[CQ-Contest] Seeing is believing

[Jim Cain]

I saw this on the Top Band reflector from Tree, N6TR:

>"I did get a few dits out of SM5EDX and could see several signals from Europe with Spectran (a FFT program that produces a "waterfall" display).  Using that
program, I can see signals that you can't hear.  I was able to clearly see SM5EDX and CT1EEB."

I did a search on Acronym Finder for FFT (17 possibilities) and decided that Tree is using a Food for Thought program. 

I wonder what FFT does to voice signals, and if it translates languages. I Googled "Spectran," and learned a few things about moonbounce, etc. 

This changes everything. The next thing you know, contesters will be keeping their logs on a computer and using keys that make dits and dahs automatically. 

But "seeing signals" will never happen to contesting, because it's too slow and too complex. And humans will never fly, either. 


Jim Cain, K1TN/9