I agree.
In the last decade, I was an active digital contester and still hold a
CQWW RTTY record (SOLP USA) set in 2002. I don't understand this sit
there and click with no operator intervention mentality. Seems the only
thing missing from this new FT4 software is the ability to enter your
cell number, so the software can text you when the contest is over, and
you can see how you did :-)
Barry W2UP
On 4/30/2019 4:59 AM, Edward Sawyer wrote:
I am not sure how many people are aware of a new FT mode that was just
released. The mode called FT-4 has a few new features.
The first is that its quicker by trading S/N capture algorithm for speed of
contacts. I read somewhere there is a 10db price to pay on the weak signal
capability.
The second is it allows for more flexibility of contest exchanges.
The third is disturbing. It allows for an automated feature that decides the
best contact available of the decoded possibilities (like a new mult) and just
goes for it automatically. The operator doesn't click on the call, the
operator clicks on the desire to find the best call.
Because of the simplistic possibility of having a screen macro just keep clicking on "find the
best call", a feeble attempt to thwart full robotic capability is made to swap the button on
the screen with the cancel button. Although this is NOT done after every QSO but only after
"a few QSOs" whatever that means. So even with this attempt, the acceptance of a few
automated and optimized QSOs has been declared acceptable. Just not 100% fully robotic. Although
whether this attempt to move buttons actually prevents a macro from engaging the button is not
assured to me. People more knowledgably on such things can comment.
I hope that the Contest community is watching this slippery slope slide. Fire
up FT4, decode the signals in the pass band, Automatically find a few and work
them without the operator even knowing which ones are being worked. Seriously,
what is the point? If a robot war contest is desired, I am all for it and
think it's a cool concept. But we don't put 6 year olds in the ring to fight
with robots in robowars and we shouldn't be mixing the two in contesting either.
Contesters ignore this disturbing trend and acceptance by sponsors at their
peril in my opinion.
73
Ed N1UR
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