Reading through the comments on the VHF Contesting Reflector and the WSJT-X Meteor Scatter and Weak Signal Group I find that many have commented with pros and cons on the use of the NA VHF Contest Mode in the recent June VHF contest. While I’m tempted to respond on those lists, I find that my thoughts are a bit more complex than can be communicated in a few words. So, in blog form, here are my personal observations.
NA VHF Contest Mode — Saving QSO Time
I believe the NA VHF Contest Mode is a solution looking for a problem. One of its goals is to complete the required contest grid exchange in the shortest amount of time possible. Which, of course, is sound contest practice in any mode.
However, while attempting to save seconds per QSO by eliminating standard signal reports, it does this at the risk of excluding casual contesters who aren’t aware of the mode or perhaps even the contest. They just want to make some QSOs on six meters with rare grids.
In the process, it also presents challenges to everyone operating in the contest trying to accommodate both those using the contest mode and those who are not. First switching to contest mode, then when discovering the station you’re working isn’t running contest mode, switching back and trying once more. See my own comments from my recent blog post on K5ND/R in the June 2018 VHF Contest.
For further insight on potential time savings see Joel Harrison’s, W5ZN, slide deck from the 2018 Contest University Session at Hamvention: Utilizing Digital Modes FT8 and MSK144 for Competitive Advantage in VHF Contests. About midway through his presentation he provides K8ZR’s test results comparing contest and non contest QSO times — the savings shown is 15 seconds.
While you’re there, check out his complete presentation. It was his earlier sessions at Contest University that got me into VHF contesting.
NA VHF Contest Mode — Exchanging Grids
The other goal of the NA VHF Contest Mode is to facilitate the exchange of grids, which is the required contest exchange. This appears to me to have already been solved without a contest mode.
From personal experience, I’ve completed over 400 FT8 contacts since it’s introduction and quite a few before that with JT65, MSK144, FT9, and FSK144. Every single one of those QSOs exchanged grid squares — the standard exchange on VHF.
So I don’t feel that NA VHF Contest mode is needed for facilitating the exchange of grids. And, as pointed out above, it doesn’t appear to be saving much time and even taking more time switching between modes to work the variety of contesters and casual ops encountered during a VHF contest.
In summary, it doesn’t appear there’s much benefit and significant challenges in using NA VHF Contest Mode.
WSJT-X — How About Rovers?
The other thing that I encountered during the contest was the challenges running as K5ND/R. WSJT-X categorizes this as a type 1 compound callsign. See more at Compound Callsigns or from the Help menu in the program. WSJT-X only allows type 1 suffixes from 0 to 9 along with /A and /P.
VHF contests bring one unique element to contesting — rovers. And, the callsign /R is required for all modes or operation. Yet WSJT-X software does not allow for the /R appended to the call sign in the list of type 1 call signs.
While the list of rovers might be small, just over 80 in the June 2017 VHF contest, one would think that some allowance could be made to integrate the /R into the system and if there is a VHF contest mode, it for sure should include provisions for /R callsigns.
I will also note that WSJT’s auto sequence in NA VHF Contest Mode sequences from either calling CQ or responding to a CQ – directly to the TX 3 message, which due to the compound callsign is DE K5ND/R R EM02. It does not include the station’s call sign to whom you are responding!
Note that this occurs regardless if you’ve selected Full Call in Tx1, Full Call in Tx3, or Full Call in Tx5 only in the General Settings tab. I tried them all during the contest.
Of course that response generates lots of confusion on the other side of the QSO. Some didn’t recognize that I was calling them. Others figured I must be calling them. As a result, at the end of the QSO I would get two or three stations sending their 73 message to me. I can’t wait to see my Log Checking Report for all the missed QSOs that should have been in my log.
I will note that I tried turning off auto sequence and instead tagging the appropriate button. That helped somewhat. Although, it seemed that at least in NA VHF Contest mode it was going to sequence to TX3 anyway.
Enough Griping — Instead My Compliments and Thanks
I hope these comments are taken in the spirit of continuous improvement. My thoughts, for what they are worth.
My thanks to K1JT and the entire team of developers for their superb software. FT8 has opened up a whole new approach to working grids on six meters and elsewhere. For me, it’s added lots of new grids. Thank you and I’m sure it will only get better over time.
I totally agree that the FT8 Contest mode confuses things and wasts valuable time for the contester. The 15 second shorter QSO time is often wasted in the confusion. If contesters used the standard mode during the contest they would also pick up many extra points from the non-contesters who are just there to make contacts, work new grids, etc. It would be a win-win for both contesters and non-contesters.
I’ll add that working non-contesters tends to add new contesters over time. We could use some of those. Perhaps a KISS principle is needed here. One further thought, shared in an email stream a few minutes ago — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But that’s not the nature of ham radio operators, programmers, and Nobel Prize winners. All the better for coming up with innovative options for working more stations under poor conditions. Some work, some don’t. Perhaps they too will agree that feedback is a gift and use this to make still more astounding improvements. 73, Jim, K5ND
The VHF Contest Mode breaks a principal which was central to the success of the JT modes: one passband, one compatible mode/protocol. You go to a frequency, you should be able to work everything there without switching protocols. This is part of why the JT modes “won” and things like Olivia which pack a bunch of incompatible variants into one “watering hole” lost.
I don’t disagree with the issues brought up, but then you have the guy not in contest mode trying to shorten the QSO by calling you with a signal report skipping TX1 call sets and grid. That then leave’s you without the grid at all.
This is a issue either way you run it.
Randy