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

[Mark Schreiner]

Mark et al

During the contest I did see several posts on the spotting site linked to
the PAQP website for operation on PSK31 with a frequency of x.070 listed.
Did you do that or was that somebody else?

Also, when you won the Top PSK31 Plaque in 2016 and 2017, how many QSOs did
you have then?  I'm curious as to how much activity there was in the
previous two years compared to the zero activity that you experiences this
year.

I personally haven't done PSK31 or other digital contesting other than one
time back in the mid-90s when I did a RTTY contest just to try that out.
I, like Goody, prefer CW and figure that is "my thing" as well.  Last year
I exclusively operated CW for PAQP, however I typically, as I did this
year, operate as mixed mode.  It seems like I hardly have time to do both
modes already so unless I set up a dedicated radio/computer for digital I'm
not sure how much time I would have for that, especially if it gets a good
foothold.

The current rules for the PA QSO Party for digital operation do not exclude
FT8, however the mode itself does not support the exchange at this time.
Maybe that will change in the future.  Maybe it will be called FT8C (the C
for Contesting) or something like that at that time.  Things would be
interesting at that time to see how things change as far as operating
habits go at that time.

73,

Mark, NK8Q

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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