On Wed, Oct 20, 2021 at 01:52 PM, Pete Ritter K5CPR wrote:

Unfortunately some DXPeditions use Fox & Hounds mode on default FT8 frequencies, defeating some of the advantages of that mode, and negating the advantage of your suggestion to use a F&H configuration. I’ve witnessed this practice being used by at least two of the recent DXPeditions to Africa.  They seem to have started using the default frequencies after a week or so of operation. Perhaps this was because their QSO rates fell as most DXers who were aware of their operations worked them, so they moved, seeking fresh meat. 

Hi Pete, as Bill has explained a station doing multi-stream operation on the standard FT8 frequencies will almost inevitably be using the MSHV s/ware and not the pukka WSJT-X Fox & Hounds mode.  This has certainly been the case for, to the best of my knowledge, the recent expeditions to J5, S9 and 3DA0 even though they weren't on the default frequencies.  For example, I've successfully worked J5HKT on 8 bands from 80m down to 10m and I didn't use F & H mode for any of the QSOs - I assume the QSOs wouldn't have been completed successfully if I'd sent my 'R-xx' report on my original calling frequency of eg. 1370Hz, whereas I did receive an RR73 from J5HKT on every occasion.

73
--
Martin G0HDB

On 20/10/2021 13:52, Pete Ritter K5CPR via groups.io wrote:

Unfortunately some DXPeditions use Fox & Hounds mode on default FT8 frequencies, defeating some of the advantages of that mode, and negating the advantage of your suggestion to use a F&H configuration. I’ve witnessed this practice being used by at least two of the recent DXPeditions to Africa.  They seem to have started using the default frequencies after a week or so of operation. Perhaps this was because their QSO rates fell as most DXers who were aware of their operations worked them, so they moved, seeking fresh meat.

Pete,

it is unlikely that DXpeditions use FT8 DXpedition mode on the "usual" FT8 subbands, they are more likely using the "multi-streaming" extension to the MSHV clone of WSJT-X. It is unfortunate that feature exists as it is bound to cause unnecessary QRM where many operators are trying to achieve other goals. Nevertheless MSHV "multi-streaming" mode does not require callers use FT8 DXpedition Hound mode, instead normal FT8 auto-sequencing will allow QSOs to be completed.

Executive Summary: If you see a station you want to work transmitting multiple signals and using "K1ABC RR73; W9XYZ <P5DXP> -15" style messages on the normal FT8 sub-bands then try just  working them as you would any other FT8 caller.

73
Bill
G4WJS.

Unfortunately some DXPeditions use Fox & Hounds mode on default FT8 frequencies, defeating some of the advantages of that mode, and negating the advantage of your suggestion to use a F&H configuration. I’ve witnessed this practice being used by at least two of the recent DXPeditions to Africa.  They seem to have started using the default frequencies after a week or so of operation. Perhaps this was because their QSO rates fell as most DXers who were aware of their operations worked them, so they moved, seeking fresh meat. 

FWIW .... its actually easier to create a separate configuration for DXPeditions, then enter the DXpedition frequencies, and  clear out the normal frequencies.

Less clutter in the long run, and less of a problem if you select the wrong frequency when in normal non-DXpedition mode.

Neil, KN3ILZ

I'd like to see the default frequencies displayed in a distinct font in the band drop-down list, perhaps bold. This would help to identify the defaults when one has added frequencies for DXpeditions, for example.