[VHFcontesting] FT8 on 222 & 432 during SPRINT

[Mark Spencer]

I am rather ambivalent about the exact frequencies so long as I know where the action is likely to be in and around the PNW.   It was unclear to me until just before the Sprint what frequency to use.

That being said a few comments of mine are:

- I recall there was some discussion about the desirability of keeping 70cm FT8 out of the frequency range used for EME.  

-Having separate FT8, MSK144 etc frequencies on 222 might be a good thing ?  I would expect serious MSK144 use to likely render a frequency unusable for near by FT8 users ?

On a related note I have been pleased how well some of my legacy radios have functioned on 70cm FT8.   I was expecting issues vis a vis frequency stability that didn't seem to arise.  (This is somewhat removes one of the reasons I was using as justification for buying an Icom 9700.)

73
Mark S
VE7AFZ

mark at alignedsolutions.com
604 762 4099

> On Apr 23, 2020, at 8:47 AM, Jay RM <w9rm at calmesapartners.com> wrote:
> 
> Now that the Sprint events (above 6M, obviously) where FT8 would most
> probably be used are over, have we come to a consensus on exactly which
> frequency we're all using for the mode ?
> 
> I mentioned this right before 222 and the only thing that was obvious to me
> by the (very) few answers I got, was the FT8 frequency seemed very 'local
> option" on that band.  Is the 432 FT8 frequency (432.174) more of a
> national thing ?
> 
> 222.174 seems awful far from the traditional 'action frequencies' and I
> doubt the band is occupied heavily enough that we need to go up that high.
> Maybe this isn't the case on 432 in 'hotspot' areas, although I doubt I
> ever heard more than 3-4 guys on the band at once in EN52, which is
> somewhat of a hotspot.
> 
> Many of us western guys have zeroed in on 222.080 for both meteor scatter
> and FT8, which is conveniently close to those few people who still operate
> 'traditional modes' on that band - the 222.100 calling frequency.  I've
> also used 432.080 for FT8 with Rovers, again, for the same 'close to
> traditional' convenience.
> 
> -W9RM
> 
> Keith J Morehouse
> Managing Partner
> Calmesa Partners G.P.
> Olathe, CO
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