I am with you 110% Kostas on the ft8 bullcrap. I have spent years and
thousands of hours since 1959 achieving my goals and consider that time
some of the best time spent in my life. I have 355 DXCC... all
worked/confirmed and 8 band dxcc.... working on 12 and 6 meter DXCC
which I would have by now if it wasn't for the non-human junk. If one
thinks that his digi equates to my human-2-human accomplishments, then
so good for him but not even close in my book. I no longer compete in
any contest where digi goes head to head with regular human modes. If
one needs Alabama, Marengo County or EM62, you will need to do CW/SSB/
or RTTY. FT8 should not be in any real mode contests.... have digital
tests if that works for you but it will never count much for me....
yeah... just call me a grumpy old man! 73's Cort K4WI
Kostas SV1DPI <mailto:sv1dpi2@gmail.com>
Saturday, June 19, 2021 2:46 PM
Maybe you have right. But I don't feel the same.
** The small pistol station revolution
Having 1 kw and a 2el quad @10m high, I don't feel a big gun. I had
the chance to be competitive in dxing because I devoted many hours
studying propagation and even more time on the radio. Now there is no
chance for me to make something that others do not. They let their
computer and play 24 hours per day with better antennas and more
power.... So yes small pistols have the chance to work something they
had not but not to be competitive...
** The station optimization revolution
I have at least one friend who has a long wire and have worked 290
countries the last 3 years, of course in ft8, including pacific, etc.
So why to make his station better? I remember that I put my quad
higher when I lost a dxpedition, I bought an amplifier the next time,
etc... Now there is no chance to loose a dxpedition especially because
almost every dxpedition (let me know it - don't forget that the first
ft8 robot was Greek and I know some of the guys bought it) uses more
than one robots running ft8 all day. And they have not the courage to
say it...
** The now-casting propagation revolution
In SZ1A we have a skimmer (maybe you know it even it is out of order
the last 3 weeks - we have ordered the damaged parts). We use the
results of the skimmer to make our plans in contests. The first time
we were keeping ft8 qsos as the CW qsos also. This had as a result to
drive us to mistakes in real contesting. While the band seemed to be
open the previous days during specific time, it wasn't finally during
the contest. So we stopped using the FT8 spots and now we keep only
the CW qsos to make our plans.
** The marginal bands revolution
Yes, ft8 helps a weaker station to have a QSO (I don't think "to be
heard" is the right expression). I am not a 6m fun but I managed to
work 125 entities the last 15 years. Also optimization of antennas,
radios, amplifiers, etc, all these years. Someone using ft8, has
worked these entities the last 2 years in the lower point of solar
cycle using the half length of my boom. But what he will do the next
years... What he will work in high part of solar cycle? And why he
needs to wait for it? Probably he will play cards because I don't
think he will stay in ham radio... If you don't need to improve the
station, the antennas, to study and learn propagation, to learn more,
to increase your knowledge, etc... what will be the interesting part
to keep you in ham radio? I already know someone who stopped to play
radio, never installed his new hexbeam, because he worked WAS on 40m
in a week with a long wire (WAS is far more difficult from DXCC from
Greece), letting his computer to play ever night. Plus another one who
had dxcc with all entities in ft8 but he didn't know the QSO procedure!
In conclusion, I don't care what the others do. I mentioned about
others just to show the results. I have not fun with ft8 and this is
why I don't use it. If you are pleasant with it, do it. I don't care.
I lost my interest for DXing.
I can not understand how someone has fun with ft8 in contesting.
Because the rhythm? Because the nice sound? Because of the pileup? Or
because he has the time to go to the toilet while his computer makes
some QSOs...
By the way I am a digital guy! I gave many new ones to west coast guys
on RTTY from Iran (EP6T) and I have 329 entities on RTTY. I have tried
ft8 and I didn't like it. I abandoned dxcc program while I was HR1, HR
on SSB and CW and had over 2850 entities in challenge because of Ft8
acceptance by ARRL. I am crying over the money I gave to ARRL. After
25 years in ham radio I continue to play chasing fun in CW/SSB/RTTY
contesting (mainly casual but more serious also sometimes) and I don't
think ft8 could be part of my contesting habits.
73 Kostas SV1DPI
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