[SECC] FT-8 in VHF Contest

[Jeff Clarke]

Although I don't want to have to do it I will be on FT4/FT8 when no one 
is on CW/SSB. I just want to maximize my score. Should be interesting to 
see how my station works this year. I raised the 5 element 6 meter beam 
up to a tree limb and it's up about 45 feet now. Before it was on a 10 
foot pole in the backyard. I still have to use the Armstrong method to 
turn it. I also have a bigger amp now - an Acom 1000 - so I will be 
running 900 watts instead of 500 I ran with the KPA500. Hope to work 
many of you this weekend.

Jeff

On 6/11/2020 12:15 PM, John Colyard via SECC wrote:
> I’m also an old school contester and been in many VHF contests since 
> the 70’s.  I much rather make a few QSO’s with the new Technology than 
> sit on a quiet CW/SSB band with white noise! Lots of changes over the 
> years!!  Just my opinion!
>
> John / W4IX
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> John Colyard
> Phone# 772.216.6700
> Email jrcccd at aol.com
>
>> On Jun 11, 2020, at 8:01 AM, Neal Sulmeyer <Neal at k4ea.net> wrote:
>>
>> ​I'm with all of you on this.  FT-8 is NOT a contest mode.  you are 
>> rate limited at 1 QSO/minute or FT-4 at 2 QSOs / minute.  No skill 
>> required other than ability to click on your screen.  However, I 
>> understand the ARRL's view to attract more hams into contesting.
>>
>> Another issue is that the WSJT/JTDX and other programs do not search 
>> you contest log (i.e. N1MM) so if you worked a station on on SSB or 
>> CW it will not show as a dupe in WSJT/JTDX potentially wasting huge 
>> amounts of time.
>>
>> Since I will be at my new remote stations in Cloudland this weekend 
>> and my 6 and 2 antennas are still at my home QTH,  when I do get on 
>> it will remote from my remote station to my home station (lol!)  I 
>> also have some serious latency issues with the internet connection in 
>> Cloudland so my ONLY RELIABLE mode is FT-8/4.  Sad, but that's the facts.
>>
>> If you don't know, Charlie, NF4A is our division representative on 
>> the CAC.  Be sure to express your opinions to him.  I'm not sure how 
>> much sway he has, but it is worth the effort.
>>
>> Neal, K4EA
>>
>>
>> On Wed, 06/10/2020 04:03 PM, Hal Kennedy <halken at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>     I'm with Cort and Lee....although I will participate.  Ill be on
>>     CW and SSB.
>>
>>     I don't see FT-8 as a contest mode.  Contesting is about getting
>>     stations in the log as fast as you can, as accurately as you
>>     can.  With FT-8 the speed is the speed of the protocol...the
>>     accuracy is 100%.  This is contesting?  Granted there is some
>>     skill involved with knowing when the band will open, etc....but
>>     if you jump-out the transmit time-out, you can turn the computer
>>     on and come back 24 hours later and see how "you" did.
>>
>>     I use FT-8 for help with grids and DXCC - it is a weak signal
>>     mode.  It's not a contest mode.
>>     Now off the soapbox....
>>
>>     73
>>     Hal N4GG
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