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Author Topic: Field Day 2021 digital modes?  (Read 358 times)

KE7FD

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Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« on: May 13, 2021, 04:06:50 PM »

Our club has used digital mode as part of our Field Day activities for many years. However, because of the pandemic and even prior to that the use of PSK31 which was our go-to-digital mode seemed to be replaced by newer modes. My question is in 2021, is there a particular digital mode that individuals or clubs are gravitating towards? Are you still going to use PSK31, or one of the newer modes?
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K7AAT

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2021, 05:05:37 PM »


Seems to me, last Field Day digital operations were primarily FT8 and FT4.

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WA9AFM

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2021, 06:34:49 PM »

Although FT4 was developed as a digi contesting mode, FT8 will likely be the premiere mode.

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K6SDW

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2021, 07:14:27 PM »

Don't forget CW and phone, very popular during field day. After all, CW is a "digital mode" ..... HI HI

GL
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WA9AFM

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2021, 07:52:37 PM »

Yeah, verily!  Our club's CW team usually turns in well over 500 QSO's.
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KE7FD

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #5 on: May 13, 2021, 11:40:25 PM »

Right wrt the other modes: CW, SSB. We have those covered well. The CW crew usually leads the pack. I've gotten away from digital which is why I needed to ask. PSK31 was such a good ol tool, I'm sorry to see it fall out of favor, but we don't have pay phones anymore either. I have just enough time to get my act together. That'll teach them to appoint me to be our FD chairperson...Ft8, here we come.

Thanks,
Glen KE7FD
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K3TN

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #6 on: May 14, 2021, 04:46:53 AM »

As many said, FT8.

A good resource from the EU FT8 Club for how to set up FT8 for contests is here. It is written for the ARRL RTTY Roundup (which allows all digital modes) but if you check the radio button shown for ARRL Field Day, you get correct set up for FD.

73 John K3TN
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John K3TN

K0UA

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #7 on: May 14, 2021, 10:22:17 AM »

I worked a lot more FT4 than FT8 last year at field day. Twice as fast and "good enough" sensitivity wise. Speed counts for a lot more than weak signal ability.  That is why CW nearly always trumps SSB at least with a good operator on each end. FT4 beats FT8 for the same reason.  Speed.
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73  James K0UA

KE7FD

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #8 on: May 14, 2021, 10:57:44 AM »

O   K
So, the obvious question here is if I'm set up for FT8, and there are FT4 signals, will the software automatically switch? FD is already hectic enough without having to play whack-a-mole switching modes and macros.
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K0UA

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2021, 04:37:12 PM »

O   K
So, the obvious question here is if I'm set up for FT8, and there are FT4 signals, will the software automatically switch? FD is already hectic enough without having to play whack-a-mole switching modes and macros.

Nope.   FT4 and FT8 will be on different frequencies.  Switching mode is a couple of mouse button presses.  I don't know anything about macros. Can't think of any needed.  I am guessing you have never operated FT8 or FT4 yet?  If so there are several things to know. And you will need to get set up and start getting operating experience well before hand.  Also you will need to use the FD format on WSJT-x.  That will take about a minute to set up. Call me if you need assistance.   73  James K0UA
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73  James K0UA

N2SR

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #10 on: May 15, 2021, 04:02:31 AM »

Yeah, verily!  Our club's CW team usually turns in well over 500 QSO's.

Nice!  I normally operate 20 cw with the group I normally go out with.  1000 Q's on 20 cw and a 1000 Q's on 40 cw.   We are normally 7A. 

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N8AUC

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #11 on: May 16, 2021, 05:06:45 AM »

Yeah, verily!  Our club's CW team usually turns in well over 500 QSO's.

Nice!  I normally operate 20 cw with the group I normally go out with.  1000 Q's on 20 cw and a 1000 Q's on 40 cw.   We are normally 7A.

Me too. I love operating CW on Field Day! Like to hang out mostly on 40 and 80 meters as those seem to be the most target rich environments. A little bit of 20 meters added in during daylight hours is good just to spice things up a bit.

73 de N8AUC
Eric
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WO7R

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #12 on: May 19, 2021, 12:22:47 AM »

I recommend giving FT4 a good, solid try in FD.

It has slowly grown in popularity.  It allows double the Q rate for the same effort.

For long haul DX, it has its problems, but unless conditions are extraordinarily bad, FT4 for stateside QSOs should be a godsend as long as everyone figures this out and hangs out there.
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K0UA

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #13 on: May 19, 2021, 06:30:33 AM »

Just don't forget to set up for FD mode on FT4 and FT8. If you don't know what that means, NOW is the time to discuss it.
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73  James K0UA

K0UA

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Re: Field Day 2021 digital modes?
« Reply #14 on: June 26, 2021, 09:51:27 AM »

Just don't forget to set up for FD mode on FT4 and FT8. If you don't know what that means, NOW is the time to discuss it.

Well, since no one discussed it and no one contacted me for any assistance, then I ASSume that everyone fully understands how to operate in FD mode on FT4 and FT8.  :)  I will be on FT4.
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73  James K0UA
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