[AK-VHF] AK VHF 2022

[Ed Cole]

Well put, Brandon.

I've not done any RTTY but my first entry into the digital world was 
psk-31 (mainly on 20m) back in the late 1990's.  Both are great Text 
Modes so provide a digital chat opportunity.

FT8 and the WSJT-X suite of programs are suited to long-range and 
weak-signal work.  FT8 on 50.313 MHz is now the standard mode for "DX" 
openings; I worked many lower-48 stations and Japan on 6m using it.

I had FL-digi installed on my old win-xp computer.  I'll download it to 
the new i5 win-10pro computer.  It also offers keyboard CW sending which 
I find easier than using a key, these days.

The Moosehorn club (Kenai-Soldotna) was using some of the digital modes 
offered from FL-digi on 80m and 40m for reaching out over the Peninsula 
for support of emcomm activities with mixed success.

Anyone else have comments about what we are discussing?

73, Ed - KL7UW

On 1/10/2022 9:19 PM, Brandon Clark wrote:
> Hi Ed (and group),
> 
> When it comes to adding 6 M time, I completely agree about not 
> duplicating the Wednesday simplex net. I think the strength of the 
> Saturday net is, as you put it, the round table format. Hams can chat, 
> get assistance, plan activities, etc.
> 
> Maybe the key to a 6 M digital segment would be to run whatever modes 
> the participants are interested in that day? Much like how the Saturday 
> net will QSY to other bands depending on who shows up that day.
> 
> In my POTA activations I've begun putting RTTY and PSK31 back in the 
> mix, using fldigi in the computer. Either of those modes would make a 
> good "anchor" mode to try on a 6 M digital segment. be great to use for 
> the round table format. FT8 is the most popular mode right now, but on 
> HF I'm still finding a lot of use of other modes, like RTTY and PSK31, 
> both of which have lots of tutorials online.
> 
> Getting set up on fldigi requires the exact same hardware as FT8. With 
> the popularity of FT8 many hams with HF+6 rigs already have the gear 
> they need. They would just have to install fldigi, and then that opens 
> up tens of different modes.
> 
> Brandon
> 
> 
> Sent from ProtonMail mobile
> 
> 
> 
> -------- Original Message --------
> On Jan 10, 2022, 19:17, Ed Cole < kl7uw at acsalaska.net> wrote:
> 
> 
>     More comment:
> 
>     In fact the Saturday net has become a 3-band net thru default:
>     2m SSB or FM
>     223.50 FM (no SSB as there are only a couple stations capable*)
>     and
>     50.125 SSB (no FM as that is not a weak-signal mode which the club is
>     promoting)
> 
>     *Note: that 927.50 FM is also a band that has very few SSB stations
>     Both 222 and 900 have defaulted to single frequency/mode operation, for
>     the most part
> 
>     Not everyone has equipment/antennas for all these but we frequently get
>     check-ins on these band. I announce on 2m that I going to a either 6m
>     or 1-1/4m to invite check-ins. Sometimes I get a request to activate
>     another band (Usually by KL7H).
> 
>     There are more stations on 2m then the other two.
> 
>     Originally the net was set up so anyone could suggest trying another
>     band (usually 6m thru 23cm, as few have equipment above that). This has
>     not happened quite as I visualized but that is OK.
> 
>     The Wednesday simplex net was organized to activate a lot of bands with
>     check-ins but not for chatting. The original idea was exercising VHF
>     stations for contacting without assistance of repeaters for emergency
>     preparedness. It has changed a bit and added many HF bands. They have
>     a fairly rigid sequence of band activation. 6m FM and SSB are included.
>     Even a nod to digital in the sense of packet check-ins (but no other
>     modes until recent addition of D-Star).
> 
>     I do not want to duplicate that form of net. I think our participants
>     like the round-table chat form we are using. Extending that to FT8 will
>     be hard as its not designed for chatting, but hopefully folks will pick
>     up that its great for working longer distances than CW or SSB. A
>     separate 6m net can be a platform for promoting other 6m modes such as
>     FT8 and propagation such as sporadic-E, meteor scatter, and eme ...
> 
>     FT8 & MSK144 offer great opportunity for VHF contacts over longer range
>     - getting a few involved is the challenge.
> 
>     Ed
>     decided to share this discussion with the group for comments/discussion
>