Rules for the 2021 Spring VHF-UHF Field Day have been posted to the WIA website for you to download. Just quietly, they're still the same as used previously.
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The springtime it brings on the calling
And it’s then you can hear them in droves
From the hilltops and mountains they’re bawling
CQ contest . . CQ contest . . by Jove!
https://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/
(14-11-2021, 01:52 PM)VK2ZRH Wrote: [ -> ]Rules for the 2021 Spring VHF-UHF Field Day have been posted to the WIA website for you to download. Just quietly, they're still the same as used previously.
The springtime it brings on the calling
And it’s then you can hear them in droves
From the hilltops and mountains they’re bawling
CQ contest . . CQ contest . . by Jove!
https://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/
Hi Team,
I am testing the integrity of a User Defined Contest module with N1MM for the WIA VHF UHF Field Day.
If you have Field Day ADIF files you could forward that will be appreciated – Any size log and any category is fine.
Vk4ts@outlook.com
Hi all
Given the weather that we have been enduring plus the forecast for eastern Australia for the next few days, I have doubts that there will be much portable operation on offer. I plan to be operating this Saturday afternoon on 6M, 2M and 70cM SSB but will not be hanging around long if there is no one to work. QTH is at home, QG62LG.
To the brave and/or hardy, good luck out there !!
73 Doug
PS we have had over 100mm in the rain gauge in the last 3 days, with more coming our way. Totally soggy but no flooding at this QTH.
I was just going through the rules for today's contest.
Not yet started in WA VK6.
The section on digital contacts is very unclear.
It requires exchange of a 6 figure grid locator. For FT8 and most other modes except WSPR only a 4 digit grid square is sent.
Is there something else ?
Can't answer the digital grid square question - maybe VK2ZRH can answer it in due course - he visits the forum occasionally.
Not as many stations heard/worked as per previous events but the prevailing WX probably had a lot to do with that.
My meagre log has been uploaded.
Doug VK4ADC
(27-11-2021, 01:30 PM)VK6CPU Wrote: [ -> ]I was just going through the rules for today's contest.
Not yet started in WA VK6.
The section on digital contacts is very unclear.
It requires exchange of a 6 figure grid locator. For FT8 and most other modes except WSPR only a 4 digit grid square is sent.
Is there something else ?
The exchange of 6-character grid locator is necessary for determination of distance between stations for scoring. The VHF/UHF Field Days are distance-based events.
Yes, Roger, but the digital software (eg WSJT-X) can have a 6-char grid entered in it's configuration but only a 4-char data string is actually transmitted !!!!
Can't be done with 6 chars - software inhibited.
I agree with the concept of 6, but there are external limitations in place.
Have any work-arounds in mind - rules or other - to achieve the 6 char versus 4 char requirement and still have contest-accepted contacts ??
Doug VK4ADC
PS the internet-based reporting process uses all 4, 6 or 8 chars (as available in the config) but only 4 are TXd.
(28-11-2021, 01:17 PM)VK4ADC Wrote: [ -> ]Yes, Roger, but the digital software (eg WSJT-X) can have a 6-char grid entered in it's configuration but only a 4-char data string is actually transmitted !!!!
Can't be done with 6 chars - software inhibited.
I agree with the concept of 6, but there are external limitations in place.
Have any work-arounds in mind - rules or other - to achieve the 6 char versus 4 char requirement and still have contest-accepted contacts ??
Doug VK4ADC
PS the internet-based reporting process uses all 4, 6 or 8 chars (as available in the config) but only 4 are TXd.
What's to stop echanging the 6-char grid in a message, rather than relying on having it in the software config?
Could possibly be done but no way to tell if the other end got the distinct 6-char grid square message, as different from the normal 4-char message.
The other issue is that the contest support, and hence internal logging, in WSJT-X has not been tried by many to see how sequential serial numbers might work, and be logged. I haven't see any DOCs about the available contest support - maybe I will have to "google it".
I might try changing the standard messages option in WSJT-X during the week and see what I can make it do.
Because you would probably have to change from the standard message set to an alternative set up with 6-char grid, it would be easy to get it wrong in the heat of contest exchanges.
Anyone else done contest exchanges with WSJT-X and can provide info ??
Doug
(28-11-2021, 02:53 PM)VK4ADC Wrote: [ -> ]Could possibly be done but no way to tell if the other end got the distinct 6-char grid square message, as different from the normal 4-char message.
The other issue is that the contest support, and hence internal logging, in WSJT-X has not been tried by many to see how sequential serial numbers might work, and be logged. I haven't see any DOCs about the available contest support - maybe I will have to "google it".
I might try changing the standard messages option in WSJT-X during the week and see what I can make it do.
Because you would probably have to change from the standard message set to an alternative set up with 6-char grid, it would be easy to get it wrong in the heat of contest exchanges.
Anyone else done contest exchanges with WSJT-X and can provide info ??
Doug
I did some "digging" and WSJT-X has a EU VHF contest option (Ft8, FT4) which exchanges 6 digit grid locator and Number.
EU VHF Contest
CQ TEST G4ABC/P
G4ABC/P PA9XYZ JO22
PA9XYZ 570123 IO91NP
G4ABC/P R 580071 JO22DB
PA9XYZ G4ABC/P RR73
Maybe the way forward is to "adopt/adapt" this format for digital contacts.
At the moment with field day the digital part is pretty ambiguous as to whats required and how to do it.
If it was clear what format was to be used, there may be a higher takeup.
In particular for Operators like myself in VK6 or country areas where there is only 6m where we have any chance of making more than a handful of contacts - SpE Gods permitting!
Ok, Google is our friend :
https://europeanft8club.files.wordpress....t-mode.pdf
Special Operating Activities: Generation of default messages for Fox, Hound, NA VHF Contest, EU VHF Contest, ARRL Field Day, and ARRL RTTY Roundup can be activated through selections on the Settings | Advanced tab:
The closest we have available to what we need is : ***
EU VHF Contest ***
CQ TEST G4ABC/P
G4ABC/P PA9XYZ JO22 ** both calls and 4char grid
PA9XYZ 570123 IO91NP ** S/N and 6char grid out
G4ABC/P R 580071 JO22DB ** S/N and 6char grid back
PA9XYZ G4ABC/P RR73 ** QSO completed marker
3. The third message shown above in the EU VHF Contest group includes a 6-digit integer and a 6-character grid locator. The example number conveys a signal report “57” and a QSO serial number “0123”. Signal reports range from 52 to 59; they are generated automatically based on received signal-to-noise ratio using, a 6 dB per S-unit scale starting at –24 dB. Serial numbers may range from 0001 to 4095.
5. S/N (dB) and RST
S/N (dB) RST
≤ –19 529
–18 to –13 539
–12 to –7 549
–6 to –1 559
0 to 5 569
6 to 11 579
12 to 17 589
≥ 18 599
Now, how to log QSOs... Nothing as yet confirmed in practice but these might help..
Have a look at 'WSJT-X N1MM Logger for Digital Contesting' [
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOKgYZCWri0 ]
and read the forum post by Trent VK4TS (
https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.p...67#pid4767 )
and/or
https://www.rttycontesting.com/ft-roundu...test-mode/ ( even though we are not actually running RTTY but I guess the logging setup/process should be the similar )
and/or
https://cqww-vhf.com/ft8.htm
Nothing actually tested here as yet but it all seems possible at the moment !
What has to happen is someone needs to document/detail the actual setup procedure so that others are encouraged to try FT8 (or other) out in contesting mode.
The Ross Hull contest throughout January 2022 might be a good candidate !
VK6CPU : Sorry, we must have been typing simultaneously !
I saw this post on digital modes for the VHF/UHF Field Days and just had to answer.
4 years ago (maybe more , i've forgotten the last 2) i tried to get the the rules changed to admit digital modes that are not keyboard modes such as PSK and RTTY.
I was advised some years back that my log would be accepted but under protest as the use of FT8 using 4 Digit Grid Squares was technically not correct. It had to be 6 digits.
I amended my log entries to all those stations who where running from Home, updating the grid square data from QRZ data. Again I was informed that as It hadn't actually been passed during the QSO it was not in the rules even though it was accurate Grid Square Data and the QSO was valid.
I only work digital modes, and the last few times i have tried to enter the Field Day it was a waste of time, with less that 4 stations contacted. Summer 2019 I drove 200km west with a 6 element 2m yagi. Heard nothing. I can trigger the repeater in Canberra but no one around. 2020 is just a blur.
Spring 2021 was completely dead. I can cover Newcastle to Nowra and out to the mountains with the simple setup I have , but it was dead. 4 contacts only.
Today I've been working ZL's on 6 meters as the band opens to Sporadic E. All contacts are of course on FT8. A simple 40m OCF dipole tunes up fine on 6m.
As the use of Phone Dies across the bands and FT8 and other Digital Modes continue to grow in popularity we need to change the Field Days Rules to accommodate the use digital modes.
It just needs to be written up and inserted as an addendum. I'm happy to Assist.
Regards
Brian O'Gallagher
I definately agree with you, the rules as they stand for Digital contacts are at best ambiguous. What would help is a clear direction on how to operate - ie for the Field day contests the EU COntest protocol will be used . This protocol call CQ test and sends the requistie 6 digit grid reference and a unique number.
That way everyone would be on the same page and not what to do.
Lets give it a go!
I agree , and will play with Contest Mode here in Sydney. I'll see if I can get anyone to try it out before the Summer Field day next month.
I run on an old Mac (several actually) that I rescued from eWaste. (people throw out perfectly good Mac's because the latest version of Microsoft Office365 is no longer supported on an older OS) Hence my station is now 2 x 27inch iMac's (that's 1.2m of screen in 4K resolution) I have an old MacBook Pro that i rebuilt for Field day stuff.
My focus for the last 2 months of lockdown was to get the Laptop working ready for the Summer Field Day.
Using WSJT-X and RUMLog i have the station automated with logging and this week I got Auto Mode working where the machine Identifies the call that not in the log and automatically set's WSJT-X to TX. I'm still in attendance of course , but a voice announces the callsign and then states its setting the radio to Transmit. The contact is processed and then automatically logged.
I was actually going to be a bit more ambitious with regard to changes to the rules regarding Data Modes.
I want to see a new section for Data Modes, not mixed in with Voice Contacts (voice purists are now cheering) and have a very different scoring methodology.
I'm working ZL on 6M in the background as I type this. 100 watts on FT8 and when it's open, ZL is easy so the points cannot be the same.
I'd like to see a section for Satellite Contacts, which are currently excluded, and a points multiplier for portable Satellite Stations. ( ie. SARC Satellite Tracker)
I'd like to see an FM SSTV category, especially around Metro Areas to spark some interest in all those Baofeng users that are downloading SSTV from the ISS.
Make it a Data Mode Addendum to the current rules, make it a trial with the results to be reviewed at a later date, and keep it seperate from the Voice guys who will rightly complain that it is screwing with the results.
I have no intention the 'win' in a field day category, I just want to play radio, and I'd like to have someone out there to play with. Currently there is silence.
Brian