You may have caught my earlier post from June 2018 titled WSJT-X NA VHF Contest Mode — A Solution Looking for a Problem. I had just completed the June VHF Contest and tried but mostly failed in using FT8 during the contest. First it was the /R in my call sign that didn’t work. Then there were some stations using NA Contest Mode and some not.
I wasn’t alone in making comments about the challenges. That cacophony continued through the rest of 2018 until Version 2.0 came out in December. Now the January VHF contest has been completed, see my blog post on a 10 grid rove. Guess what? I’m not hearing any comments save for one quiet thank you to K1JT for great software.
Perhaps that’s typical of our hobby. I often say, “if you don’t want to hear other people’s opinions, don’t join a hobby that requires a microphone.” Yet good grief, let’s give credit where it’s due and provide encouragement as well as cheering for a very successful development step with WSJT-X.
I found everything in the contest for FT8 and MSK144 to work extremely well. My /R call sign was not a problem at all. The NA Contest Mode worked perfectly. Not only that, but it seamlessly dealt with those who would send a signal report — no restarting or anything but a 73 and put the QSO in the logbook.
Hats off to the WSJT-X team on a superb advancement with the software. Not only that, but when’s the last time we had 6 meter Es in January? Now it seems to be happening on a regular basis thanks to this superb software finding the openings where CW and Phone just won’t work.
Kudos All Around — Thank You
