The BARTG RTTY contest starts this evening at 10 pm local time and goes until Sunday at 10 pm local time. This contest is a fun one and has been gaining popularity as the mode gains followers.
The rules are simple but the exchange contains an RST, serial number, and the time (4-digit).
Here is what I will be using for messages within N1MM – Chuck, KA1CQR had asked me to post some for discussion.
<pre>
F1 CQ,{TX}{ENTER}CQ NG1G NG1G TEST {RX}
F2 Run Exch,{TX}{ENTER}! 599 {EXCH} {EXCH} {TIME2} {TIME2} {RX}
F3 Run End,{TX}{ENTER}TU NG1G {RX}
F4 {MYCALL},{TX}* {RX}
F5 His Call,{TX}!{RX}
F6 TU Now…,{TX}{ENTER}{LOGTHENPOP} TU NOW… ! 599 {EXCH} {EXCH} {TIME2} {TIME2} {RX}
F7 Serial #,{TX}{ENTER}{EXCH} {EXCH} {RX}
F8 Time, {TX}{ENTER}{TIME2} {TIME2} {RX}
F9 Agn?,{TX}{ENTER}AGN? {RX}
F10 Number?,{TX}{ENTER}NR? {RX}
F11 Time?,{TX}{ENTER}TIME? {RX}
F12 Wipe,{WIPE}
F1 CQ,{TX}{ENTER}CQ NG1G NG1G TEST {RX}
F2 S&&P Exch,{TX}{ENTER}599 {EXCH} {EXCH} {TIME2} {TIME2} {RX}
F3 S&&P TU,{TX}! TU {RX}
F4 S&&P Call Him,{TX}{ENTER}* {RX}
F5 His Call,{TX}!{RX}
F6 {MYCALL},{TX}* {RX}
F7 Serial #,{TX}{ENTER}{EXCH} {EXCH} {RX}
F8 Time, {TX}{ENTER}{TIME2} {TIME2} {RX}
F9 Agn?,{TX}{ENTER}AGN? {RX}
F10 Number?,{TX}{ENTER}NR? {RX}
F11 Time?,{TX}{ENTER}TIME? {RX}
F12 Wipe,{WIPE}
</pre>
Each person should tailor his messages to his needs, of course. I send my info twice because my station is a little pistol and I know that unless conditions are good I get a lot of requests for fills. Plus, as we discussed at the last meeting, RTTY doesn’t have error correction, so without other data to compare to, if you send a serial number and time once the other station has no way to know with any reliability if that’s actually what you sent. If you send two serial numbers and time and they are dissimilar, at least the other op knows to ask for a fill.
I wrote these on the fly today, since I didn’t have one for N1MM yet. I may adjust depending on conditions, etc. Remember, at www.rttycontesting.com there are suggestions for RTTY messages for Writelog, and a link to a message length calculator that you may find helpful. The N1MM web site also contains macro files but I find them to be lengthy. They’re a good start though.
I welcome any suggestions or questions.
73,
Pat, NG1G
The latest Macro List for the BARTG RTTY test posted by Larry, K8UT, is available on the web at the URL below in Larry’s comments/
Be sure to read the comments at the beginning of the file to make sure that you set it up the way you want it. The File name is BARTGSRTTY.mc
Excerpt from email from Larry…
For those running the BARTG Spring RTTY contest this weekend, a refreshed
set of Function Key definitions is available on the website’s >Files >Sample
Function Key files page. This contest uses an exchange of rst, serial
number, time (in the format HHMM – note no colon). I’d like to reinforce the
perennial advice to keep your RTTY exchanges “short and sweet.”
Download the Function Key definitions file, BARTGSRTTY.mc, to your local
N1MM directory. To select that file within N1MM: >File >Open Log in database
>Associated Files >Digital Function key filename, BARTGSRTTY.mc. Make
whatever changes you think are appropriate with Notepad or within N1MM
itself. The macros are tailored for beginner operators but the embedded
comments include instructions for using ESM and LOGTHENPOP.
The Sample Digital Function Key files are listed in alphabetic order here:
http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/tiki-list_file_gallery.php?galleryId=26
For setup details, see the Documentation >References >Contest Setup
Instructions >BARTSRTTY
http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.php?page=Contest+Setup+Instructions#%20BARTG%20Spring%20RTTY%20contest
NOTE1: when creating >File >New log in database, select BARTGSRTTY (not
BARTGRTTYS)
NOTE2: the correct macro for time in HHMM format is {TIME2}
NOTE3: despite sending out this message, someone will ask about HH:MM and
{TIME} on the reflector this weekend 😉
Also, Pat…
If you use the macros as you have them, you not be able to use Enter Sends Message (ESM) without significant modification to the Config > Function Key arrangement.
73, Ken K3IU
Thanks, Ken. I’ll have to take a look at the ESM requirements. In my effort to concentrate on the substance of my messages I forgot about that.
73,
Pat, NG1G
I would simply add that I really would recommend that you NOT mess with the settings in Config > Function Key, but modify the Function Key macros to accommodate the ESM, if that is what you wish to do. The macro file that is downloadable from the web site has instructions on how to modify it to make it compatible with ESM using the standard Config > Function Key set up… check to make sure that the “Next Call” Key is set up as F4. The info is in the comment statements at the beginning of the file. Also, to use the downloaded file with the comments, you must be using N1MM version 12.2.0 or later.
For reference, here are the comments/notes at the beginning… logs the contact and clears the QSO Entry window{TX}{ENTER}! {LOGTHENPOP} TU NOW… {F5}{F2}{RX}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#NEW VERSION, This Function Key File requires N1MM Logger V12.02.00 or newer
#BARTGSRTTY, BARTG Spring RTTY contest (NOT Sprint)
#EDITS REQUIRED, before using this file—————————————–
#REM, non-ESM – no change required
#REM, ESM – RUN F2 – remove the {ENTER} and first ! to avoid double-sending his callsign
#SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS, ———————————————————
#REM, In non-ESM mode
#REM, S&P F1 calls CQ and automatically places the program in RUN mode
#REM, Designed to work in either ESM or non-ESM mode
#REM, F2 F3 F4 F5 use “!” macro for his callsign
#ADVANCED FUNCTIONS, ———————————————————–
#REM LOGTHENPOP, use the following line – replacing
#REM, RUN F4 Now…POP
#RUN MESSAGES, Run Messages begin here —————————————–
I had gone to the link you gave us and saw the macro with comments, now I just need to edit mine. I’ve changed the function key settings before and it worked FB, but you’re right it’s easier to modify the macros.
Pat