Re: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting
Greg, You might want to consider using the WSJT modes for the contest. They work very well with scatter mode propagation, i.e., meteor scatter, ionospheric scatter and can fill the void when other propagation modes are not available. The new ISCAT mode decodes well into the noise and is very effective at times when signals are too weak for SSB or CW. The JT6M and FSK441 modes are used primarily for meteor burst communications - FSK441 is the faster of the two modes and works well on 2 meters where the pings only last a fraction of a second. The calling frequencies are: 50260.0 and 144.140. Check out the links below and good luck in the contest. WSJT - http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjt.html Pingjockey - http://www.pingjockey.net/cgi-bin/pingtalk Tony -K2MO On 7/10/2010 7:38 AM, GregCT wrote: Hello and Good morning to all, Just looking for a little advise and guidance here. Next weekend is the CQ WW VHF Contest, I'm looking forward to setting out and playing in the contest and I'm thinking of attempting some digital contacts along with the usual SSB to up the score a bit. I've been having alot of fun with PSK31 mostly on HF with a spattering of other modes mixed in but PSK being the most prevelant. I think I would most likely see some PSK activity on 6m, but don't really know what to expect or look for as far as modes on the 2m side of things. Would someone operate PSK on that band or one of the other modes? I'm running HRD with DM780. My personal best score in the contest was in 2006 when I earned 1st place Rover for the New England Division with 8142 points. Due to work and family commitments, I was not able to enter again until last year, which also earned me 1st place New England again. I'm hoping that by adding the weak signal digital modes to the mix that I may Defend my title in this year's contest but also beat my personal best score and possible make it into the mix of the competition at the National level. My hopes are high, but i'm not sure if the effort of lugging the laptop along and keeping it powered up will be worth the result.. Any thoughts, ideas, comments that can you can send my way are appreciated, both 'for' and 'against'... and Thank you in advance for all that have any input/help advice to contribute 73 Greg N1KPW __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5267 (20100710) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com
[digitalradio] VHF Contesting
Hello and Good morning to all, Just looking for a little advise and guidance here. Next weekend is the CQ WW VHF Contest, I'm looking forward to setting out and playing in the contest and I'm thinking of attempting some digital contacts along with the usual SSB to up the score a bit. I've been having alot of fun with PSK31 mostly on HF with a spattering of other modes mixed in but PSK being the most prevelant. I think I would most likely see some PSK activity on 6m, but don't really know what to expect or look for as far as modes on the 2m side of things. Would someone operate PSK on that band or one of the other modes? I'm running HRD with DM780. My personal best score in the contest was in 2006 when I earned 1st place Rover for the New England Division with 8142 points. Due to work and family commitments, I was not able to enter again until last year, which also earned me 1st place New England again. I'm hoping that by adding the weak signal digital modes to the mix that I may Defend my title in this year's contest but also beat my personal best score and possible make it into the mix of the competition at the National level. My hopes are high, but i'm not sure if the effort of lugging the laptop along and keeping it powered up will be worth the result.. Any thoughts, ideas, comments that can you can send my way are appreciated, both 'for' and 'against'... and Thank you in advance for all that have any input/help advice to contribute 73 Greg N1KPW
Re: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting
There are lots of people on PSK31 here on 6 meters and some on 2 meters too ... it works for them . --- On Sat, 7/10/10, GregCT n1...@comcast.net wrote: From: GregCT n1...@comcast.net Subject: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, July 10, 2010, 7:38 AM Hello and Good morning to all, Just looking for a little advise and guidance here. Next weekend is the CQ WW VHF Contest, I'm looking forward to setting out and playing in the contest and I'm thinking of attempting some digital contacts along with the usual SSB to up the score a bit. I've been having alot of fun with PSK31 mostly on HF with a spattering of other modes mixed in but PSK being the most prevelant. I think I would most likely see some PSK activity on 6m, but don't really know what to expect or look for as far as modes on the 2m side of things. Would someone operate PSK on that band or one of the other modes? I'm running HRD with DM780. My personal best score in the contest was in 2006 when I earned 1st place Rover for the New England Division with 8142 points. Due to work and family commitments, I was not able to enter again until last year, which also earned me 1st place New England again. I'm hoping that by adding the weak signal digital modes to the mix that I may Defend my title in this year's contest but also beat my personal best score and possible make it into the mix of the competition at the National level. My hopes are high, but i'm not sure if the effort of lugging the laptop along and keeping it powered up will be worth the result.. Any thoughts, ideas, comments that can you can send my way are appreciated, both 'for' and 'against'... and Thank you in advance for all that have any input/help advice to contribute 73 Greg N1KPW
Re: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting
Amateur radio is not for contesting. Amateur radio is not a sport, it is for communications...meaningful communications. Exchanging signal reports and series numbers or such other drivel is not what amateur radio was intended for. We need to start getting back to RADIO and COMMUNICATIONS, which when you put them together gives us the concept of actually using radio to communicate with each other, You contesters want to do this stupid garbage on the radio, then you need to petition the FCC for contest radio spectrum for which a special license would be issued. Then, you can exchange all of your meaningless non-communications related garbage to your heart's content. You contesters are making us all look bad. How about some of you actually getting outside and exercising while using radio the correct way? Go hang a wire through some trees and actually have something called a conversation. Take your HT with you on a walk and actually get to know your fellow local hams, attract others to amateur radio while showing them that we actually know how to have conversations. I know that the concept of actually having a conversation with people is hard for most of you to wrap your mind around, but you should really try it! It works! You can actually make a few more friends! A conversation happens when two people actually spend time together in a social manner while one person talks and the other listens, then the one who was listening responds with meaningful replies on an actual topic based on everyday reality. Friendships happen when two people actually connect. You gotta have human connection man! Yes, there are actually people out in the world who would like to know you if you just think about more than contesting and actually use some social skills. It works just fine when you try! Let's put the communications back into radio, and goodwill back into the amateur meaning of amateur radio, and bring back a focus on elmering so new hams can actually learn a technical skill instead of just having books shoved in their faces without any incentive to learn. --- On Sat, 7/10/10, KH6TY kh...@comcast.net wrote: From: KH6TY kh...@comcast.net Subject: Re: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, July 10, 2010, 1:16 PM Greg, PSK31 is a very narrow signal and unless every transceiver has a TCXO, the drift may be too much for the AFC to follow. PSK31 is also very subject to Doppler distortino. In South Caronina, we use DominoEx 8 or DominoEx4 for 2m, but Olivia or Contestia works even better with the mulitpath and Doppler disturbances you often encounter. Contestia 64/1000 has proven to be the very best digital mode for UHF and VHF weak signsl and I run a daily schedule using that mode on 432. The problem is that probably nobody else is on any of the digital modes on 2m to talk to, but you could arrange some skeds. I suggest you use Contestia 64/1000 for the best results. Unfortunately, only fldigi currently supports Contestia 64/1000, so instead, try Contestia 32/1000 which DM780 and Multipsk both support. You will lose 3 dB in S/N, but it will still work pretty well. At least it will survive the QSB and Doppler disturbances on VHF. It would be great to see more people using Contestia on 144 and 432 weak signal work. Contestia will copy down to the noise when SSB is no longer able to be understood, and, at 30 wpm, is twice as fast as Olivia. You need at least a 1000 Hz signal bandwidth to fight the Doppler disturbances. 73, Skip KH6TY On 7/10/2010 7:38 AM, GregCT wrote: Hello and Good morning to all, Just looking for a little advise and guidance here. Next weekend is the CQ WW VHF Contest, I'm looking forward to setting out and playing in the contest and I'm thinking of attempting some digital contacts along with the usual SSB to up the score a bit. I've been having alot of fun with PSK31 mostly on HF with a spattering of other modes mixed in but PSK being the most prevelant. I think I would most likely see some PSK activity on 6m, but don't really know what to expect or look for as far as modes on the 2m side of things. Would someone operate PSK on that band or one of the other modes? I'm running HRD with DM780. My personal best score in the contest was in 2006 when I earned 1st place Rover for the New England Division with 8142 points. Due to work and family commitments, I was not able to enter again until last year, which also earned me 1st place New England again. I'm hoping that by adding the weak signal digital modes to the mix that I may Defend my title in this year's contest but also beat my personal best score and possible make it into the mix of the competition at the National level. My hopes are high, but i'm not sure if the effort of lugging the laptop along and keeping it powered up will be worth the result.. Any thoughts, ideas, comments that can you can send my way
Re: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting
I AGREE ! However not all contesters are a PAIN IN THE *## just the few that push others out of the way and interfer with daly QSO and nets .. --- On Sat, 7/10/10, Dan Hensley kc9...@att.net wrote: From: Dan Hensley kc9...@att.net Subject: Re: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, July 10, 2010, 10:02 AM Amateur radio is not for contesting. Amateur radio is not a sport, it is for communications. ..meaningful communications. Exchanging signal reports and series numbers or such other drivel is not what amateur radio was intended for. We need to start getting back to RADIO and COMMUNICATIONS, which when you put them together gives us the concept of actually using radio to communicate with each other, You contesters want to do this stupid garbage on the radio, then you need to petition the FCC for contest radio spectrum for which a special license would be issued. Then, you can exchange all of your meaningless non-communications related garbage to your heart's content. You contesters are making us all look bad. How about some of you actually getting outside and exercising while using radio the correct way? Go hang a wire through some trees and actually have something called a conversation. Take your HT with you on a walk and actually get to know your fellow local hams, attract others to amateur radio while showing them that we actually know how to have conversations. I know that the concept of actually having a conversation with people is hard for most of you to wrap your mind around, but you should really try it! It works! You can actually make a few more friends! A conversation happens when two people actually spend time together in a social manner while one person talks and the other listens, then the one who was listening responds with meaningful replies on an actual topic based on everyday reality. Friendships happen when two people actually connect. You gotta have human connection man! Yes, there are actually people out in the world who would like to know you if you just think about more than contesting and actually use some social skills. It works just fine when you try! Let's put the communications back into radio, and goodwill back into the amateur meaning of amateur radio, and bring back a focus on elmering so new hams can actually learn a technical skill instead of just having books shoved in their faces without any incentive to learn. --- On Sat, 7/10/10, KH6TY kh...@comcast. net wrote: From: KH6TY kh...@comcast. net Subject: Re: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting To: digitalradio@ yahoogroups. com Date: Saturday, July 10, 2010, 1:16 PM Greg, PSK31 is a very narrow signal and unless every transceiver has a TCXO, the drift may be too much for the AFC to follow. PSK31 is also very subject to Doppler distortino. In South Caronina, we use DominoEx 8 or DominoEx4 for 2m, but Olivia or Contestia works even better with the mulitpath and Doppler disturbances you often encounter. Contestia 64/1000 has proven to be the very best digital mode for UHF and VHF weak signsl and I run a daily schedule using that mode on 432. The problem is that probably nobody else is on any of the digital modes on 2m to talk to, but you could arrange some skeds. I suggest you use Contestia 64/1000 for the best results. Unfortunately, only fldigi currently supports Contestia 64/1000, so instead, try Contestia 32/1000 which DM780 and Multipsk both support. You will lose 3 dB in S/N, but it will still work pretty well. At least it will survive the QSB and Doppler disturbances on VHF. It would be great to see more people using Contestia on 144 and 432 weak signal work. Contestia will copy down to the noise when SSB is no longer able to be understood, and, at 30 wpm, is twice as fast as Olivia. You need at least a 1000 Hz signal bandwidth to fight the Doppler disturbances. 73, Skip KH6TY On 7/10/2010 7:38 AM, GregCT wrote: National level. My hopes are high, but i'm not sure if the effort of lugging the laptop along and keeping it powered up will be worth the result.. Any thoughts, ideas, comments that can you can send my way are appreciated, both 'for' and 'against'... and Thank you in advance for all that have any input/help advice to contribute 73 Greg N1KPW
Re: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting
The wonderful thing about our hobby is there are so many different paths to take and still be a ham. I once knew a ham in SC that only got his license so he could fly large scale RC aircraft on 6 meters but he was still a ham and still in the hobby, although he never picked up a mic or pounded a key, or touched a keyboard. Many hams call the digital modes we all love here, noise. Over a year ago , when I started a VHF/UHF digital MT-200 2KL digital net to train ARES/RACES ops, a lot of folks thought we should have been shot for putting that noise on the repeaters even though we announced what we we doing several times during the net. Over my last 21 years of being a ham, I have tried lots of facets of the hobby and enjoyed them all to some degree including contesting. Contesting is a great way for general, and sometines tech. class operators to work DX that usually stays in the extra portion of the bands. I personally don't care for CW, but if that is some other ops favorite mode...to each their own. Field day is in its self, is a contest. I can think that nothing can compare to public awareness and possibility of recruiting of new ops like Field Day. This year, our club held a VE exam during Field Day. Isn't Field Day where you sling wire into tress, in a EMCOMM setting to boot. There is no better training situation than field day for hams. While I was in the USAF, I spent a year in South Korea in 92-93. Skip is right about hams where English is a second language, being reluctant to carry on long QSOs. Their fear embarrassment is in poor English skills. My year in Korea was the greatest ham radio opportunity of my life. Aside from working 100's of phone patches for the guys on base, I worked a ton of DX. The local hams invited us to their homes, took us on outings, and we invited the to our Airbase and cooked burgers and dogs for them. The were gracious, courteous ops that very much wanted to learn more English, but it takes a patient slow English speaking operator to encourage them to have more than a signal report QSO. Enjoy the part of ham radio you love but be courteous to other ops and the facet of the hobby they love. I know the big contests can dominate the bands, but how are contesters possibly supposed to know the huge number of nets, scheds etc.. on any band? Usually, most contests exclude the WARC bands, so they are quiet for long QSO's. 73 de Mike N7NMS From: Dan Hensley kc9...@att.net To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, July 10, 2010 10:02:09 AM Subject: Re: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting Amateur radio is not for contesting. Amateur radio is not a sport, it is for communications. ..meaningful communications. Exchanging signal reports and series numbers or such other drivel is not what amateur radio was intended for. We need to start getting back to RADIO and COMMUNICATIONS, which when you put them together gives us the concept of actually using radio to communicate with each other, You contesters want to do this stupid garbage on the radio, then you need to petition the FCC for contest radio spectrum for which a special license would be issued. Then, you can exchange all of your meaningless non-communications related garbage to your heart's content. You contesters are making us all look bad. How about some of you actually getting outside and exercising while using radio the correct way? Go hang a wire through some trees and actually have something called a conversation. Take your HT with you on a walk and actually get to know your fellow local hams, attract others to amateur radio while showing them that we actually know how to have conversations. I know that the concept of actually having a conversation with people is hard for most of you to wrap your mind around, but you should really try it! It works! You can actually make a few more friends! A conversation happens when two people actually spend time together in a social manner while one person talks and the other listens, then the one who was listening responds with meaningful replies on an actual topic based on everyday reality. Friendships happen when two people actually connect. You gotta have human connection man! Yes, there are actually people out in the world who would like to know you if you just think about more than contesting and actually use some social skills. It works just fine when you try! Let's put the communications back into radio, and goodwill back into the amateur meaning of amateur radio, and bring back a focus on elmering so new hams can actually learn a technical skill instead of just having books shoved in their faces without any incentive to learn. --- On Sat, 7/10/10, KH6TY kh...@comcast. net wrote: From: KH6TY kh...@comcast. net Subject: Re: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting To: digitalradio@ yahoogroups. com Date: Saturday, July 10, 2010, 1:16 PM Greg, PSK31
Re: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting
Skip's observations notwithstanding, PSK31 and PSK63 are likely the only modes others will use in the VHF Contest. Using Domino or other better suited modes may be technically the best thing to do, but you'll get more points by using PSK. Andy K3UK
