Bill, G4WJS & Steve, K9AN,
Thanks for your explanation in your previous messages regarding why some FT8
contesters are seeing what appear to be bogus grids being sent.
So if I understand correctly, when a user checks the box for the NA contest,
his grid is converted to its equivalent antipodal counterpart grid and is
transmitted that way. If a receiving station is also set up in the NA contest
mode, the antipodal grid which was transmitted is decoded, converted to the
actual grid of the sender, and displayed correctly.
But if someone receiving that transmission does NOT have the NA contest mode
box checked, the grid sent is seen as the antipodal equivalent grid on his
display and appears as a bogus grid square to that user, right?
If that reformatting the grid for transmission in the NA contest mode is the
way it must be done because of bit limitations, then the users will have to
deal with it. BUT, explaining it to the average Ham FT8 user is going to be a
difficult task. Teaching him how to deal with it is going to be even tougher.
As long as there are less knowledgeable FT8 users, during NA VHF contests there
will be those who will send contest format messages and the unknowing that will
send the non-contest format messages. That is the way it is now, and in all
likelihood the way it will continue for all future NA VHF contests. This will
continue to cause the frustration and confusion that is being experienced
during this VHF contest.
How about this suggestion? Is there any way to modify the program to accept
either the contest format (K9AN K1HTV FM18) or the non-contest format (K9AN
K1HTV -15) as valid TX2 messages and proceed by replying with a Tx3 message?
The same holds for the TX3 message reception. Could the program be written in
such a way as to accept either a contest TX4 message (K9AN K1HTV R FM18) or a
non-contest TX4 message (K9AN K1HTV RRR) as being valid, then continue on to
the Tx5 message?
If this software change can be implemented, then the situation that exists
between contest mode and non-contest mode setups will be eliminated. I'm
referring to the fact that presently, neither station can automatically
progress through the Tx messages. They are doomed to sending the same message
until the the WD timer stops them or the users manually step through the
sequences to complete the QSO.
Those serious VHF contesters who configure WSJT-X for the NA contest mode will
see valid grid numbers, even if the sender hasn't set up for the contest mode.
He will note the grid from the initial Tx1 message received. Those that don't
set up to use the contest format will continue to ask "what are those bogus
grids that I am seeing?". Of course, the answer to them is to RTFM or ask
their local FT8 guru..
73,
Rich - K1HTV
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most
engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot
_______________________________________________
wsjt-devel mailing list
[email protected]
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wsjt-devel
