I see this as a two sided coin
160 and 80 tough bands for CW let alone SSB. In the end it is a signal
to noise problem. Which FT8 overcomes by several dB. FT8 levels the
playing field for those of us who don't have the money for a mega
station on several acres with 100 ft towers,etc (not knocking those guys
if I win the lottery it will be near the top of my list) .
At this point FT8 has become the defacto preferred DXpedition mode for
many because it usually produces the most QSO's/hour on 160/80 . If I
were a dxpedition why would I spend hours calling CQ on 160 for an hour
only to show one or two QSO's for the effort, kinda like a DIY lobotomy
with an ice pick....8^(, Maybe I should use that time up on 40M
instead, giving a smaller gun a shot at an ATNO, (argument for a
different thread...please). For some expeditions #of QSO's is about the
$$$, more QSO's = more donations. In this day and age the cost of a
major DXpedition is a mind blowing amount of $$$$ (Look at upcoming
Bouvet, which is in the hole still ..if you haven't donated time to dig
in your pocket) not knocking anyone just stating a fact of life.
Dave
NR1DX
"before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes...that way when
you do criticize them you will have a mile head start and you will have
their shoes !"
On 11/5/2022 2:39 PM, kq2m@kq2m.com wrote:
<SNIP>
I am not interested in the digital modes, preferring the traditional
modes of CW and SSB. I understand that others feel differently, which
is fine. But it bothers me that DXpeditions are now avoiding CW on
80/160 because they just don't want to bother.
73
Bob, KQ2M
On 2022-11-05 12:45, Tom wrote:
On thursday night conditions here in w1 land were outstanding! J28MD
(cw) and 5V7RU (ft8) got in the log and I heard HS0ZOY (ft8) at his SR
at -5 for about 5 minutes. first HS I have ever heard.
hope i get a chance with T88.
On Nov 5, 2022, at 12:00 PM, David Raymond
<daraymond@iowatelecom.net> wrote:
Greetings Topbanders. . .
I've spent a considerable amount of time on watch this past week for
J28MD on Topband (CW). While they've spent a fair amount of time on
TB I haven't yet had success yet in spite of my ongoing efforts. I
believe it was this past Tuesday night when Joel, W5ZN, said they
appeared briefly out of the noise (about 10 minutes or so and did
have success with his BSEF-8 and Hi-Z 8 arrays in diversity) then
disappeared the rest of the evening. Wednesday night's opening to NA
was much longer starting on the East coast and slowly sweeping
westward with quite a few NA making it in the log (EC + 5's, 8's, &
9s', VE). Unfortunately the prop just never quite made it this far
west. They barely peaked out of the noise here in Iowa Wednesday
evening (NA time) just enough to get me excited and dump my call a
few times hoping for even a marginal QSO. . . but no cigar. It's a
little frustrating to see that they always QRT about 30 minutes or
so prior to their SR but they get credit for being on faithfully on
CW and FT8 as well. I know they're getting close to wrapping up but
hopefully they'll be on (CW) again this evening.
It's been good to have some DX operations QRV and bring some much
needed life to TB (which sure hasn't had much). . .TY0, 5V, and now
J28, A3, and T88. The prop has been very poor. CQing here in the
evening brings no DX responses and only a handful of EU EBN hits so
far this season. Thankfully mornings have activity from our very
stalwart VK friends (VK3HJ, VK2WF, VK6GX, VK6IR, VK6LW, others) but
only a handful of JA QSOs so far this season (8 to be exact).
JA1LZR gets kudos for being QRV almost every morning (NA time), but
without much prop, I think only limited success. I have yet to
hit the VK4CT RBN CQing here in the mornings. I don't think this is
totally attributable to the increased SFI. . . prop from here was
only marginally better two seasons ago when the SFI was very low.
All that said, I encourage everyone to get on and make some noise.
73. . . Dave, W0FLS (in Iowa)
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
Reflector
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
Reflector
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
Reflector
--
Dave Manuals@ArtekManuals.com www.ArtekManuals.com
--
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
www.avast.com
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
|