[SCCC] FT8 Roundup

[Dennis Younker NE6I]

Hi Wayne,

Sounds great. I did not have a lot of time this weekend but did try my hand
briefly in the contest. I am a big fan of FT8 and have been having a lot of
fun with it. With its predecessors, JT65 and JT9, I layed around with powers
as low as 50 mW to a low dipole and was still working the east coast. Lots
of fun!  As well, FT8 has increased participation on 6 meters as you well
know. 

Anyway, I could not get my WSJT-X to send the contest exchange this past
weekend and had to give up on it for the time being. I didn't have time to
troubleshoot. It kept sending the normal exchange instead. I know there is a
checkbox for contest mode and I did have that checked. I'll experiment more
as time permits. WSJT-X sure is a fantastic piece of software!

--Dennis NE6I

-----Original Message-----
From: SCCC <sccc-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Wayne Overbeck via
SCCC
Sent: Sunday, December 2, 2018 9:53 PM
To: sccc at contesting.com
Subject: [SCCC] FT8 Roundup

I think the first (annual?) FT8 Roundup and the new 77-bit version of 
FT8 were both a real success.

I got on with 100 watts and a 14-foot-long loaded dipole (MFJ-1775) up 
15 feet.  In less than three hours I made 48 contacts in 20 states/
provinces and 8 other countries.  I was able to work deep into Asia 
on 40 last night with that ridiculously marginal setup, thanks to FT8's 
weak signal capabilities.  I was working signals that were below the audible

noise floor in my receiver.

FT8 now handles full contest exchanges and compound call signs nicely.  
The problem that arose when some operators checked the "North American 
VHF contest" box and others didn't is also gone.

In short, I think the advent of FT8 Version 2.0 is the second-best thing
that's 
happened in amateur radio this fall.  

73, Wayne, N6NB

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