FT8 DX Contest - 2019
Call: WK7S
Operator(s): K6LL
Station: K6LL
Class: Single Op LP
QTH: AZ
Operating Time (hrs): 6:24
Radios: SO2R
Summary:
Band QSOs
------------
80: 13
40: 67
20: 145
15: 10
10:
------------
Total: 235 State/Prov = 44 Countries = 18 Total Score = 14,570
Club: Arizona Outlaws Contest Club
Comments:
I started out using the call sign K7ABC, but I didn't have the UDP link to N1MM
logger set up properly, so nothing was going into the N1MM log. I fixed this
after an hour or so, and decided to restart using WK7S. I need to get on
beforehand with another ham and do some testing to debug before the contest next
time.
It was a total mess operating this contest in the normal 074 FT8 band. This was
totally predictable, and I and others sent the sponsors emails well in advance
of the contest, but they never responded. Using the band 077-080 would be good
- above the main FT8 band, and below the RTTY band. There is some FT8 activity
in this range, but not much. Filter roll-off below 300 Hz would keep a little
guard band separating the contesters from the 074 crowd.
During the contest, there were many instances (20% of QSO's?) where the QSO did
not sequence normally. I think it happened when the S&P station did not
progress to RR73, but sent RST STATE again instead. I think I saw my own
autosequencer do the same thing sometimes when I was in S&P mode, even
though I had already copied the CQ'ers RST and state. Some S&P'ers didn't
know how to work around the problem (hit RR73) and those QSO's were not logged.
I was using wsjt-x 2.0.1 7ddcb7.
When two bands were open, SO2R worked well. I just had to keep hitting the
Enable TX button, and fix some endless-loop QSO's with non-contesters and
malfunctioning sequencers.
Since the contest was sponsored by the European FT8 Club, I expected a big flood
of European operators to show up, but it didn't happen. I don't know if it was
band conditions or lack of participation.
Overall, it was interesting, but slow. I never saw the 10 minute rate go over
58, even using SO2R. It was frustrating when the sequencers got hung up.
.
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