[VHFcontesting] FT8 and VHF contesting

[John Golomb]

Put me in the "keep growing" crowd.  Yes FT8 is disruptive, but, I think
overall it is net positive for getting newer callsigns active on weak
signal VHF.

It's not just FT8.  Spotting networks and allowing QSO's to be lined up on
internet chat pages keeps people from calling CQ on SSB/CW too.

If you haven't, check out the new features in the latest WSJT-X release to
make it easier to use TX5 messages to pass people to other modes and
bands.  Some good summaries and hints are in the two most recent Packrats
Newsletters.

http://www.packratvhf.com/index.php/newsletter

I'm hoping to have some success with this to get people from FT8 to 6m or
2m SSB and then "run the bands" on SSB/CW.

We will do our part by CQing on 6m and 2m CW/SSB a lot from N2NT weekend.
"There's no one on SSB or CW!".  Well -- call CQ there.

Have fun everyone!

- John N2NC (@N2NT)

PS:  Weak CW shows up pretty good on SDR waterfalls.

On Fri, Jan 14, 2022 at 5:11 PM <k9mk at flash.net> wrote:

> Maybe we need a Straight Key night for 6m?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting-bounces+k9mk=flash.net at contesting.com>
> On Behalf Of Buddy Morgan via VHFcontesting
> Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 2:20 PM
> To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] FT8 and VHF contesting
>
> I am not sure that rules changes are going to fix any problems. The fact
> is that times change. I am on 6M, 2M, 432, 1296, 2304, and 5760, from my
> home station. I have a legal limit amp, on 2M, 280 watts on 432 and 500
> watts on 1296. Yes, all the, in and out of the noise contacts, that I made
> on SSB and CW, a few years ago, can now be made with a modest station,
> using FT8. Technology has changed the way we operate. I am sorry that this
> has disillusioned and discouraged people.  Technology has changed a lot of
> things in our lives. There is no going back.
> Buddy WB4OMG
> _______________________________________________
> VHFcontesting mailing list
> VHFcontesting at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
>
> _______________________________________________
> VHFcontesting mailing list
> VHFcontesting at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
>