Best idea I've heard is separate contests on different weekends for the FT8/FT4
guys versus SSB/CW guys. The weekend prior to the traditional June VHF test is
available for a FT8/FT4 contest.
Ken, W0ETT
DM79
________________________________
From: VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting-bounces+w0ett=msn.com@contesting.com> on
behalf of JamesDuffey <jamesduffey@comcast.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2021 3:30 PM
To: vhfcontesting@contesting.com <vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Subject: [VHFcontesting] More January digital points
Marshall and the group - You wrote:
“ I proposed checking for SSB/CW on the hour and half hour. What do others
think about that??? If you find a bit of SSB/CW, then you will surely make more
contacts and more mults as long as the Es lasts.? If the band dies out, then
you can go back to FT8.”
I think going to SSB or CW on the hour and/or half hour is a good idea. I tried
it during the January contest with no results. But if more people did it, I
think it would feed on itself and generate more analog activity. We need to
promote that going into the June contest.
I also think it healthy to have these discussions about mode selections, but it
does no one any good to exaggerate the issues and solutions. In most cases
data, or common sense, is available to support or refute claims that are made.
W9RM is a damn good op, as you saw when he operated at your station, but he
does not do sustained rates of 480 an hour or more on 6M even when Es is in.
There is no reason to imply that to make the point that SSB/CW is more
efficient than FT8 or FT4. The actual numbers paint a bad enough picture. 200
an hour, which is an achievable sustainable rate for Keith, is still better
than the best rate achievable with FT4, probably 100 to 120 an hour, if the
activity is there, which it is not currently.
I would like to repeat a point made by K1JT to me, that is FT8 (or FT4) is just
a mode and is not inherently good or bad in and of itself. It is the use of it
by operators that adds or subtracts to its utility, not the mode itself.
We have increased VHF/UHF contest activity. We just need to figure out how to
deal with it. - Duffey
James Duffey KK6MC
Cedar Crest NM
> On Mar 20, 2021, at 06:56, vhfcontesting-request@contesting.com wrote:
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