Hi all Beta Testers,
In code revision r7969 the WSJT-X development branch supports "Contest
Mode" in FT8 as well as MSK144. This mode is designed for NA VHF+
contests in which the required exchange is a 4-character grid locator.
Contest Mode is enabled by checking the box labeled "FT8 and MSK144
Contest Mode" on the *Settings -> Advanced* tab. When that has been
done by both QSO partners, QSOs in the following formats are supported:
1. CQ K1ABC FN42
2. K1ABC W9XYZ EN37
3. W9XYZ K1ABC R FN42
4. K1ABC W9XYZ RRR
5. W9XYZ K1ABC 73
1. CQ 290 K1ABC FN42
2. K1ABC W9XYZ EN37
3. W9XYZ K1ABC R FN42
4. K1ABC W9XYZ RRR
5. W9XYZ K1ABC 73
Note that only message #3 is special to Contest Mode. Some details
about how its extra acknowledgment "R " is conveyed within the 72-bit
message frame are described in Section 16.3.3 of the WSJT-X User Guide:
http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-1.7.1-devel.html#FAST_MODES
The second model QSO is suitable mainly for MSK144.
I should point out that Rover callsigns (as used in NA VHF+ contests)
can be used in WSJT-X, as in the following examples:
1. CQ K1ABC/R FN41
2. K1ABC W9XYZ EN37
3. W9XYZ K1ABC R FN41
4. K1ABC W9XYZ RRR
5. DE K1ABC/R 73
1. CQ K1ABC FN42
2. DE W9XYZ/R EN37
3. W9XYZ K1ABC R FN42
4. K1ABC W9XYZ RRR
5. W9XYZ K1ABC 73
The callsign suffix "/R" used by the Rover is treated as a "Type 2"
add-on prefix/suffix. In the first model QSO immediately above, K1ABC
sends his full Rover callsign K1ABC/R in messages 1 and 5. In the
second model QSO, rover W9XYZ/R responds to a CQ from home-station K1ABC.
Please note that these features do not (yet) take advantage of the
enhanced 75-bit messages possible in FT8. We are currently working on
uses for the extra 3 bits that will provide support for other contest
types, perhaps including RTTY-like and EU VHF+ contests, as well as
improved support for messaged containing compound callsigns.
If you are able to build WSJT-X r7969 and to find a partner with whom
you can test these new features, please send reports to this list.
-- 73, Joe, K1JT
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