[ILQSO] FT8 Comments

[n9jfcountyhunter at gmail.com]

Troy, thanks for the comments and for your support of ILQP!  

Yes, I know it's "possible" to use free-form macros with FT8, and it would
be "possible" to exchange the proper info for a valid ILQP contact.  Having
said that, I wouldn't want to be the one to try to pull this off during the
contest when I can run 100+ per hour on either SSB or CW.  I have used such
macros to convey my park number when doing POTA/WWFF, and I'm not sure
anyone gets the message.

As for the double points for CW vs. SSB, that goes back to the original
rules for the contest, long before we inherited it.  I don't know the
reasoning behind it.  For that matter, why does FD give twice the points for
CW vs SSB?  I'm guessing it's a  gentle nudge to encourage CW proficiency?
But that's just a guess.....

My brain is too fried right now from gazing at logs to understand what you
mean about dividing the total mode QSOs by power class or the reason for
doing so.  Several years back, we started separating entries by power class
and recognizing highest scoring stations in each class.  We instituted a QRP
class because one perennial entrant complained every year that there was
none.  Then he hasn't sent an entry since.....

Moving on....

73, Jim N9JF

Subject: [ILQSO] FT8 Comments

Good Morning All!

I too am in the same boat as a lot of other operators in regards to liking
FT8, but might not be appropriate for ILQP.  As I also run our school
station (W9GRS), we have done quite a bit of dabbling into various modes of
contact with our students.  FT8 is great for making contacts when conditions
are less than ideal and we have experimented with ways of utilizing it
during School Club Round-up (SCR).  SCR does not accept FT8 contacts as a
valid mode and in my opinion SCR is having a bit of an identity crisis on
whether it is a contest or an event, kind of like Field Day (this isn't the
place to go into here, hi hi).  That being said, it is possible to send a
proper exchange utilizing customizable macros.  We have pushed back on SCR
and have demonstrated making QSO's several times with proper exchanges
successfully (they didn't like it). The challenge is you have to manually do
the sequencing and not let the computer do the auto sequencing.  It is a bit
more labor intensive, so you're not gaining any advantage in terms of QSO
rates, but you could make some of those harder to get stations.  It also
means you have to be actively monitoring your radio (which you should be
anyway).  The other challenge is that the other station has to have set up
their macros to exchange their info.

I have always been confused with the 2 point advantage of CW over Phone.
It seems like "double-dipping" as often the QSO rates are higher for CW than
Phone.  Not only can you get more QSO's, but get double the points.
Maybe I am missing something.

A suggestion in terms of categories would be to divide the total mode QSO's
by power class.  You would be hard pressed to get a low power station to
have most mode QSO's over one that is running power.

Always have fun being a part of ILQP and looking forward to next year!

73!

-Troy W9KVR
W9GRS School Station
--
Troy J. Simpson

NAGT 2016 Central Section OESTA
Science Instructor - Watseka Jr. High School Science Olympiad Team Head
Coach / Science Club Sponsor Head Coach Girls Track & Field - Watseka
Community High School
Twitter:  @GRS_Science
Watseka, IL
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