I don't recall seeing anyone suggest penalizing FT8 or digital operators in
the proposed rule changes. What I saw was a way to incentivize use of the
other authorized modes such as SSB & CW. Offering a higher point value for
the lesser used modes to promote activity does not penalize any other mode.
This is no different than the incentives for operating more bands & modes on
higher frequencies. Any contester has to make the decision as to which
bands and modes they want to operate to achieve their contesting goals.
If you want your callsign on or near the top of the results list and a
certificate to hang on the wall, then be prepared operate the bands & modes
that offer the most points and change as the activity dictates.
de K2SK
FM07
-----Original Message-----
From: chetsubaccount@snet.net <chetsubaccount@snet.net>
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 10:08 AM
To: vhfcontesting@contesting.com
Subject: [VHFcontesting] FT8 and VHF contesting
Hello fellow contesters,
Some recent threads here and elsewhere about FT8 have prompted me to express
my alternate view.
I agree with the summary statement that FT8 has presented VHF contesters a
complex problem.
What I do not agree with is that FT8 has ruined VHF contesting. The most
vocal about its demise seem to be the big mega MM stations. I understand the
angst; they have put in a huge effort over the decades to optimize their
station capability and team and now it doesn't work the same anymore. The
old ways have been challenged. But that beautiful 4-1000A 6M amplifier and
plate modulator had to sadly be replaced too.
For a station like mine that runs low power, the changes are exciting. In
the past, from here in CT, I could hear a distant big operation like K8GP,
AA4ZZ, or W3SO long before they could hear me, if at all. But using FT8 I
have that extra 15-20 dB of help and now I will likely get that grid.
For many years I've maintained my own VHF call history file to use with my
logging program. When I started trying FT8 a couple of years ago, it was
striking how many local stations I'd work that were NOT in that history
file. That means a LOT more (new?) amateurs are getting on for the contest.
For any mode, to do well you still need a good station and antenna system.
Make that a never-ending part of your effort. As an avid contester and not a
DXer, over the years I've put-up multiple antennas and switching systems to
provide wide azimuthal coverage. Other improvements are still being
pondered. Consider this: A 5 element yagi has a 3dB beamwidth of 54
degrees. On FT8 the equivalent MDS azimuth coverage is now 128 deg.
Remarkable! This wider coverage and increased boresight range makes many
more contacts possible. If you want to fare better, adapt, and keep
improving.
Does FT8 take over for the operator? It could, if someone chooses to watch
the New England Patriots get whomped and just click a mouse now and again.
But an avid contest op will watch the decode screen every cycle, notice how
strong stations are (for clues when to go to ssb or cw), note who is new,
scan for a new mult, make decisions what antenna to select right now and
next, decide if the current qso really is complete, etc. An avid op will
acquire a feel from experience for what part of the day to try beaming
north, or to go on SSB for a while.
Want more challenge? Reconfigure your station to allow having one session
going on 6M and another on 2M at the same time. That will get the little
grey cells going to do it and in learning SO2R think. How does using real
time texting to "arrange" a contact do that?
A traditionalist may suggest penalizing the use of digital modes thru rules
revisions. Hmmm. so the amateur that puts in thought and maybe a lot of
resource into trying and maybe even adding EME capability (as many MM
stations have done) to try to work more multipliers should be shown the door
now? I thought the point of contesting was to encourage technical learning
and skills, not discouraging it. It is our own choice to use or not use EME,
or FT8, or spectrum windows, chat rooms, rover circling, remote radio, or
other new ideas, but should not discourage those that are trying them. Find
your own personal comfort zone and enjoy your operation.
73, and keep on growing,
Chet, N8RA
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