[VHFcontesting] FT8?- tarnation!

[Mark Spencer]

Thanks Chuck you have largely captured my views re FT8.

73

Mark S
VE7AFZ

mark at alignedsolutions.com
604 762 4099

> On Jan 20, 2021, at 7:28 AM, <chetsubaccount at snet.net> <chetsubaccount at snet.net> wrote:
> 
> I must be doing something wrong. 
> 
> FT8 is supposed to be dull, the computer does all the work and shovels
> contacts into your log while you eat donuts with coffee. 
> 
> When I am using FT8, I have both 6M and 2M going on it using more than one
> antenna on each band. I am continuously looking from window to window to see
> what is coming in from where, and if I want/need it then switch to or rotate
> an antenna that will favor my chances of logging that QSO without screwing
> up the other band. Check what grids are needed and move an antenna that way
> to occasionally favor that direction.  Look at telnet spots. Try the other
> sequence. Are 6M E's now strong? Time to switch to SSB or CW? Are you sure
> the other station heard your RR73? If not take back manual control of the TX
> message and send that a few more times. Don't click "log it" yet. Decide
> when to give up, clear the messages, and restart a CQ.  Yell at the screen.
> Constantly on the go. An hour or two of doing this takes much more energy
> than being on USB eating donuts with coffee while pushing the F1 key to send
> your CQ message. 
> 
> I must be doing something wrong.but having a lot of fun.
> 
> 73,
> Chet, N8RA
> 
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