[VHFcontesting] FT8 to USB/CW

[Duane - N9DG]

I run one panadapter setup about 25 kHz wide to cover both 50.313 and 50.323. I also have an RX on 50.323 in addition to 50.313 for FT8 work because sometimes international DX FT8 activity will be on 50.323. I can run multiple WSJT sessions when there is activity on 50.323.
Additionally I have the second panadapter setup for about 200 KHz of spectrum that spans from about 50.050 to 50.250 to watch for SSB/CW and beacon activity. In that panadapter I have the 3rd RX to tune around with for things that I see.
So I can quickly jump back and forth between FT8 and SSB/CW as activity and conditions warrant since I can watch/listen to all of it simultaneously.
Once FT4 fequency is established on 6M I willsetup the 4th RX for that so can add that to the mix of modes and frequencies I can keep track of. So it is never a FT8 OR SSB choice for me. It is always an FT8 AND SSB style operating.


    On Saturday, June 1, 2019, 8:01:07 AM CDT, John Kludt <johnnykludt at gmail.com> wrote:  
 
 Stu,

Never ending debate.  It is kind of a Willie Sutton.  You know the one
where he robbed banks because "that is where the money is."  My rule of
thumb is to watch the panadapter.  If I start to see activity around .125
-.130 I will go down there.  If not I just keep banging away on FT8.  Most
everybody can do FT8.  Those who can do FT8 can usually do phone.  CW is
the challenge as it has not been required for over 30 years now to get a
license.  There are many folks who do FT8 who do not know or are not
comfortable with CW.  Just kind of the way it is.

Probably not much help but it works for me.

John

On Fri, May 31, 2019 at 11:22 PM Stu <stu at stu2.net> wrote:

> Six meters was open tonight from my QTH to FL. (I'm in FM18) I only have
> a 3 element beam pointed West in my attic. (Darn HOA!) The signals were
> loud.So this raised a question in my mind as I prepare for the ARRL VHF
> contest.  (W4IY at FN00rg) Does anybody have a rule of thumb that would
> indicate when to move to USB or CW? The FT8 signals were strong enough
> for CW and maybe even USB. I wanted to jump down to 50.130 and call CQ,
> but I suspected nobody would be there, so I stayed on 50.313.
>
>
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