[PaQSO] Need your input on PSK31, RTTY, 2+6M - thanks

Thu Oct 18 12:13:12 EDT 2018

Historically digital modes have had tepid usage in the Party.  I would love
to see us grow this segment while keeping the same level of activity in and
focus on phone and CW.

In the Newsline interview I mentioned FT8.  The question about "what do we
have planned for the Party going into the future" honestly caught me a
little off guard as I didn't have a "canned" response in my pocket (hi
hi).  The PA QSO PA team has been so focused on picking up management of
the Party and tending to the numerous tasks required to make the event
happen that we admittedly haven't had much to discuss the future.  The FT8
thought came into my head out of nowhere, and after the interview I was
worried that folks may be upset by the comment, based on comments and some
angst years ago when PSK was introduced to the Party.  However, I do feel
it's something we should discuss and ultimately embrace.  Looking back, PSK
adoption had little effect on the Party, negatively or positively.  I think
FT8 will be different considering propagation conditions we're in and will
likely be in for the foreseeable future, and with the trends we're seeing
with usage of the mode across amateur radio.

My Newsline comments about keeping the tradition of the Party alive while
looking forward can't be stressed enough.  I truly believe this and would
like to grow digital participation and keep phone and CW activity at the
same or increased levels.  Today we have participants who do mixed phone
and CW, all phone, and all CW.  I love CW and the past few Parties I've
operated exclusively CW.  I'm not a crusty curmudgeon clinging to CW, nor
do I subscribe to mode wars, it's just *my thing*.  It's fun for me.
Everyone has "their thing".  If we can attract a large enough group of
folks who have FT8 as "their thing" and there is enough activity to support
dedicated awards and operating classes, great, I say.  We've just broadened
the appeal of the Party and we can keep this good thing going, long after
we're SK.

I should add a disclaimer that my views don't necessarily represent the PA
QSO Party Association's position or the views of other team members.  After
the dust settles with log scoring, awards, and all the other stuff we do
after the Party, there will be lots of discussion and formulating the
future, here and within the PA QSO PA team.  As usual, I would just ask we
keep discussions civil, thoughtful, and factual, and would urge everyone,
while passionate in your opinions, keep an open mind and above all, listen
before you transmit.  :-)

73
Goody
K3NG

On Thu, Oct 18, 2018 at 7:42 AM Mark Wheeler via PaQSO <
paqso at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> As the winner of the Top PSK31 Score in both the 2016 and 2017 PA QSO
> Party I feel I have some standing to write the following about Digital
> modes in the PAQP…
>
> PSK31 and RTTY were noticeably absent this year in the PAQP.  I know… I
> was searching… and calling… mostly in vain… for stations with either of
> these modes in nearly every band.  And other digital modes as well.  Simply
> wasn't happening.  I don’t blame this on lack of interest… I think many
> hams are confused about the vast and rapidly changing digital modes and
> techniques in ham radio.
>
> One thing is abundantly clear:  the digital mode called FT8, which is part
> of the WSJT-X software by Joe Taylor K1JT…. is THE most popular digital
> mode in amateur radio worldwide right now.  It’s where all the DX has gone…
> and most of the QSOs when propagation is challenging.  FT8 gets through
> when other modes don’t.  Just take a look at http://PSKReporter.info <
> http://pskreporter.info/> and filter for RTTY or PSK.  Then filter the
> results to show FT8… and get ready to be knocked off your chair.
>
> In case you haven’t heard, FT8 is evolving into a “version 2.0” early next
> year.  And it’s going to support things like contest exchanges… the lack of
> which at present has kept it out of PAQP usage.
>
> PREDICTION:  By this time next year FT8 will be the dominant Digital mode…
> and possibly THE dominant mode… in the PAQP.
>
> - Mark KZ3MW
> 2016 & 2017 PAQP Top PSK31 Scorer
>
> > On Oct 16, 2018, at 4:24 PM, Matthew Steger <n3ntj at embarqmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Personally, I did not operate nor have any interest in using 2m, 6m, nor
> > RTTY or PSK31 during the QSO Party. I always stick to traditional modes
> of
> > CW and phone on 160m ~ 10m.
> >
> > 73
> > N3NTJ
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: paqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:
> paqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net> <paqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:
> paqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net>> On
> > Behalf Of Paul Lusardi
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2018 12:55 PM
> > To: paqso at mailman.qth.net <mailto:paqso at mailman.qth.net>
> > Subject: [PaQSO] Need your input on PSK31, RTTY, 2+6M - thanks
> >
> > Howdy all,
> >
> > Our operations had to bail on RTTY and PSK31 modes at the last minute -
> can
> > anyone give feedback on their use of these modes, was it worth the
> effort to
> > focus on these modes? Or better spent on traditional modes such as CW and
> > SSB?
> >
> > Also any reports on 2/6M as well - worth the effort was it just a few
> > contacts?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Paul, N0VLR (N3ZK team)
> > ______________________________________________________________
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