Thanks! Still kinda confusing for my comprehension, but then again I'm not into all the nuances of WSJT-X. I've tried FT8, on my friend's insistence, to see what the hub-bub was all about, and it's not to my liking at all. I'm a CW (and to a lesser extent SSB, RTTY) contester, and I don't even enjoy point-and-click spotting-assisted operation.
I've seen comments/complaints that he's on an odd sequence, and callers are transmitting on that sequence as well. So apparently many others don't know what the heck is going on either
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Anyway, hope you have fun and work the guy. At least you won't have me for competition
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The concept of multistreaming is actually simple.
FT8 signals are generated by applying modulated audio tones into an SSB transmitter. Pretty much like how CW was generated in the KWM-2.
So, imagine that you apply tones at 340 Hz, 400 Hz, and 470 Hz, each modulated by the message you want to send to the stations you're calling. (An FT8 signal is roughly 60 Hz wide) Since FT8 transmissions are transmitted in coordinated 15 second slots, you send all three modulated carriers during the same slot. Viola, it's like having three transmitters. If things go well, you can work three times as many stations compared to only one stream. Stations chasing DX like that.
In addition, in some modes, like the Fox/Hound mode designed into the WSJT-X software, there's some additional features and rules. One feature is that the Fox (the DX) can tail-end after the RR73 message sent to the previous station a new station's report. That ups the rate again. With the maximum five streams allowed for WSJT-X Fox mode, and a two QSO per minute maximum because of the tail-ending process, that means that the maximum rate is 600 QSOs per hour. In theory, of course. Not too bad, eh?
One of the things about FT8WW is that he is using different software that allows for MSHV operation. That's kind of a hybrid between normal FT8 operation and the Fox/Hound operation. There's fewer rules, for one thing. I won't go into all of them - after all, Golden Retriever puppies can do this - but one rule is that Foxes transmit during the first and third 15 second slot of each minute. That's written into the WSJT-X software. FT8WW is transmitting during the second and fourth slot, presumably to let everybody know that he's not operating as a Fox, so don't you call him as a Hound with all that entails. (haha)
Naturally, there's a zillion stations calling him during the same slot as he is transmitting in. That makes it impossible for the home stations to have heard him, right? Yet, many are even giving reports. How is this possible? (I suspect you already know the answer to that.)
More than you wanted to know, probably, but at least you won't lie awake wondering about it all.
Thanks for the wishes! Based on what I heard today, I'm lowering my success likelihood to closer to 10%.