[VHFcontesting] Digital Modes (FT8) in January 2019 Contest

Thu Jun 20 10:00:07 EDT 2019

For 20 years I have primarily been operating Single-Op (QRP) Portable in
VHF contests. I have equipment for 10 bands (at least) when I go out. I
usually operate from my car on a hilltop somewhere 30-40 miles from
civilization. I use a marine deep-cycle battery. Running extra equipment,
such as computers, drains the battery faster. So I have not done any
operating that involves using a computer. I have logged on paper and
transferred my logs to the computer when I got home.

I, also, do this mainly for fun but I have been competitive in the contests
in my class. I have often placed within the top 3 in the USA and one year
did manage #1 in the USA as a Single-Op Portable.

So I don't know what to think about all of this. I'm still not excited
about dragging extra equipment with me. A few of the people I work
appreciate having QSO's up through 10 or 24 GHz. In the 10 GHz contest I
also have 47 GHz. Maybe 78 GHz this year if there's anyone to work. One of
my buddies who I work in the contests operates as a Rover, with the whole
front of his car filled with equipment. I don't know how likely he is to
use the digital modes a lot, either.

If it gets to be that most stations are using FT8 and I don't want to fool
with it, I may give up, probably much to the chagrin of people who want
microwave QSO's. I guess we'll see what the future holds.

73, Zack W9SZ

On Thu, Jun 20, 2019 at 8:09 AM Joshua Arritt <jarritt at vt.edu> wrote:

> I am glad FT8 has enhanced contesting for most.  The impact of this
> technology on the hobby entire is undeniable.   It's not just another
> digital mode....  It is fundamentally different from a miles-per-milliwatt
> perspective.   This is not Psk-31, RTTY, etc....   It's cutting edge
> stuff....  Precisely what this hobby should be embracing.
>
> Going forward, no station can be competitive without FT8 or it's future
> variants as a primary mode.   A "non-FT8" category beyond FM-only seems in
> excess....  Why bother with SSb/CW in competition when there are only half
> a dozen stations participating on those modes all weekend?  You'll miss
> Ft8/mults that SSB/CW will never provide.
>
> So, this is great!
>
> However.....
>
> I've never been a competition driven contester.  Rather, I enjoy them
> because of the activity boost on the V/U spectum.  It's usually much more
> relaxing and friendly than HF contesting.
>
> The human aspect of a V/U contest QSO is the attractive thing for me.  I
> like briefly chewing the rag between Qs, comparing band condx notes, and
> sharing mountaintop experiences with my fellow local contesters.
>
> That kind of activity is unique to ssb, cw, and FM.
>
> Seems to me that my future contest activity should focus more on FM as a
> primary mode.
>
> At that prospect -- and after this year's thoroughly unenjoyable cold,
> low-q, high-rain experience, I'm getting more inclined to either stay home
> and work on my garden next June, or leave the radios at home and just go
> camp out.
>
>
> ;)
>
> VY 73 DE KF4YLM
>
> On Jun 19, 2019 7:43 PM, "Mark Spencer" <mark at alignedsolutions.com> wrote:
>
> Well they may not be "magic" but in my experience digital modes at times do
> seem to enable qso's that would be difficult or perhaps even impossible
> with traditional analog modes.  For example I recall using JT65C to
> complete a 1296 qso during a contest that simply wasn't getting done with
> CW or SSB.  In my view digital modes can be a tool in the toolbox to use
> when analog modes are not suitable.   My preference would be to only use
> them when needed.   There might also be some merit to scoring digital and
> analog qso's differently but I haven't put any thought into that issue.
>
>
> 73
>
> Mark S
> VE7AFZ
>
> mark at alignedsolutions.com
> 604 762 4099
>
> > On Jun 19, 2019, at 3:59 PM, Dave Clouser <dave at nz3m.com> wrote:
> >
> > Interesting how folks perceive digital comms as some sort of magical mode
> where you don't even need propagation.  Digital is a "sound" that is
> generated by your computer and sent through your transmitter, just like SSB
> or CW is through your mic or key.  That sound is received by your receiver
> and sent to the computer to be decoded, just like SSB is decoded by your
> brain when you hear it (thanks to English classes).  You need propagation
> just like the other modes.  Its just a language that we don't
> understand....YET :-)
> >
> >
> >
> >> On 6/19/2019 6:10 PM, David Huff wrote:
> >> I agree with others, splitting the contest might be better.
> >> Have 1 weekend be ONLY digital VHF/UHF
> >> A second weekend being only VHF/UHF SSB/CW
> >> And then a third weekend of VHF/UHF any mode.
> >>
> >> Note, we have ARRL awards for HF split by mode, but not VHF/UHF, meaning
> there is no digital only VHF award.  They just lump everything together.
> Looking at the grid chase stats, it is clear digital HF modes are more
> popular than HF CW/SSB for the HF bands.  But a lack of VHF/UHF radios that
> do SSB/CW/Digital as well as FM is probably to blame.
> >>
> >> My personal theory, more people would be on VHF/UHF if the radios were
> more convenient to interface to a digital source like a laptop, and
> cheaper.  Right now there is a lack of affordable ALL mode style radios for
> VHF/UHF.  And the ones that do exist are expensive.
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> David
> >> W0IM
> >>
> >>
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