Is this thread’s subject material really just whining?
Well, FT8 does some really good things that typical CW operation doesn’t
usually want to bother with.
1) use of a calling frequency (“SSB” “carrier” frequency)
2) constant monitoring
3) highly efficient use of VERY close frequencies. Never needs retuning.
4) computer driven to allow attention to band over broad time spans.
5) technical attention to issues effectively resulting in improved
sensitivity
6) dB above noise replaces ancient RST signal reports.
One aspect of currently practiced CW is doing something we have enjoyed all
our lives. I’m not knocking that, particularly CW contests. But FT8 exposed
everything difficult about casual low band dxing. With some really good
conditions to North Carolina, I have had just a handful of great
transatlantic old style extended 160 CW QSO’s to G DL SP OK
But I know those lovely episodes can’t be regular, I don’t morose not being
able to do those every Wednesday. Instead I get in the CWT one hour mini
test whose 0300 session usually finishes out with some of the mob gone down
on 160 and enjoy an occasional EU contact in the last ten minutes.
In those sessions, even through summer months, have had QSOs with USA west
coast AND European RBN.
But casual DXing on weeknights, with time differences that require shifting
waking hours around? Some folks have the circumstances for that. God bless
em.
Stew Perry, ARRL and CQ 160’s are on weekends and scheduled years in
advance. Those are reserved in advance and the discombobulated waking hours
don’t affect routine life. I can get away with that and don’t mind
struggling through the Monday following.
Every now and then I’d like to go back to 1959, my NC2-40D & 807
transmitter working the NTS 80m traffic nets. But that’s all gone. NTS
refused to modernize and adapt to modern life and circumstances. What
continued was the familiar enjoyable pattern from the 50’s. I totally
understand that. But I don’t pretend that is extensible to our current
circumstances.
How WOULD you do CW pulling stuff from FT8 advantages, and with patterns
that could actually be done manually as well as autonomous computer?
73, Guy K2AV
On Fri, Oct 9, 2020 at 9:27 AM GEORGE WALLNER <aa7jv@atlanticbb.net> wrote:
> Hans,
> FT8 did not kill Ham radio; it has changed it. Computer are doing that to
> many aspects of our lives, some them we like, and some we don't.
> There are things that you can't do with FT8: you can't win a CW or SSB
> contest (even RTTY), nor can you get a CW DXCC, etc.
> You can still show your skills.
>
> 73 and CU on CW,
> George,
> AA7JV/C6AGU
>
>
>
> On Fri, 9 Oct 2020 10:27:11 +0200
> Hans Hjelmström <sm6cvx@hjelmstrom.se> wrote:
> > SORRY Roger
> >FT 8 has killed Ham radio ,when you need your own skill and not trust
> > a computer to make your connection. I will NEVER use that
> mode.Unfortunately MNI MNI Sweden Hams have almost gone QRT for
> good,because of this FT-8 and lack of activity on ,,,,hearing modes.
> >
> > Kind regards
> >
> > Hans SM6CVX
> >
> >> 9 okt 2020 kl. 10:20 skrev Roger Kennedy <roger@wessexproductions.co.uk
> >:
> >>
> >>
> >> It's such a shame that 160m Conditions for DX have been pretty good
> over the
> >> past week or two . . .
> >>
> >> Yet there are so few CW stations coming on the band !
> >>
> >> I hear lots of us Europeans putting out endless CQ DX calls . . . but
> often
> >> getting no replies, despite good RBN Reports confirming the band is
> open.
> >>
> >> Roger G3YRO
> >>
> >>
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