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I am looking to get back into digital contesting, last time PSK-31 was popular. I am on FT8/FT4 but they do not seem piratical for exchanging contest reports, I know of other modes that are popular modes these days , JS8Call, RTTY, ETC for various state/ other digital contest. What is your favorite mode and why you prefer it? I hope to have something ready for this years VA QSO Party.
Thanks Steve AG4SO
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CW. Requires a skill besides big antennas, high power, and shouting. ? ? Gary K7FR ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Robert (Steve) Blankinship AG4SO via groups.io
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 10:18
To: [email protected]
Subject: [N3FJPSoftwareUsers] Your Favorite Mode for HF Digital Contesting?? I am looking to get back into digital contesting, last time PSK-31 was popular. I am on FT8/FT4 but they do not seem piratical for exchanging contest reports, I know of other modes that are popular modes these days , JS8Call, RTTY, ETC for various state/ other digital contest. What is your favorite mode and why you prefer it? I hope to have something ready for this years VA QSO Party.
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I haven't mastered RTTY yet and I don't know CW so I'm a big fan of the FT modes.
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I am looking to get back into digital contesting, last time PSK-31 was popular. I am on FT8/FT4 but they do not seem piratical for exchanging contest reports, I know of other modes that are popular modes these days , JS8Call, RTTY, ETC for various state/ other digital contest. What is your favorite mode and why you prefer it? I hope to have something ready for this years VA QSO Party.
Thanks Steve AG4SO
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PSK and, by the way, there is much more of it here lately (last 2 or 3 months) so it appears to be making a comeback.
Dan Morris??KZ3T
dbmorris315@...
I live to live for Him!
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On Jan 15, 2025, at 1:17?PM, Robert (Steve) Blankinship AG4SO via groups.io <ag4so@...> wrote:
I am looking to get back into digital contesting, last time PSK-31 was popular. I am on FT8/FT4 but they do not seem piratical for exchanging contest reports, I know of other modes that are popular modes these days , JS8Call, RTTY, ETC for various state/ other digital contest. What is your favorite mode and why you prefer it? I hope to have something ready for this years VA QSO Party.
Thanks Steve AG4SO
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Hi Steve,
Thanks for your e-mail.? The FT modes are great and there are contests that feature them, but my favorite digital mode is RTTY.? CQ WPX RTTY is coming up February 8 - 9, which is a blast.? Give it a try!
N7YG Digital Engine for RTTY and other digital modes is super easy to interface with our software:
Enjoy!
73, Scott N3FJP
Serving the Amateur Radio community with contesting and general logging software since 1997.
1 Peter 3 vs 15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give . But do this with gentleness and respect...
I haven't mastered RTTY yet and I don't know CW so I'm a big fan of the FT modes.
I am looking to get back into digital contesting, last time PSK-31 was popular. I am on FT8/FT4 but they do not seem piratical for exchanging contest reports, I know of other modes that are popular modes these days , JS8Call, RTTY, ETC for various state/ other digital contest. What is your favorite mode and why you prefer it? I hope to have something ready for this years VA QSO Party.
Thanks Steve AG4SO
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Some good comments folks thanks.
Steve AG4SO
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Robert,
?
My favorite contest mode is PSK-31. ?The PODXS 070 club offers PSK-31 contests about every other month, each with a different emphasis. ?They are friendly affairs, not the high-pressure atmosphere of some other modes/contests. ?(It is quite common to see participants end a contact with “Thanks [your name], GL in the contest, 73”, or even to break out of contest mode to have a PSK-31 rag chew with a newcomer.) ?You do not need to be a member of the club to participate, and you can even submit your score and be recognized in the club’s newsletters. ?Members can also work towards “for fun” club awards, like Worked Lower 48 or Worked Both Carolinas. ?
?
For more info on the Pennsylvania Ohio DX Society, go to podxs070.com. ?The next contest is for Valentines Day on 14 February. ?Join us, even if you aren’t a “membership” type of operator.
?
Mike W4BZM
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I haven't done any PSK-31, but I do play in almost every RTTY contest that happens throughout the year.? I really enjoy RTTY.
--
Will
KN6TZK
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I started using FT8 about 2 years ago.? I have a DigiRig interface and an FT-817, and I've worked all states and over 100 countries using only 2.5 watts (ok, sometimes I crank it up to the full 5w...).? Several months ago I "discovered" FT4, and I've found that it's easier to make contacts on FT4 (maybe because of decreased activity / QRM? Maybe because the exchange is done before the QSB sets in?).
?
Anyway, the AC Log software works great and has no hiccups with WSJTx.? When a contact is completed, it "magically" ends up in LoTW.? I've never experienced any delays or retries.? At the end of the day, I import the new contacts into QRZ using the "Import from LoTW" button that's on the QRZ page.? I believe that AC Logger can do this automatically, but I don't have a QRZ subscription.
?
Question though:? What software are you using for RTTY (I'm assuming there's something kinda sorta like WSJTx that will talk to my DigiRig interface and do RTTY)?? I've never tried PSK-31 either; what software is used for that?
?
TNX all,
Larry (WA2VKG)
?
?
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RTTY is a 'no-brainer'. Give it a try. Lots of fun. Website rtty contesting info. Fldigi does it fine and MMTTY. Don't get worked up on the AFDK/FSK debate. Do what's easiest!?
Go to http://www.contestcalendar.com for info.
?
You can also 'do a little' CW with fldigi without CW skills. It's fun to experiment and learn. At 85 I'm still at it. 73,Bo W4GHV for SEVENTY YEARS?
?
--
73, Bo W4GHV since '54
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In all my years as a ham (54 or so), I don't recall using RTTY.? I may try it!
73, Ken KN2D CW Ops #3566
Constant Contact's Top Trainer/Partner Try Constant Contact free for 30 days by going to Need help with email marketing? Let's chat!
--- RTTY is a 'no-brainer'. Give it a try. Lots of fun. Website rtty contesting info. Fldigi does it fine and MMTTY. Don't get worked up on the AFDK/FSK debate. Do what's easiest!? Go to??for info. ? You can also 'do a little' CW with fldigi without CW skills. It's fun to experiment and learn. At 85 I'm still at it. 73,Bo W4GHV for SEVENTY YEARS? ? -- 73, Bo W4GHV since '54
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Hi Ken and All,
I was a ham for decades myself before trying digital contesting.? I didn't know what I was missing!??
I've come to love RTTY tests.? RTTY is a lot of fun and super easy, using the free N7YG Digital Engine, interfaced with our software!
The next major RTTY test is CQ WPX RTTY beginning 2/8.? Give it a try, I'll bet you will have a blast!
Enjoy!
73, Scott N3FJP
Serving the Amateur Radio community with contesting and general logging software since 1997.
1 Peter 3 vs 15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give . But do this with gentleness and respect...
In all my years as a ham (54 or so), I don't recall using RTTY.? I may try it!
73, Ken KN2D CW Ops #3566
Constant Contact's Top Trainer/Partner Try Constant Contact free for 30 days by going to Need help with email marketing? Let's chat!
--- RTTY is a 'no-brainer'. Give it a try. Lots of fun. Website rtty contesting info. Fldigi does it fine and MMTTY. Don't get worked up on the AFDK/FSK debate. Do what's easiest!? Go to??for info. ? You can also 'do a little' CW with fldigi without CW skills. It's fun to experiment and learn. At 85 I'm still at it. 73,Bo W4GHV for SEVENTY YEARS? ? -- 73, Bo W4GHV since '54
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I love FT8/FT4 for contesting, mainly because it is super easy to setup multiple stations for some serious contest work.? For last year's field day I had four radios setup doing FT8/4, all with dedicated computers and I was able to VNC/NoMachine into them and control them all from the one screen in the comfort of my home (some stations were outside, some on solar).? GridTracker is a great help too, to see what's coming in on all the stations and in some cases to be able to direct the station to make the call.
?
FT8/4 is an easy thing to contest, especially in a multi-station setup.? There are some good FT8 focused contacts and VA is one of the few states that allows it in their QSO Party and on the WARC bands as well (default exchange, default frequencies, indistinguishable from normal traffic).? I wish more would do this, controversial opinion I know.?
?
I haven't gotten into RTTY yet, though I need to.? I don't know CW, but I've had some luck hunting SOTAs and Parks with it using FLDIGI to decode and a K1EL Winkeyer to encode/send via FLDIGI.
?
Ryan
KI6BTY
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I find RTTY contesting my favorite
mode.? (I usually use N7YG Digital Engine, and I have also used
Fldigi.)? It is the only mode where I feel competitive in the
unassisted niche, with my "little-pistol" station.?? (CW is next,
followed by Phone.)
73 -- Larry -- W1DYJ
On 1/24/2025 12:16, Scott Davis via
groups.io wrote:
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Show quoted text
Hi Ken and All,
I was a ham for decades
myself before trying digital contesting.? I didn't know what
I was missing!??
I've come to love RTTY
tests.? RTTY is a lot of fun and super easy, using the free
N7YG Digital Engine, interfaced with our software!
The next major RTTY test is
CQ WPX RTTY beginning 2/8.? Give it a try, I'll bet you will
have a blast!
Enjoy!
73, Scott
N3FJP
Serving the Amateur Radio community with
contesting and general logging software since 1997.
1 Peter 3 vs 15: Always be
prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you
to give .
But do this with gentleness and respect...
In all my years as a ham (54 or so), I don't
recall using RTTY.? I may try it!
73,
Ken
KN2D
CW
Ops #3566
Constant Contact's Top
Trainer/Partner
Try Constant Contact free
for 30 days by going to
Need help with email
marketing?
Let's chat!
---
RTTY is a 'no-brainer'. Give it a
try. Lots of fun. Website rtty
contesting info. Fldigi does it fine
and MMTTY. Don't get worked up on the
AFDK/FSK debate. Do what's easiest!?
Go to??for
info.
?
You can also 'do a little' CW with
fldigi without CW skills. It's fun to
experiment and learn. At 85 I'm still
at it. 73,Bo W4GHV for SEVENTY YEARS?
?
--
73, Bo W4GHV since '54
|
Scott
Anything I need to address in DE before the 28th?
Jeff K. Steinkamp (N7YG)
Tucson, AZ
Scud Missile Coordinates
N32.2319 W110.8477
------ Original Message ------
Date 1/24/2025 10:16:36
Subject Re: [N3FJPSoftwareUsers] Your Favorite Mode for HF Digital Contesting?
Hi Ken and All,
I was a ham for decades myself before trying digital contesting.? I didn't know what I was missing!??
I've come to love RTTY tests.? RTTY is a lot of fun and super easy, using the free N7YG Digital Engine, interfaced with our software!
The next major RTTY test is CQ WPX RTTY beginning 2/8.? Give it a try, I'll bet you will have a blast!
Enjoy!
73, Scott N3FJP
Serving the Amateur Radio community with contesting and general logging software since 1997.
1 Peter 3 vs 15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give . But do this with gentleness and respect...
In all my years as a ham (54 or so), I don't recall using RTTY.? I may try it!
73, Ken KN2D CW Ops #3566
Constant Contact's Top Trainer/Partner Try Constant Contact free for 30 days by going to Need help with email marketing? Let's chat!
--- RTTY is a 'no-brainer'. Give it a try. Lots of fun. Website rtty contesting info. Fldigi does it fine and MMTTY. Don't get worked up on the AFDK/FSK debate. Do what's easiest!? Go to??for info. ? You can also 'do a little' CW with fldigi without CW skills. It's fun to experiment and learn. At 85 I'm still at it. 73,Bo W4GHV for SEVENTY YEARS? ? -- 73, Bo W4GHV since '54
|
Hi Jeff,
N7YG Digital Engine worked great in ARRL RTTY and I had a blast!? I only had about 14 operating hours to put in.? I made 674 Qs and N7YG DE was solid as a rock.??I really like how it now logs exact frequency, including waterfall adjustment.
There isn't anything I can think of before CQ WPX RTTY on Feb 8th - 9th.? Perhaps others will chime in with ideas and suggestions for you to make an awesome program even better!
Thanks so much for all you do Jeff!
73, Scott N3FJP
Serving the Amateur Radio community with contesting and general logging software since 1997.
1 Peter 3 vs 15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give . But do this with gentleness and respect...
Scott
Anything I need to address in DE before the 28th?
Jeff K. Steinkamp (N7YG)
Tucson, AZ
Scud Missile Coordinates
N32.2319 W110.8477
------ Original Message ------
Date 1/24/2025 10:16:36
Subject Re: [N3FJPSoftwareUsers] Your Favorite Mode for HF Digital Contesting?
Hi Ken and All,
I was a ham for decades myself before trying digital contesting.? I didn't know what I was missing!??
I've come to love RTTY tests.? RTTY is a lot of fun and super easy, using the free N7YG Digital Engine, interfaced with our software!
The next major RTTY test is CQ WPX RTTY beginning 2/8.? Give it a try, I'll bet you will have a blast!
Enjoy!
73, Scott N3FJP
Serving the Amateur Radio community with contesting and general logging software since 1997.
1 Peter 3 vs 15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give . But do this with gentleness and respect...
In all my years as a ham (54 or so), I don't recall using RTTY.? I may try it!
73, Ken KN2D CW Ops #3566
Constant Contact's Top Trainer/Partner Try Constant Contact free for 30 days by going to Need help with email marketing? Let's chat!
--- RTTY is a 'no-brainer'. Give it a try. Lots of fun. Website rtty contesting info. Fldigi does it fine and MMTTY. Don't get worked up on the AFDK/FSK debate. Do what's easiest!? Go to??for info. ? You can also 'do a little' CW with fldigi without CW skills. It's fun to experiment and learn. At 85 I'm still at it. 73,Bo W4GHV for SEVENTY YEARS? ? -- 73, Bo W4GHV since '54
|
Thanks Scott!!
If anyone else that is using N7YG Digital Engine for contesting has something that needs to be addressed, please let me know so I can determine if it is major or minor and develop a plan to address it.
Jeff K. Steinkamp (N7YG)
Tucson, AZ
Scud Missile Coordinates
N32.2319 W110.8477
------ Original Message ------
Date 1/24/2025 11:47:07
Subject Re: [N3FJPSoftwareUsers] Your Favorite Mode for HF Digital Contesting?
Hi Jeff,
N7YG Digital Engine worked great in ARRL RTTY and I had a blast!? I only had about 14 operating hours to put in.? I made 674 Qs and N7YG DE was solid as a rock.??I really like how it now logs exact frequency, including waterfall adjustment.
There isn't anything I can think of before CQ WPX RTTY on Feb 8th - 9th.? Perhaps others will chime in with ideas and suggestions for you to make an awesome program even better!
Thanks so much for all you do Jeff!
73, Scott N3FJP
Serving the Amateur Radio community with contesting and general logging software since 1997.
1 Peter 3 vs 15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give . But do this with gentleness and respect...
Scott
Anything I need to address in DE before the 28th?
Jeff K. Steinkamp (N7YG)
Tucson, AZ
Scud Missile Coordinates
N32.2319 W110.8477
------ Original Message ------
Date 1/24/2025 10:16:36
Subject Re: [N3FJPSoftwareUsers] Your Favorite Mode for HF Digital Contesting?
Hi Ken and All,
I was a ham for decades myself before trying digital contesting.? I didn't know what I was missing!??
I've come to love RTTY tests.? RTTY is a lot of fun and super easy, using the free N7YG Digital Engine, interfaced with our software!
The next major RTTY test is CQ WPX RTTY beginning 2/8.? Give it a try, I'll bet you will have a blast!
Enjoy!
73, Scott N3FJP
Serving the Amateur Radio community with contesting and general logging software since 1997.
1 Peter 3 vs 15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give . But do this with gentleness and respect...
In all my years as a ham (54 or so), I don't recall using RTTY.? I may try it!
73, Ken KN2D CW Ops #3566
Constant Contact's Top Trainer/Partner Try Constant Contact free for 30 days by going to Need help with email marketing? Let's chat!
--- RTTY is a 'no-brainer'. Give it a try. Lots of fun. Website rtty contesting info. Fldigi does it fine and MMTTY. Don't get worked up on the AFDK/FSK debate. Do what's easiest!? Go to??for info. ? You can also 'do a little' CW with fldigi without CW skills. It's fun to experiment and learn. At 85 I'm still at it. 73,Bo W4GHV for SEVENTY YEARS? ? -- 73, Bo W4GHV since '54
|
Jeff, I have installed and uninstalled your program more times than I can remember.? I have never gotten it to work on transmit with my TS-890.? It receives okay.? MMTTY works flawlessly.? I like to use "real" FSK to take advantage of the superb filtering in the radio.? The radio has two virtual serial ports with one providing RX audio and control, the other does RTTY keying (via EXTFSK64 in MMTTY).
?
?
Wes N7WS ???????????????
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Wes
Make sure you have the COM port keying set for EXTFSK64.? Then when the EXTFSK dialog appears, configure it for the COMPORT you are using and the keying lines for FSK and PTT
Jeff K. Steinkamp (N7YG)
Tucson, AZ
Scud Missile Coordinates
N32.2319 W110.8477
------ Original Message ------
From "Wes Stewart via groups.io" < n7ws@...> Date 1/25/2025 14:05:55
Subject Re: [N3FJPSoftwareUsers] Your Favorite Mode for HF Digital Contesting?
Jeff, I have installed and uninstalled your program more times than I can remember.? I have never gotten it to work on transmit with my TS-890.? It receives okay.? MMTTY works flawlessly.? I like to use "real" FSK to take advantage of the superb filtering in the radio.? The radio has two virtual serial ports with one providing RX audio and control, the other does RTTY keying (via EXTFSK64 in MMTTY).
?
?
Wes N7WS ???????????????
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You haven't lived unless you had the mechanical monsters model 15 and tape reader/punch. Their noise and the smell of the well lubricated monsters are irrestible!
--
73, Bo W4GHV since '54
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Robert (Steve) Blankinship AG4SO
Herschel KA2G
Bo W4GHV
Ken KN2D
Ryan Huggins
Larry Banks
Wes Stewart