[SCCC] FT8 Roundup rules and sponsorship

[Dennis Younker NE6I]

The last paragraph is what I believe to be one of the main things generating
so much enthusiasm about FT8. I have been on several chat boards related to
the JT modes and now FT8. The theme seems to be that many of the people
getting on that we typically never hear from are in HOAs or are otherwise
restricted from putting up large antenna systems and installing legal limit
amps, as are often used for CW and SSB DXing. Suddenly, the JT modes (now
largely abandoned) and FT8 are allowing worldwide DXing and award chasing by
little pistols and even wet noodles. I say hooray to that! The more hams
that are on the air, the better!

For me personally, it's fun AND fascinating! To copy signals on my screen
that I cannot even hear is a total rush. As well, I've never had a station
where I could work meteor scatter. And now, with WSJT-X and MSK-144, I can
do so daily on 6 meters with only 100 watts and a low 3 element yagi. I find
that to be a lot of fun. And it just goes to show that you don't need much. 

FT8 is the same. It's generally frowned upon to use more than 50 watts, and
frankly, it's not needed. 

I know Jim and Wayne already know all of this stuff. I'm just sharing my
thought and experience here for those that haven't yet tried WSJT-X and the
"new" digital modes. 

One other thing, somewhere along the line I ran across one WSTJ-X users QRZ
web page. On it, he had a picture of his totally indoor antenna farm. He had
wires strung all over the ceiling of his shack. As I recall, he generally
ran 25 watts or less. And yet had earned 5BWAS and DXCC. Could he do that
with such a set up on CW or SSB? Probably not. And yet now he was having a
ball with hamming. Isn't that what ham radio is all about?

--Dennis NE6I

-----Original Message-----
From: SCCC <sccc-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Wayne Overbeck via
SCCC
Sent: Monday, December 3, 2018 6:21 PM
To: sccc at contesting.com
Subject: [SCCC] FT8 Roundup rules and sponsorship

Jim, K6ZH, asked a good question:

>Hi Wayne  - I guess I wasn't paying attention, although I'm a frequent FT8
>and MSK144 user.  When was the "roundup?"  Is it intended to be a period
>event?  Just curious.  73 - Jim K6ZH


The FT8 Roundup began at 1800z on Saturday and ended at 2359z Sunday.
The full rules and supporting information are at:

www.rttycontesting.com

Cabrillo logs go to:

 ft8-ru at cqww.com.

I think the FT8 development team played a major role in writing the 
rules, patterning them after the rules of the ARRL RTTY Roundup, which 
will include FT8 for the first time this year.  But since the logs go to 
CQWW.com, I assume it's affiliated with the CQ Worldwide contests.

The ARRL Contest Newsletter published information about this contest 
recently, but I don't think it's intended to be an ARRL-sponsored contest.  
I do think it's intended to be an annual event on the first weekend in 
December.

Already about 80 scores from the FT8 Roundup have been posted on 
3830.  I'm in about 65th place in SOLP and headed downhill from there.  
Inasmuch as the power limit is 100 watts, the rules say those who run 
SOHP will be checklogged!

As of this writing, the highest claimed QSO totals are just below 800 Qs,
which isn't bad for a 24-hour contest where most Qs take 60 seconds to 
complete.  (The rules say to operate no more than 24 hours of the 
30-hour contest period.)

One attraction of this mode, of course, is that it makes it possible to work

much weaker signals than on CW, RTTY or SSB.  It means guys with an 
MFJ-1775 (a 14-foot loaded dipole for 40-10) hidden below their roofline 
can work worldwide DX on 40 on a daily basis.  It also means DXers with 
power and good antennas can work quintuple-hop sporadic E on six 
meters better than ever before.

73,
Wayne, N6NB

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