The upgraded FT8
portion of WSJT-X 2.0 had a final on-air "shakedown" prior to its
general release in the form of an on-air operating event - the first FT8
Roundup - on the weekend of December 1 and 2. The roundup was coordinated by CQ
RTTY Contesting Director Ed Muns, W0YK, and Don Hill, AA5AU.
According to the AMSAT News Service, approximately 1300
logs were submitted for the event from 91 countries, and included more than
131,000 contacts. The new version of FT8 "performed with no major
complications," reported Hill. Muns said participation "far exceeded
our expectations," but said additional enhancements will be needed for FT8
to "really take off" as a contest mode on its own.
The 2019 ARRL RTTY
Roundup (<http://www.arrl.org/rtty-roundup>) in early January will be the
first regularly-scheduled contest to include use of the new version of FT8.
News and information of interest to ham radio operators from CQ Amateur Radio magazine, the world's leading independent ham radio magazine.