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Digital Mode Operating Tips: Worth What You Pay!

Created by Andrew Ellis, NO6E on 2020-06-12

An old restaurant joke ends with “No one goes there any more. It's too crowded.” FT8 is crowded nowadays, and a few tips might help you to enjoy it more. I claim no masterful insight. These are just tips that I've found helpful in my own operating on digital modes. Feel free to add your own tips in the comments if you like.

 

 

CQ AS PUBLIC SERVICE:

 

One might think of calling CQ as purely selfish. “I want to work someone.” But calling CQ is also a chance for others to get your state in their logs. Certainly, if you're in Vermont or Hawaii, you already understand this.

 

The rest of us need to remember that other people need US, too. I'm often told “Thanks for OR,” even though Oregon is not a rare state. And I've often had, say, New York or Pennsylvania as one of the few states I still need for some award.

 

So, even if you're grumpily waiting for Wyoming to show up on the band, give others a chance to work you with an occasional CQ. They'll appreciate it.

 

GIVING UP:

 

At some point, maybe after three or six or fifty calls, we decide to move on to something else. That's a good thing. But there is a right and wrong way to give up. The wrong way is to abort your last call to the station you want using HALT TX in mid-transmission. This last call might be the one that finally hooks the station you're seeking. The right way is watch for a reply to your last transmission, then to use HALT TX just as your next calling cycle begins.

 

BE POLITE:

 

Digital modes are pretty abrupt by nature, but it's still good to observe the courtesies. When you send “RR73” to a station, you'll be prompted to log the call, and you can do so. But some, though not all, stations will send you a “73” and wait for your “73” in return. From a selfish standpoint, it's important to be sure that the station you're working believes the QSO to be complete, whatever that means to her or him. Time is not so short that you can't give that assurance.

 

SLOW DOWN:

 

While this is nominally an article about FT8, I'll use author's privilege to make a case for the “slow” modes on WSJT. I'm hoping to work all states on both JT9 and JT65. If you've never used them, you'll find them much like FT8, except that each transmit and receive cycle takes a minute instead of 15 seconds. Also, the AUTO SEQ in FT8 isn't available on these modes, so one needs to click on each transmission of the QSO. But they feel more relaxed to me, and I enjoy throwing out a CQ on them from time to time. Give me a call if you see me!

 

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

 

When there's a band opening to, say, Europe, you might try to contact the rarest European station first. But if you're blessed, as I am, with an LPCA (“Low Power, Crummy Antenna”) station, you might think about trying the strongest European stations first. That's not to say that you'll never work a weak, rare station. But think about how you're likely to be received on the other end, particularly when that rare one probably doesn't need another W6 in the log as much as you need him or her!

 

HOW'S THE BAND?

 

I'm still working on WAS (“Worked All States”) on 12M and 10M. At this point in the sunspot cycle, neither is often open. But that is not the same thing as “never open.” Make a transmission or two on bands where you need contacts. If everyone is just listening, no one will know when the band IS open.

 

NEW CHALLENGES:

 

Did you finish WAS or DXCC (“DX Century Club,” awarded for confirmed contacts with 100 countries)? Good for you! Try working on WAS or DXCC on single bands. When I started looking, I found that even though I had multi-band DXCC, there was no single band where I had even 50 countries. Same with WAS: Just because you're done with it in multi-band doesn't mean you can't pursue single-band awards, too.

 

TWO BANDS:

 

One of the most powerful, yet most misunderstood differences between FT8 and most other ham radio modes is the rigid even/odd time slots. All transmissions are synchronized to be contained entirely in one “even” or “odd” time slot.

 

This means there are really two “bands” in FT8. A frequency can be used by one station during the “even” slot and another in the “odd” slot with absolutely no interference between them. Operating “split” (using different transmit and receive frequencies) doesn't that mean your QSO is tying up two frequencies instead of one. All QSOs use two frequencies, since even and odd time slots on the same frequency are not the same.

 

Because all signals in the a receiver's passband are decoded, there's no particular advantage to be on or even close to the frequency of the station you're calling. In fact, I often have better luck trying the “edges” of the baseband, either below 300 Hz or above about 2500 Hz. Give it a try: You might be surprised.

 

CALLING ON THEIR FREQUENCY:

 

So, there's no advantage per se to calling a station on his or her own frequency. I usually don't do it. But remember that you can't tell how clear a frequency is at other station's location. If I find I'm not getting a response after several calls, I'll switch my transmission to the other station's frequency. Presumably, that station chose the frequency because it was more or less clear at their end. I always remember to move off after making (or missing) the contact: Another station calling me on that frequency will be interfering with the station I was trying to work. No bueno.

 

INTERRUPT YOURSELF:

 

It's easy to let your station just keep calling endlessly, and hoping for the best. That's not always the best strategy, though. Assuming you picked a relatively-empty frequency when you started calling, it may not still be that way. Remember: If you are only receiving during alternate time slots, you don't know what the frequency and time slot on which you're transmitting sounds like. You can use a quick HALT TX followed by ENABLE TX to see if that slot is still clear. If not, you can change it.

 

CHOOSING AN ANTENNA:

 

I don't have just one crummy antenna; I have three! I used to just look at which antenna delivered the strongest receive signal overall. That was wrong, though. Even crummy antennas are better in some directions and at some vertical angles than others. Instead, try switching between antennas while watching the receive signal from the station or area you're trying to work. On 20M, for example, my 215 foot (65.5M) E-W flat-top is usually better than the 133 foot (40.5M) N-S EFHW (End Fed Half Wave). Not always, though, and sometimes the 88 foot (27M) EDZ (Extended Double Zepp) is the best of the three.

 

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT:

 

A quick tune around the HF bands will show that FT8 and its siblings are a large portion, if not the majority, of operation today. That doesn't mean you have to use them. If you think it's “Not real ham radio,” or “Just computers” or whatever, feel free to do something else. One of the things I've loved most during 50+ years in ham radio is how many different kinds of ham radio there are. For many us with low power and weak antennas, digital modes have made DX possible that wouldn't have been so without them. That's reason enough for me to use them.

W4KVW2020-07-10
Digital Mode Operating Tips: Worth What You Pay!
It has been proven that you can set a station to run FT8 without anyone being there once it is activated so it'a an easy way to accumulate lots of contacts for different awards.There was a YouTube video of a station working all by itself & making lots of contacts.My computer does not have a license & if I'm not present as the Control Operator it does not even qualify as Third Party Traffic? I don't see any reason to ever make an FT8 contact since I own several hundred microphones & I really like using them.If you work me it will be on Phone Only no matter how Rare the contact may be I can live without it if it's only available on some Digital mode that is not on Phone.Long live PHONE! {:>)
K8ZT2020-07-05
Digital Mode Operating Tips: Worth What You Pay!
Great article.
Also take a look at http://tiny.cc/ft8ft4
KF0AFW2020-06-19
Digital Mode Operating Tips: Worth What You Pay!
I just recently entered the world of HAM Radio. I found that digital modes were an easy way for me to dive in since my work schedule doesn't give me much time to pursue the hobby. I enjoyed your article.
VE3TMT2020-06-16
Digital Mode Operating Tips: Worth What You Pay!
Excellent article, thank you for posting. I too have started single band WAS as a personal challenge. A great way to pass the time.
W3WN2020-06-15
Digital Mode Operating Tips: Worth What You Pay!
Very nice & informative article.

Would I be able to use this in a future issue of my club newsletter?
K6CRC2020-06-15
Digital Mode Operating Tips: Worth What You Pay!
Good article. Who said Hams can't write well?
I enjoy SSB, as I like to meet new people and talk to them. But, even that mode has morphed so much in the last few years. Few real conversations, just OFs complaining about politics or their health. And hams outside the US don't talk much period, I have found, English is a tough language, my small amount of Cantonese and French is unusable now. I really do not enjoy CW, a PSK is like watching paint dry.

So FT8 is 'real' ham radio now in the SS cycle. I am blessed with a crummy antenna also. But, hey, that is part of the fun, playing with wire. Doing the best I can.

Like the old Drag Racing saying, 'you run what you brung...'
AH6FC2020-06-14
Digital Mode Operating Tips: Worth What You Pay!
Nice piece of work; good counsel.

The bands are always quiet here, We're it not for FT8, etc, there would be no activity. I can't remember the last SSB contact I've made...hear nothing...and CW is almost as barren. So, yes, call CQ! Aloha, Bill AH6FC
K7THU2020-06-14
Digital Mode Operating Tips: Worth What You Pay!
Thanks for taking the time to post this fine article. Your ideas should be read by all who operate FT8.

I might also add that I strongly suspect some folks are using high power/amplifiers. I personally don't think that's appropriate, and the RX AGC compression it causes effects everyone else. Generally 30 Watts or less, perhaps 100 Watts if conditions are poor on some of the lower H.F. bands should be adequate. This was recently pointed out to me by a local ham, point taken.

Remember the FCC rules specify not using any more power output than necessary to maintain
communications. That could lead me to an entire rant about anybody ever using a power amp, but I won't go there!!
KT4EP2020-06-12
Digital Mode Operating Tips: Worth What You Pay!
Spot On tips. Good job. I might add that when you've been calling CQ or getting ready to move away from the radio and computer, to wait a minute or two. I have missed someone answering me as much as 2 minutes after I quit transmitting.
VE1YY2020-06-12
Digital Mode Operating Tips: Worth What You Pay!
Thank you for writing this article, Andrew.

The suggested practices are well worth the attention of those who appreciate digital operations, whether old timer or neophyte.

The suggestion to stay on one's frequency, rather than QSY-ing to the responding station's frequency, along with your noted exception, is advice more should take, including me, who, after 62 years of hamming, just learned something new. Thanks!