This was recently posted on pastebin. I’m going to have to download the new software and see if I can participate. Note that the time is UTC, so this is actually being held on Wednesday evening…Dan
A one-hour “practice contest” will be held next week using the FT8 mode and the ARRL RTTY Roundup rules.
Thursday, 27 September 0200-0259 UTC (Wednesday evening, NA time)
Dial frequencies 7.078 and 14.078, everyone works everyone.
To participate you must use WSJT-X 2.0. The Windows installation package is linked at the bottom of this web page: https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html (Note that this is a temporary release candidate, not the final full release of WSJT-X 2.0.)
The Quick-Start Guide to WSJT-X 2.0 is here:
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Quick_Start_WSJT-X_2.0.pdf
- IMPORTANT: On the *Settings | Advanced* tab, be sure to check the boxes *Always generate 77-bit messages*, *Decode only 77-bit messages*, and *ARRL RTTY Roundup*. In the field labeled “Exch” enter the 2- or 3-letter abbreviation for your state or province (US/Canadian stations) or DX if you are not in the US or Canada.
- Be sure that 7.078 and 14.078 appear in your selectable frequency list when for FT8 mode. You might need to do a *Reset* on the *Settings | Frequencies* tab.
- We do not recommend using a compound or nonstandard callsign in this event.
Post results and comments here so we can all learn from an actual FT8 contest-like experience. Note that planning is underway for at least two dedicated FT8 contests to be potentially held in the next few months. Next week’s practice run will help to inform those plans.
If you are not already subscribed, you may wish to join the email list wsjt-devel:
https://sourceforge.net/p/wsjt/mailman/?source=navbar. This list is the best way to communicate directly with the WSJT Development Group.— 73, Joe, K1JT
Jamie says
While I am not pleased that FT8 is honing in on my favorite contest mode, I do have a constructive comment. A station should be allowed to work another station once per mode per band. One mode pure RTTY and the other digital with digital being PSK, Olivia, FT8 etc. Maybe even allow 2 points for RTTY and one point for digital.
Also, the ARRL VHF contests should allow CW, SSB and digital each per band.
Bottom line, want more points, work more than just FT8.
BTW I do operate FT8 and am even counting grid squares.
de KW7WP