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

[Chet S]

Looking back, we should not be surprised at FT8 popularity during the VHF contests. 

For me, the fun and satisfaction of VHF contesting had come from several things. 

One, pick an entry category and build a station to maximize the score. Need both Q’s and mults on many bands. Shun highly directional antennas, put up arrays with wide azimuth patterns. Dedicate 2nd antennas to known productive directions. Build antenna switches, low noise preamps, sequencers, re-arrange the op desk for ease of use, etc. Make tradeoff decisions. Ideas were never ending.

Two, keep adding to my experience base. Read, research, listen, learn from the OTers what they think. Know when tropo likely favored what direction at what time of day. Make a band plan. When should I look for any aurora? Best time to sleep? Include a list of announced plans of others. 

Then, the contest: give your machine a whirl and see how it and you do. Scenarios like “Hmm, the grid map says I am missing a number of grids up north”. So, you now beam that way more often and eventually bag them. Very satisfying! Ooh, look I finally worked that weak multiop 400 miles distant. Ahhh…nice! Do a post mortem after the contest. Identify what to change before the next one. 

Repeat, repeat.

But then, many of the rules of the game changed.  It became OK to arrange challenging contacts by phone, text, chat. So you’re missing a grid? No problem, just call up Freddy and ask him to point your way in 5 minutes on 50.155. You got the grid, but was that fun and satisfying? Was the station building worth it? As a non-ham would ask “Why use this radio equipment when you could just call on your cellphone?” Developing contesters would lament why they now needed to complicate thinks even more with another computer and cell service active to arrange contacts by non radio means else they will not score as well as those that use these. No choice anymore.

Then along came FT8. Through someone's own modest effort they can decode and see for themselves who is out there within range. They can cast their line (call CQ) and see who they can catch. Hey, for a newbie this is simple, this is magical, and this is fun. Bravo!. Next time try another band? Better antenna? Maybe this is the gateway mode to even more fun and satisfaction

Even the classic VHF contester can regain some interest by including the mode. Hmm, maybe if I beamed up north on FT8 I could snag those missing grids and reach even further…

73,
Chet, N8RA