[RTTY] PSK TURNOVER SPEED...

[Jack West XP]

Hi,

I just read Mike's comment about PSK turnover speed in contests.  He wrote:

< As a ragchew mode, that does use very little bandwidth, easily more robust
< in copy then RTTY, and most use 50 watts or less. But.... the one thing I
< think that will keep it from ever becoming a serious contest mode, is the
< fact that the turnover is much slower. So, if you are looking at total users
< and you can fit a lot of stations in very small space, then that is probably
< pretty accurate. But at least for now, I don't see it as a serious contest
< mode (although I do think they have some contests). As a week day mode, I
< would agree that there are probably more PSK31 qso's then RTTY. But as I
< mentioned above, the slower turn over rate will keep it from being a serious
< contesting mode.

< Flame suit on!

< 3, Mike K9MI

It is my opinion PSK has great promise as a contest mode if you run PSK-63 or
PSK-125 mode.  These two modes are really quick and with super short
exchanges seem to me as fast as RTTY contest exchanges.  Has anyone tried
the PSK-63 contest?  The main problem for this one is the lack of participants.

With careful work you can apply the short exchanges of RTTY and even eliminate the
last short carrier tail. Also, you can apply narow CW fileters (some radios) such
that you see only one or two signals (RTTY style) to improve the signal to noise ratio and
not pump up the AGC.

With a little education of the PSK ops I think these two modes could produce a fun
quick moving contest.

My 2 cents...
73
de Jack / W7LD / "Lucky Dog"