FT8 mode check for cluster

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IT9PQJ
Bit of a boffin
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:06 pm

FT8 mode check for cluster

Post by IT9PQJ »

Hello,
is there a way to check if a DXCC has been already worked or confirmed in FT8 mode in order not to make the PC sound on spots arrival ? Like it is possible for SSB and CW.
Many thanks,
Nico
G0CUZ
Site Admin
Posts: 461
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2002 7:12 am

Re: FT8 mode check for cluster

Post by G0CUZ »

Hi Nico

It's not so simple with digi modes as it is not always possible to determine what and if it is a digi mode from a cluster spot, so even if I found a way, it would not be 100% effective.

73 Colin
G0CUZ
IT9PQJ
Bit of a boffin
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:06 pm

Re: FT8 mode check for cluster

Post by IT9PQJ »

Hi Colin,
great to hear from you again.
Well, I imagined you would answer like you did and I do agree with you, but we could at least try to link FT8 mode (by now very very popular and widely used than any other digimode) frequencies, for example 50313 and 50323 (2 frequencies on 6m band), 14074 for 20m and so on to cluster spots just like it works for CW and SSB. Hope it's not a bad idea... It would help me quite a lot to get rid of fake alarms on spot arrival.
If you need FT8 frequencies, I can tell you.
Best regards,
Nico
G0CUZ
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Posts: 461
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Re: FT8 mode check for cluster

Post by G0CUZ »

OK Nico

I know FT8 is so popular now, I sometimes use it myself and I'm not really a digi fan.

I will look closely at this and see if it works in practice, from you explanation, I assume that you do NOT want an alert if the cluster spot is NEW for you on CW/SSB but only on FT8 e.g. a mode specific alert, and you would be OK if I only implemented a 'spot' frequency specific to this mode e.g. 14.074/18.100 etc, I'm not sure how reliable that would be, I was looking also (and/or) at "FT8' or 'FT-8' to be grabbed from cluster 'Comments' field but not all ops include this unfortunately.

Any suggestions welcomed.

73 Colin
G0CUZ
IT9PQJ
Bit of a boffin
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:06 pm

Re: FT8 mode check for cluster

Post by IT9PQJ »

Hi Colin!
Having both ways you explained would be even better! In case it's not possible, the QRG way would be very fine.
Best regards,
Nico
G0CUZ
Site Admin
Posts: 461
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2002 7:12 am

Re: FT8 mode check for cluster

Post by G0CUZ »

Hi Nico

I have started to test this new function, and so far looks good.

Limitations:
No other DX 'alerts' for other modes will be displayed when this function is enabled (I think this is what you want anyway)

Contests - as this is spot frequency dependant, there may be occasional false indications when the FT8 frequencies are overrun with CW traffic during contests.

I have added a few FT8 specific freqs already for HF, just for initial test but will expand this shortly to include LF VHF.

Bonus: it should be possible to use this function to query other specific modes, (say) RTTY so that only RTTY spots will be queried for DXCC.

If you send me an email, I'll send you a beta test in a few days time, as it requires a lot of time consuming DXC 'spot' watching to discover effectiveness.

73 Colin
G0CUZ.
IT9PQJ
Bit of a boffin
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:06 pm

Re: FT8 mode check for cluster

Post by IT9PQJ »

Many thanks Colin.
Please note that I'm active mostly on 6m in these days. QRGs are 50313 and 50323 on 6m.
If other modes checking would work, it would not be bad thou.
73,
Nico

p.s.: Maybe I've sent you the email to the wrong address. Mine is it9pqj(at)gmail.com
G0CUZ
Site Admin
Posts: 461
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2002 7:12 am

Re: FT8 mode check for cluster

Post by G0CUZ »

I've been running this new function for a few days and it seems to be working good.

Can be set-up for other exclusive modes too e.g. SSB or CW, might be useful for those only interested in specific modes.

73 Colin
G0CUZ
IT9PQJ
Bit of a boffin
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:06 pm

Re: FT8 mode check for cluster

Post by IT9PQJ »

Wow! Great! Many thanks Colin!
G0CUZ
Site Admin
Posts: 461
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2002 7:12 am

Re: FT8 mode check for cluster

Post by G0CUZ »

Hi Nico

Build 20

Specific Mode option is included.

See
http://help.winlog32.co.uk/hlp_dxc_options.aspx

73 Colin
G0CUZ
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