[RTTY] PSK31 is faster (Was FD RTTY Question)

[aflowers at frontiernet.net]

>>This issue has been debated for years. For contesting, especially for multi-hop
DX QSOs where PSK falls flat, 45* baud 170 Hz shift RTTY seems to be the
contester's favorite, at least so far. 

Bill,

I'm not arguing that PSK31 has more "contest utility" than RTTY.  As for all-purpose digital-mode contesting in all conditions, there are sound arguements for FSK over PSK on the HF channels we as contesters are interested in.  I'll gladly concur with what's most of what's been said on the subject and you and I will be on the same side of that debate.

The original complaint, as I understood it, was the PSK31 was slow in FD.  That made it much less fun for experienced RTTY operators who are used to the faster exchanges available with RTTY software integrations.  People have different definitions of "fun", but most people stop operating when the fun stops.  Therefore, if people are going to be doing short exchanges in PSK31, as they surely will do in next year's ARRL FD, DXpeditions to southeast Asia, and PSK31 contests, the things that I have identified are going to decrease the fun for some people have.  Someone may care enough to change that in the software, but if not, so be it.  You and me may have no particular interest in operating a PSK31 contest, but maybe someday I'll give it a go.  If and when I do I'd like to have as much fun as possible, and wearing out my escape key to cut off an unnecessary squelch tail doesn't sound like fun.

As has been pointed out by others in this thread, Baudot is hardly an efficient code for contest exchanges.  I find it to be a bit-bucket of fun, however.

Andy K0SM/2