[wsjt-devel] "FT8 Roundup" mock contest [Two Sessions]

[Ed M. <ed...@w0...>]

In addition to this practice contest just prior to the actual FT8 Roundup
next weekend, there will be an identical practice on Wednesday evening NA
time (0200-0300 UTC Thursday, 29 November).

Don and I feel another practice will be useful since we all need to ensure
we have installed and configured WSJT-X 2.0, rc5 correctly.  (rc4 will also
work, but rc5 is preferred since it has improvements and bug fixes beyond
rc4.)

73,
Ed W0YK
Don AA5AU

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Taylor [mailto:jo...@pr...] 
Sent: 26 November, 2018 13:55
To: WSJT software development
Subject: [wsjt-devel] "FT8 Roundup" mock contest

Hi all,

Another one-hour "practice contest" is scheduled for Saturday, December 
1, 0200-0300 UTC (that's Friday evening, Nov 30, NA time).  This session 
will serve as a final tune-up opportunity for those planning to operate 
in the "FT8 Roundup" on December 1-2 (more details below).

DIAL FREQUENCIES
----------------

The practice event will use dial frequencies 7.080-7.100 and 
14.130-14.150 MHz in 2 kHz increments -- the same as recommended for the 
FT8 Roundup and the ARRL RTTY Roundup (January 5-6, 2019).  Start at the 
low end, dial frequency 7.080 or 14.130.  If/when the lower sub-bands 
fill up, QSY upward in 2 kHz increments (7.082, 7.084, etc.).  (Use 
keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+Shift+F11 and Ctrl+Shift+F12 to move dial 
frequency down/up by 2 kHz.)

Everyone works everyone.  Do not use a compound or nonstandard callsign 
in this event.

To participate you must use WSJT-X 2.0 RC5 (or RC4, but RC5 is 
preferred).  Installation packages for RC5 in Windows, Linux, and macOS 
can be found near the bottom of this web page:
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

A revised "Quick-Start Guide to WSJT-X 2.0" for RC5 is posted here:
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Quick_Start_WSJT-X_2.0.pdf
Be sure to read this entire document before using WSJT-X 2.0.

PREPARATION FOR THE MOCK CONTEST
--------------------------------

Detailed setup instructions for the FT8 Roundup are posted here:
https://www.rttycontesting.com/ft8-roundup/preparation/
They serve equally well for the practice session.

Rules for the FT8 Roundup specify 100 W maximum power output.  We 
recommend the same limit for the practice session.

OPERATING PROCEDURES
--------------------

Best operating practices for FT8 in contests will surely evolve as users 
gain experience.  As initial suggestions we recommend procedures 
slightly different from those used for everyday FT8 operation.  CQing 
stations ("Run" stations) should check TX EVEN/1ST and HOLD TX FREQ, and 
select audio Tx frequencies 200, 400, 600, ..., integral multiples of 
200 Hz. Search-and-pounce (S+P) stations should uncheck TX EVEN/1ST and 
HOLD TX FREQ and should call a CQing station at 0, 60, or 120 Hz above 
the CQ frequency.  These procedures should help to contain the 
mini-pileups around Run stations to relatively small frequency ranges. 
S+P stations can use Shift+F11 and Shift+F12 to move their Tx frequency 
down/up by 60 Hz.

If a 2 kHz segment becomes too full of stations, users should QSY upward 
in 2 kHz increments, thus establishing new operating sub-bands.  Again, 
you can use Ctrl+Shift+F11 and Ctrl+Shift+F12 to QSY between 
dial-frequency sub-bands.

THE FT8 ROUNDUP, DECEMBER 1-2
-----------------------------

The FT8 Roundup starts at 1800 UTC on Saturday, December 1 and ends at 
2359 UTC on Sunday, December 2, 2018.  Power limit is 100 W output: no 
high-power amplifiers!  Full contest rules are posted at 
https://www.rttycontesting.com/ft8-roundup/ .

LOOKING TWO WEEKS AHEAD
-----------------------

We are planning to make the full General Availability (GA) release of 
WSJT-X 2.0 on or before December 10, 2018.  The necessary transition 
from from WSJT-X v1.9.1 to WSJT-X v2.0 protocols for FT8 and MSK144 
should take place by the end of calendar year 2018.

THEREFORE: As soon as possible after December 10, and certainly by 
January 1, 2019, everyone should be using WSJT-X 2.0 or a compatible 
v2.0 version of derivative programs such as JTDX or MSHV.  As of today, 
PSKreporter statistics show roughly 3000 users of WSJT-X versions older 
than v1.9.1, 9500 users of v1.9.1, and 3000 users of v2.0-rc#.  Please, 
everyone, help us to spread the word that upgrading to v2.0 after 
December 10 is very important.  There will be no looking back!

     -- 73, Joe, K1JT


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