[NLRS] FT8 and a work around in contests

[home at warrenferber.com]

Hi,
 
I used FT8 exclusively during the contest.  In the few hours I had available this past weekend I only heard 2 signals on CW, all sending faster than I can copy, and 0 SSB signals.
The band was open for me using FT8.
 
I learned a couple of things about FT8 that may help in September.
When you receive a response from someone NOT running in NA VHF Contest mode you have the ability to "force" the correct response.  Instead of being stuck in a loop of you sending R and your grid, they respond with call and signal report, just click on the TX4 message button.  This defaults to RRR and will trigger that response from their app, and you can move on to the next contact.
 
After the contest - I read the manual - and learned that double clicking the TX4 message button will bring up an alternative response.  It changes that RRR message to RR73.  This basically will end the sequence with the current station and make the CQ message the next one that you will send.
This shrinks the message exchange from 4 to only 3.  Saves at least 30 seconds per contact, which adds up.
 
73,
 
Warren - WF0T