment for the duration
of the new portion, until you "feel" comfortable.
Soap box off...


At 11:40 PM 9/5/2005, Jim Worsham wrote:
>I thought about doing it on 2 but I will most likely not have time to 
>test/try it out before I have to pack everything up.  I don't feel 
>comfortable trying new stuff on the mountain so we will most likely not 
>have it on 2.  I can tell you that I will be watching closely what Neal 
>does with the mode on 6 and if it is a success that will strongly 
>motivate me to do it on 2 next year assuming I am doing that band again 
>next year.  For the bands above 2 I doubt that it is worth it but I am 
>certainly willing to be proved wrong.
>
>73
>Jim W4KXY
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com
>[mailto:fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Neal Sulmeyer
>Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 7:39 PM
>To: fourlanders at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [Fourlanders] Digital Modes This Weekend
>
>
>Robin, I will have fsk441 running.
>Jim, go ahead and make scheds for me.
>
>Neal Sulmeyer, K4EA
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com
>[mailto:fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Robin Midgett
>Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 6:08 PM
>To: fourlanders at contesting.com
>Subject: [Fourlanders] Digital Modes This Weekend
>
>Are you guys going to give any effort to any of the digital modes this 
>weekend?
>
>Thanks,
>Robin Midgett K4IDC
>615-322-5836 office - rolls to pager
>615-835-7699 pager
>615-301-1642 home
>K4IDC at comcast.net
>robin.midgett at vanderbilt.edu
>http://www.people.vanderbilt.edu/~robin.midgett/index.htm
>
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Thanks,
Robin Midgett K4IDC
615-322-5836 office - rolls to pager
615-835-7699 pager
615-301-1642 home
K4IDC at comcast.net
robin.midgett at vanderbilt.edu
http://www.people.vanderbilt.edu/~robin.midgett/index.htm 

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