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Author Topic: ARRL Digital June Contest and FT8  (Read 340 times)

N4NYY

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ARRL Digital June Contest and FT8
« on: May 08, 2022, 11:36:02 AM »

OK. Scenario is that I have never participated in a digital contest. I am not even sure if this is a regular contest or a new one. I am pretty new to FT8.

If I set up WSJT-X for the WW Digi mode in the "Advanced" section, is this enough? Or do I have to do more? I am a search and pouncer, and don't have a setup for being a point scorer. I find the treasure hunting aspect of the contest to be exciting, especially when new countries become fewer and far between.
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WA9AFM

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Re: ARRL Digital June Contest and FT8
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2022, 11:47:55 AM »

Vince, you'll find digi contesting a real hoot!!!!  First, the ARRL Digital Contest is new and for all non-RTTY digital modes; RTTY Roundup is THE RTTY contest.

Yes, you have the setup correct.  See you on the waterfall.
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N4NYY

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Re: ARRL Digital June Contest and FT8
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2022, 12:19:33 PM »

Thanks!
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KH6AQ

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Re: ARRL Digital June Contest and FT8
« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2022, 01:12:01 PM »

The contest will have FT4 as well as FT8.
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K6OK

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Re: ARRL Digital June Contest and FT8
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2022, 03:09:14 PM »


If I set up WSJT-X for the WW Digi mode in the "Advanced" section, is this enough?

Almost, but not quite right. In the "Advanced" section choose "NA VHF Contest" not "WW Digi."
Source: https://groups.io/g/rttydigital/message/1765

Have fun in the contest!  73 Jim K6OK
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KH6AQ

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Re: ARRL Digital June Contest and FT8
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2022, 06:59:59 PM »

This article can help you get a higher score in the digital 'test.

Taking Digital Contesting to the Limit, Contest University, 2022
Ed Muns, W0YK

https://www.contestuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/W0YK-Upping-your-Digital-Contesting-Game.pdf
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KH6AQ

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Re: ARRL Digital June Contest and FT8
« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2022, 11:16:06 AM »

The guys who are trying to work the contest but are not in contest mode are messing up the logging.
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KF5KWO

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Re: ARRL Digital June Contest and FT8
« Reply #7 on: June 04, 2022, 08:17:34 PM »

This article can help you get a higher score in the digital 'test.

Taking Digital Contesting to the Limit, Contest University, 2022
Ed Muns, W0YK

https://www.contestuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/W0YK-Upping-your-Digital-Contesting-Game.pdf

Thanks for sharing this article. I need to be better at not doing the 2nd QSL that’s not needed. I do PSK/RTTY/other modes, and often I see ‘SK’ from the other op but still send my “73 and GL” because it seems polite and I like the comradery aspect that this kind of “friendly thumbs-up” brings, and many of them do the same as well. A few ops in today’s ARRL Digital sent their QSL and immediately follwed with QRZ? so I knew I didn’t need to wave. But most contest QSOs that I see have the one-too-many QSLs.
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KH6AQ

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Re: ARRL Digital June Contest and FT8
« Reply #8 on: June 06, 2022, 03:01:25 PM »

That was an interesting contest. Not exhilarating like a CW 'test but fun enough and FT4 made Qs come along nicely. Logging in WSJT I couldn't quickly dupe and CQed only for the first 20 hours. At that time things slowed down and before calling someone I'd quickly scroll though the log set to display calls alphabetically.

The contest subbands helped and the ops there were 95% contest mode. When ops called with a signal report I knew it wasn't going to work had to skip them. 

When CQing and working a station WSJT stopped the sequence and enabled logging before sending RR73. It was either click Tx 4 to send RR73 or skip it. Did I set it up incorrectly?
« Last Edit: June 06, 2022, 03:03:44 PM by KH6AQ »
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K6OK

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Re: ARRL Digital June Contest and FT8
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2022, 10:24:09 AM »

@KH6AQ -- To spot dupes, use the custom colors in WSJT.  I have the following colors set:

New call -- bright aqua background
New call on band -- dim aqua background
My call in RX -- bright red background
My call is TX -- bright yellow background
CQ in message -- gray background

If you start the contest with an empty .adi log, calls you haven't worked will have in blue background.  CQ messages that are dupes will be gray in your band activity window.

I see on 3830 you are in 3rd place World in the SO1R 24hr category. Congrats on a fine effort. In a heavily distance-weighted contest like this you have a big geographical advantage being in Hawaii to boost your score.    --  73 Jim K6OK
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KH6AQ

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Re: ARRL Digital June Contest and FT8
« Reply #10 on: June 08, 2022, 05:39:37 AM »

K6OK, thanks for the dupe checking tip!

I didn't about the WW Digital contest and their web page has great info that would have helped me in the ARRL Digital contest. Unfortunately the August WW Digital conflicts with the Hawaii QSO Party.
 
https://ww-digi.com/operating.htm

I see you did quite well from the mainland. I thought KH6-land could be tops for points but it turns out ZL-land is. My log shows 48% FT4 and 52% FT8.   
« Last Edit: June 08, 2022, 05:51:07 AM by KH6AQ »
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