[SCCC] Thoughts on CQ WW VHF Contest and FT8

Tim Goeppinger timgep at hotmail.com
Tue Jul 10 00:38:49 EDT 2018


The CQ WW VHF Contest is coming up the weekend after next (July 21-22), and based on my experience in the ARRL June VHF Contest, I actually

am NOT looking forward to it, which is very strange for me.   I have enjoyed roving in all June VHF and CQ VHF contests since about 2011.


I usually place about 8th to 10th place in the June VHF, but this year it will be more like 20th place.  This was due to a number of factors - poor propagation on Saturday, a poorly planned roving route, and the fact that the vast majority of stations in So Calif went to FT8.   To make matters worse, the winning VHF Contest in the Northeast did not use FT8, except for some long distance shots.   There were 2 major problems with FT8:  1.  Only half of the stations were using the Contest Mode, which caused the grid squares to be reported as on the other side of the planet.  I think the DM03 grid turns into QM06.   2.  A bug specific to the use of /R on the callsign caused endless problems with endless loops etc.  It was reported to the WSJT Development Group, but I don't see any sign that it is being worked on before the Contest.


Don't get me wrong about FT8.   On a normal day, I love it for working new grids on 6 meters.  This is not an anti-FT8 post.  And the DXpedition Mode for KH1/KH7Z worked very well.


So, with these problems with FT8 and VHF Contests in this instant in time, how should those of us in the SCCC respond?   Thinking out loud here, here are some options:


  1.   Don't use FT8 in the contest, with maybe the exception of a long distance Tropo QSO.   Locals should work S9 locals on SSB or CW.
  2.  Have rally times at the top (00) and bottom (30) of every hour for SSB and CW.
  3.  Forget about using Contest Mode, as the problems it causes with the grids takes up more time that what it saves in QSO time.


Personally I am thinking about Elmering some younger (i.e 40 year old) VHF contesters, and sitting this one out.


I would appreciate your input on this.


Tnx & 73,


Tim N6GP




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