I'm looking for information on how to handle multiple responses to a CQ.

The first caller is handled automatically.

I don't know the best way to proceed with the additional stations. I'm also wondering if there is a way to maintain the same transmit frequency.

Thanks, Kent
AA6P

Maintaining TX frequency is simply a check box "Hold TX Freq" on the main panel.

I'll let others cover the multiple response issue.

--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

Click "Hold Tx" which you should already be doing as a best practice anyways.
You can handle additional callers however you want.  I tend to favor first come first served unless they are a really weak signal in which case might work somebody stronger first.
Mike W9MDB

I agree, Hold Tx Freq is the first step. And I move my Tx freq often using Shift-click on the waterfall to stay on a clear frequency.
As to who I respond to first:

- I reply first to the station that I "need" the most, obviously like a new DX country or a new CQ zone.
- If there are multiple DX callers then I prioritize the rarest station first, also obvious. It's uncommon, but it does happen sometimes!
- The more common situation is multiple NA/US or JA callers - I call the strongest dB station first so I can complete the QSO with the minimum number of repeats. This minimizes the chance of me causing QRM to someone else. 
- If all the callers are about the same dB strength, I will call the POTA/SOTA stations first since these guys are making extra effort for contacts.
- And then, I do give priority to LoTW stations (red text color), but that's just my preference.
Hope this helps.73, WA5MD, Tim in Dallas

On Aug 18, 2022, at 6:01 AM, Timothy Brannon <timbmd@...> wrote:

- The more common situation is multiple NA/US or JA callers - I call the strongest dB station first so I can complete the QSO with the minimum number of repeats. This minimizes the chance of me causing QRM to someone else.

I wonder what ever happened to the thought of the CALL 1st option to call the weakest stations first. Joe (or maybe it was someone else) mentioned it when Call 1st first was talked about. It was an effort to get more stations to keep their power down a little when not needed. I’d still like to see it happen. Sometimes, that weaker station may just be something special.

Gary - AG0N

go to CQ
Begin

is the best way

reply to a second conversation before 7 3 can work,  but only where the cycle might drop,  is best practice, but it isn't guaranteed
reply to a second conversation after the first conversation has completed, is unlikely but can work,  and requires patience,  after waiting you go to CQ if no reply within reasonable time


best practice,  keep an eye on the graph to see other signals on either the sender or receiver frequency

there are no guarantees,  but it is interesting
regards
m1evn

Thanks all for the replies. It is much appreciated.

I just started with FT8 a few days ago using an IC-706MKIIG and Signalink USB interface.

There is more to learn than I expected but I am making great progress.

73, Kent
AA6P

On 8/17/22 23:35, Michael Black via groups.io wrote:

Click "Hold Tx" which you should already be doing as a best practice anyways.
You can handle additional callers however you want.  I tend to favor first come first served

+1

73, Chuck

To me, it is up to you which to you pick. Pick one and have a QSO. I usually will pick what is needed for a new contact followed by the flavor of the day.

This brings up another question, how does WSJT decide who is 1st, 2nd, ....? Signal strength, call, or frequency does not seem to be it. My version of JTAlert will tell how many times a station has called which also helps decide who to call next.

I believe it’s the order it’s decoded. Usually, the first decode is the strongest on your RX frequency, then random.

73 Phil GM3ZZA

Sent from Mail for Windows

From: St. Cuda
Sent: 19 August 2022 15:17
To: main@WSJTX.groups.io
Subject: Re: [WSJTX] Multiple Responses to CQ #TechnicalHelpQuestion

To me, it is up to you which to you pick. Pick one and have a QSO. I usually will pick what is needed for a new contact followed by the flavor of the day.

This brings up another question, how does WSJT decide who is 1st, 2nd, ....? Signal strength, call, or frequency does not seem to be it. My version of JTAlert will tell how many times a station has called which also helps decide who to call next.








--
73 Phil GM3ZZA

On 8/19/22 10:17, St. Cuda wrote:

To me, it is up to you which to you pick. Pick one and have a QSO. I usually will pick what is needed for a new contact followed by the flavor of the day.

This brings up another question, how does WSJT decide who is 1st, 2nd, ....? Signal strength, call, or frequency does not seem to be it. My version of JTAlert will tell how many times a station has called which also helps decide who to call next.

I believe
1st decode is in your Rx passband.
2nd is 'fast' decode
3rd is ''Normal' decode
4th is 'Deep' decode.

3s, Chuck

On Thu, Aug 18, 2022 at 04:20 AM, Kent AA6P wrote:

I'm looking for information on how to handle multiple responses to a CQ.

The first caller is handled automatically.

I don't know the best way to proceed with the additional stations. I'm also
wondering if there is a way to maintain the same transmit frequency.

Thanks, Kent
AA6P

Hi Kent, you don't have to respond to the first caller automatically; just untick the 'Call 1st' check box and then the selection of which of the multiple responders to your CQ to work is entirely up to you - you can work them in whatever order you choose.

The only time I find the 'Call 1st' option to be of any real value is in FT4 contests where you're primarily interested in working as many stations as possible no matter where they are, combined with the fact that FT4 QSOs run at twice the rate of FT8 QSOs so there's even less time to do a manual selection of a caller from the list of decodes - these days my brain-hand coordination times aren't fast enough for that... :-)

Also, as others have already said it's (strongly) recommended that you find what appears to be a clear spot on your waterfall, put your Tx cursor there and check the 'Hold Tx Freq' option, so that your Tx frequency doesn't always change to the frequency of the station you're calling.

73
--
Martin G0HDB

Hi Kent,

First, welcome to the wonderful world of FTx modes!

As you get familiar and more so with your rig, don't be afraid to play around a little and experiment with how far you can push your distance, and types of signals worked.

As other's have said, the order you take them is purely up to you; but, you will find that you will set goals you haven't yet thought of. Worked All States, Worked All Continents, DX100/DXCC, working pure DX to see how far you can get, and working as many Grid Squares as you can.

Now, I work 'pileups' generally as a first come, first served basis... UNLESS, I have 'special need'.
I am a full blown DX'er, and I've always loved DX, so if I see a new DXCC entity I haven't worked, he or she have my undivided attention! Next new Grid Squares, especially in the U.S. - I am down to only needing 33 of the 488 Continental U.S. grid squares to work!

If those special needs are not there, again, I just handle them as they come as quickly as can be done, and hopefully they will stick around long enough so you can work all of them.

If you see some that have dropped out, go to the next and keep going... when you are done with say 4 of the 5 who called you, and the 5th appears to have left, call him anyway, he may just be waiting, or taking a short break... etc.

I do have a couple of pieces of advice, log to your wsjtx log (automatic anyway), then; if you do not already have one, set yourself up on QRZ with an account (free for basic), then transfer/upload your wsjtx log to your QRZ log every few days. If for no other reason than to have a permanent backup in case your computer crashes, etc. (also save your log to a USB thumb drive at least once a week!!!). Having uploaded to QRZ will also help show your some goals you can set for yourself, and your progress towards those goals, but don't get frustrated if it seems slow in coming. You can only work so many QSO in any set time.

It wlll also help with your goals if you use Grid Tracker on your computer, it gives a choice of nice world maps, and shows all of the Countries (DXCC entities, states, grid squares. etc. that you have worked, and will alert you to those places or call signs you are looking for.

And while thinking about it, I also have and ICOM IC-706mkIIg - they are great little radios! HOWEVER... DO THIS...! If you plan to use it for any period of time - get yourself an inline 4 inch blower and tube, set the blower on the floor (cooler there, and preferable from an air conditioning vent if possible) and suck in the cold air and place the tube so that it blows that colder air across the back & heatsink of the radio!!! Your radio will be quite happy... Oh, and remember, 40 or 50 Watts out is all you really need for FTx modes.

I hope this helps you and/any other new folks, and you are correct Kent, there is a learning curves, and hopefully these tips and tools with help you and others.

73 - John - N7GHZ Hope to see you on the air.

My current goal is to work as many stations as possible that have the same
suffix as me.
My score is zero so far since getting my license in 1967.
73, Carey, WB4HXE


On Sat, Aug 20, 2022 at 11:14 AM JP Tucson, AZ <samcat88az@...> wrote:

Hi Kent,

First, welcome to the wonderful world of FTx modes!

As you get familiar and more so with your rig, don't be afraid to play
around a little and experiment with how far you can push your distance, and
types of signals worked.

As other's have said, the order you take them is purely up to you; but,
you will find that you will set goals you haven't yet thought of. Worked
All States, Worked All Continents, DX100/DXCC, working pure DX to see how
far you can get, and working as many Grid Squares as you can.

Now, I work 'pileups' generally as a first come, first served basis...
UNLESS, I have 'special need'.
I am a full blown DX'er, and I've always loved DX, so if I see a new DXCC
entity I haven't worked, he or she have my undivided attention! Next new
Grid Squares, especially in the U.S. - I am down to only needing 33 of the
488 Continental U.S. grid squares to work!

If those special needs are not there, again, I just handle them as they
come as quickly as can be done, and hopefully they will stick around long
enough so you can work all of them.

If you see some that have dropped out, go to the next and keep going...
when you are done with say 4 of the 5 who called you, and the 5th appears
to have left, call him anyway, he may just be waiting, or taking a short
break... etc.

I do have a couple of pieces of advice, log to your wsjtx log (automatic
anyway), then; if you do not already have one, set yourself up on QRZ with
an account (free for basic), then transfer/upload your wsjtx log to your
QRZ log every few days. If for no other reason than to have a permanent
backup in case your computer crashes, etc. (also save your log to a USB
thumb drive at least once a week!!!). Having uploaded to QRZ will also
help show your some goals you can set for yourself, and your progress
towards those goals, but don't get frustrated if it seems slow in coming.
You can only work so many QSO in any set time.

It wlll also help with your goals if you use Grid Tracker on your
computer, it gives a choice of nice world maps, and shows all of the
Countries (DXCC entities, states, grid squares. etc. that you have worked,
and will alert you to those places or call signs you are looking for.

And while thinking about it, I also have and ICOM IC-706mkIIg - they are
great little radios! HOWEVER... DO THIS...! If you plan to use it for any
period of time - get yourself an inline 4 inch blower and tube, set the
blower on the floor (cooler there, and preferable from an air conditioning
vent if possible) and suck in the cold air and place the tube so that it
blows that colder air across the back & heatsink of the radio!!! Your
radio will be quite happy... Oh, and remember, 40 or 50 Watts out is all
you really need for FTx modes.

I hope this helps you and/any other new folks, and you are correct Kent,
there is a learning curves, and hopefully these tips and tools with help
you and others.

73 - John - N7GHZ Hope to see you on the air.





--

Carey Fisher
careyfisher@...


--
73, Carey, WB4HXE

That's a fun one! I'm chasing 2x1 NU prefixes myself.

73

-Jim
NU0C

On Sat, 20 Aug 2022 13:42:21 -0400
careyfisher@... wrote:

My current goal is to work as many stations as possible that have the same
suffix as me.
My score is zero so far since getting my license in 1967.

You too?? It's nutty I know. No goals just fun. Now
I'm on to the xyl's call. I get points from her.

Bob - wd6dod

Thanks all for the additional replies. The information has all been very helpful.

John - That's a great suggestion on providing cooling for the IC-706MKIIG. The fan generally turns on after 30 minutes or so even when not transmitting. I've been adjusting the transmit power to about 30 watts output.

I didn't start logging until yesterday. The file has been successfully uploaded to QRZ. I intend to look into LoTW in the next few days.

73, Kent
AA6P

How many have you worked so far? K4HXE is out there -- along with K5HXE,
N1HXE, etc. You might consider looking them up on QRZ and setting up a
sked via email. Or maybe search and pounce is more fun?

Vy 7 3
Earl
KD5XB
DM84

e e

On Aug 19, 2022, at 09:02, Chuck Gelm <nc8q-aredn@...> wrote:

I believe it’s the order it’s decoded. Usually, the first decode is the strongest on your RX frequency, then random.

Sorta. According to the rules for decoding discussed way back by Joe, a signal on your receive frequency (green bar) are decoded first, then it scans up the spectrum from the bottom I believe to the next signal, etc. Has that changed?


Gary - AG0N

Sorta. According to the rules for decoding discussed way back by Joe, a signal on your receive frequency (green bar) are decoded first, then it scans up the spectrum from the bottom I believe to the next signal, etc. Has that changed?

Hi Gary and All,
Latest rule is the same for the receive frequency, but after that selection is totally random. Before that so call candidate signals are searched. Those are signals where decoding is attempted. The random selection was added as operators packed to the lower audio frequencies.

The random selection may start already after the first decoding interval at 11.8 s and so a stronger signal may be selected. Please note that I have not studied source code to confirm this behavior.

73, Reino OH3mA