Re: Topband: J28MD, conditions

[<sawyered@earthlink.net>]

Those that think that the other end of their 160 or 80 FT8 QSO is a
dedicated operator "working them" like the old days just using this new mode
are seriously kidding themselves.  It is well known and not even hidden any
more, that the "lesser rate" bands are a 2nd radio to the active operator
who takes a minute every 10 - 20 minutes and clicks on all the calls being
decoded and goes back to whatever other mode band he is actually operating
on.  This routinely occurs and is now part of the strategy for DXpeditions.
This is a big reason why there is almost no 160 or 6 CW coming out of them.

 

Is the 160 Q actually while the operator is sleeping.  Sure its possible.
At a minimum it could be he clicked on all the decoded signals just before
going to bed and the next 30 - 60 minutes on 160 were as he/she was
sleeping.  That's if its attempting to be fully legit to the ARRL DX rules,
which are simply their rules and no-one else.  

 

How pervasive is the "robot mode" while a 6 hour sleep break is taken.  Not
sure.  But to say its not possible just because the out of the box FT8
software doesn't allow it is the height of naivety.  Software is changed by
the user all the time.  And macros are used routinely.  Its been proven
already its very doable.  The only question is "how pervasive is it" and
will the Dxpeditioners come clean if they are?

 

I used to love 160 and 80 DX chasing.  I have completely given up on it.
Can't get excited about a DXpedition constantly and then be disappointed
that it never shows up on 160 and 80CW - which I find to be about 75% of the
time now on 80 and about 90% of the time on 160.  I don't do 6 but hear its
virtually 100% there.

 

Ed  N1UR

 

 

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