FT8 Contest – WSJT-X

Photo:EA2CCG

“A one-hour “practice contest” will be held next week using the FT8 mode
and the ARRL RTTY Roundup rules.

Thursday, 27 September 0200-0259 UTC (Wednesday evening, NA time)

Dial frequencies 7.078 and 14.078, everyone works everyone.

To participate you must use WSJT-X 2.0. The Windows installation package
is linked at the bottom of this web page:
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html (Note that this is a temporary release candidate, not the final full release of WSJT-X 2.0.)

The Quick-Start Guide to WSJT-X 2.0 is here:
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Quick_Start_WSJT-X_2.0.pdf

IMPORTANT:
1. On the *Settings | Advanced* tab, be sure to check the boxes *Always
generate 77-bit messages*, *Decode only 77-bit messages*, and *ARRL RTTY
Roundup*. In the field labeled “Exch” enter the 2- or 3-letter
abbreviation for your state or province (US/Canadian stations) or DX if
you are not in the US or Canada.

2. Be sure that 7.078 and 14.078 appear in your selectable frequency
list when for FT8 mode. You might need to do a *Reset* on the *Settings
| Frequencies* tab.

3. We do not recommend using a compound or nonstandard callsign in this
event.

Post results and comments here so we can all learn from an actual FT8
contest-like experience. Note that planning is underway for at least two
dedicated FT8 contests to be potentially held in the next few months.
Next week’s practice run will help to inform those plans.

If you are not already subscribed, you may wish to join the email list
wsjt-devel:
https://sourceforge.net/p/wsjt/mailman/?source=navbar
This list is the best way to communicate directly with the WSJT
Development Group.

— 73, Joe, K1JT”