[RTTY] RTTY Growth

[Mike]

Hello,

Back in 1976, Ed, W3EKT, and I put together a paper for the 1976 ARRL DX 
Technical Symposium titled "Some Comments on RTTY DXing".   In it we 
estimated that less than 1 percent of the amateur population had RTTY 
capability.  We figured the US had 1000 amateurs with RTTY capability and 
Canada 300,  Only 200 of this number operated on 20 meters (2 meter RTTY 
was popular then) and 50 to 75 pursued DX.  The paper included an estimate 
of the world RTTY population along with information on the equipment needed 
to be competitive in chasing RTTY DX, finding the RTTY DX (wasn't much 
available) and RTTY contesting.  Interesting to see how RTTY DXing and 
contesting has grown since then.

The ubiquitous personal computer gets my vote for spurring the growth of RTTY.

By the way, in 1975, Ed, W3EKT, won the world RTTY championship which was 
based on the your scoring in six contests.  (Guess who was second?)

         73,
         Mike, K4GMH