FT8 in WFD

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

Like a number of us, I am hip deep in WFD.  I was doing so well on SSB and CW yesterday, that I decided that today would be “digital” day.  When I got on this AM…  I was suprised to find that there is no FT8 activity for WFD. That is not what I expected!  FT8 is pretty popular in ARRL Field Day, so I expected the same with WFD. I am not sure why that is, but no one (on 40 or 80M) is calling CQ WFD.  I’ll try and figure out why later, but it seems that digital will have to be RTTY  for this event for me.  How are others doing?

-Matt

[Anonymous]

I got 115 SSB contacts.  Here’s a map showing the location of my QSO’s:

[Anonymous]

How Matt,

The WFD Rules specifically state no FT8 due to it not being able to complete the necessary exchange. ALSO in the Em Comm world FT8 is not used since it is incapable of sending and receiving the official FEMA required for such as an ICS213 or an ARRL Radiogram. PSK31 is accepted though and one of our ops N1KRB, was quite successful.

What Class were you running? We operated as NE1FO @ 5Mike from Freedom NH.

 

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

Matt,

Here is a link to the Winter Field Day site.  The FAQ there discusses why FT8 is not a part of WFD.

https://www.winterfieldday.com/resources.php

73, Fleet

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

Well this is interesting (but not good)…  the WFD website has been updated recently to include a different rule set than the PDF we were working from had (and for the life of me, I cannot find a link to the PDF on the current site, but I have the PDF).  I (and the rest of the NARS group who met several times in prep for the event) were referencing the PDF available on the WFD site as of 11 Nov, which stated:

“Modes: CW, Phone (includes SSB, AM, FM, DMR, C4FM, etc. If the end result is voice, it’s
Phone), and Digital (includes PSK, RTTY, Olivia, Packet, SSTV, ATV, JS8Call and other soundcard modes. If the end result is text or a picture, it’s digital).”. Nothing in the rules prohibited FT8.

I recognize that they, as the sponsors, get to make the rules (and I think, given the context of the event, their reasoning is sound as to the ruling on  FT8), but the level of confusion created by some of the “last minute” changes that they made (including how points are scored, according to the developers of N1MM) is pretty high.  It is unfortunate that this is the case.  The prohibition against FT8 should have been in the rules available in Nov (IMHO).  I hope none of our members get bit by this fact (although I am pretty sure some did).

I did not work any FT8 myself, but worked PSK31, CW, and SSB (mostly CW).  I ran 1H from my home on commercial power at 100W.  I had a boatload of fun and made 500+ Q’s in about 11 hours.  ARRL FD has been my favorite operating activity since I got licensed, so I assumed that this would be right up there.  It was.  I’ll enjoy it more if I get to do it outside with other members though.  Next year will be in the field either way.

Thanks Patrick, and Fleet for the heads up and the FAQ link!

73,

Matt, WE1H

[Peter Wolczko]

I appreciate the information about WFD 2023.  I also used FT8 for all of WFD 2023. Lesson learned: recheck the rules prior to any contesting for any changes. I have attached my scoring results from N1MM.  140 QSO’s Score: 3,360

The WFD 2023 requirements and FAQ,s are a big help.  The explanation in the FAQ about Why FT8 is not allowed makes a lot of sense to me now. Thank you for that explanation.

 

73,

Peter Wolczko  KC1FNF

 

 

Attachments:

You must be logged in to view attached files.

[Author]

Posts