16-12-2021, 05:59 PM
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
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