[VHFcontesting] Thoughts on the Digital Modes and VHF Contesting

[Mark Spencer]

FSK441 does however allow longer messages than MSK144 which IMHO has some advantages for VHF and up contesting (ie. Sending 6 Character grids.)

As a general comment I believe the VHF and up contesting community seems to be moving towards new digital modes that to me at least don't seem to be well suited to at least some of our contesting activities.

Maybe we should at changing the contests to fit the modes ?

73

Mark S
VE7AFZ

mark at alignedsolutions.com
604 762 4099

> On Jan 23, 2018, at 2:35 PM, Keith Morehouse <w9rm at calmesapartners.com> wrote:
> 
> Mark VE7AFZ wrote:
> 
> I do understand that other rovers have run WSJT-x (with FT8 and other
> modes) and may or may not share my views re this.  I also understand that
> there are numerous advantages to using modes such as FT8 and MSK144.
> 
> *******************************
> 
> I see posts lumping these two modes together.  Mark just offered this
> opportunity to make MY position clear on this.
> 
> MSK144 used as a meteor scatter mode has replaced FSK441, which 15 years
> ago, pretty much obsoleted CW & SSB meteor scatter runs for the simple fact
> that it was many times more efficient (remember my last post concerning
> efficiency building score).  Today, more and more operators are
> "discovering" digital meteor scatter since MSK144 has been included with
> the WSJT-X program from it's inception (almost).  But, the use of
> "JT-modes" on meteor scatter is not a new thing.  It's been around and
> adding to overall VHF contest scores as long as JT65 has existed (and, in
> turn, increasing EME efficiency, like it or not).
> 
> FT8 is the potential problem child of VHF contests and can be a
> efficiency killer if not used wisely.  Yes, as KK6MC pointed out, it can
> attract new operators to VHF, but it shouldn't be at the cost of pushing
> the 'art' of contesting backwards.  Keep in mind this conversation is
> happening on a VHF CONTESTING reflector, not on a general purpose VHF
> reflector.  I would assume anyone subscribed to this mail list is
> interested in the contesting aspect of VHF and ways to increase their
> scores, just like the HF contesting mail list.
> 
> -W9RM
> 
> Keith J Morehouse
> Managing Partner
> Calmesa Partners G.P.
> Olathe, CO
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