PLEASE lets NOT start the FT8 /digital modes arguments again on this reflector,
good, bad or indifferent. take the arguments and discussion elsewhere, please
Robin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Hans Hjelmström" <sm6cvx@hjelmstrom.se>
To: "Bob Kile" <midnight18@cox.net>
Cc: <topband@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2022 10:38
Subject: Re: Topband: The State of 160m
Hi Bob
Interesting info. You do not hate FT 8 ,,, I do.
I consider FT 8 killing all challenge,personal efforts and operating skills.
Sorry its the start of the end of our hobby,made by FT 8
Kind regards
Hans SM6CVX
1 jul 2022 kl. 18:57 skrev Bob Kile <midnight18@cox.net>:
My comments on the state of 160m. First let me say I am old enough to have
experienced, Loran C with power limitations, LA police KMA367 on 1730, fish
boats, buoy markers, Spy Trawlers sending code groups, Long delayed echoes,
OHR, local DX chats on 1845-50 SSB, QSO’s with W1BB, K6SE, VS6DO, ZL2BT ,
JA7AO and many others that are were legends in their day and now are in
higher places.
I also had the opportunity to make thousands of contacts on 160m during solar
cycle 23 minimum 2005-2009 which for me was the ultimate hay day of 160m.
Experiencing new countries and new stations every evening on Cw with 100W was
truly an amazing event.
Whilst attending some Dayton contest forums this year some information was
brought to light. A prominent DX-pedition group member commented that FT8
comprised 37% of the QSOs. For somebody like myself looking for a more
traditional achievement award of merit like WAZ on 160m CW it has become
virtually impossible in a life time.
Most recently I have witnessed the devastating effects of the high costs of
DX-peditons and limited operating times to juggle various modes. A very
skilled and talented group went to 8Q7 in Maldives. Late in their operations
they did go to CW mode on 160. They called CQ for about 5-10 minutes at my
sunrise. I’m sure they were looking at RBN responses of which there are few
in Asia worth a damn and went quiet only to show up on FT8 after my sunrise
morning peak. It didn’t matter I had Q5 copy and had to switch antennas, turn
amplifier on and try to make it through the Asian chatter. This I might point
out happened not once but twice. Did I mention from out west this is a 10
minute window 11,000 miles away. Only one western station VE6WZ worked them
as a result of a spot I posted.
I don’t hate FT8 but It’s not my focus. It is very useful due to the shear
numbers of operators and PSK Reporter for determining propagation. Alone it
has had a profound impact on the HF bands some of which has been good and
many cases not so. A good CW operator can easily copy -18 dB SN station.
Perhaps C6AGU’s "Rig In a Box" will help by cutting DX-pedition costs and
allow operators to be in comfort spending more time on air operating rather
than fiddling around with all needed accessories and beat many of the
environmental regulations.
Bob W7RH
--
W7RH DM35OJ
If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say
the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. George Carlin
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