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 <[email protected]> wrote: From: KH6TY <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [digitalradio] VHF Contesting To: [email protected] 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 are appreciated, both 'for' and 'against'... and Thank you in advance for all that have any input/help advice to contribute 73 Greg N1KPW
