Topband: Top Band and JT65

[k8bhz at alphacomm.net]

Promised myself I'd stay out of this, but it's getting 
ridiculous....Comments like "I worked 20 new ones on 160, and I never 
heard any of them!". Wow! That's amazing...I personally can't find any 
satisfaction in claiming a contact I never heard. I never have...Yes, 
the digi modes allow easier qso's that would never have been made, but 
let's face it, you never made those contacts, your computer & it's 
software did. Any resulting "Awards" should be made out to your 
computer. Meteor scatter used to be very popular, actually getting to 
hear the excited voices of those you worked was thrilling. One m/s qso 
of mine was with a yl from the Carolinas with a most delightful Southern 
accent...hard to duplicate with digi modes. I don't know anyone who 
works or talks about rocks anymore....no challenge. Same with eme, which 
I pulled the plug on when it was no longer a challenge. How many new eme 
operators have heard their own voices coming back from the moon?  I 
migrated to TopBand as one of the last real challenges left....

I find the litany of excuses about why one has to go to digital means on 
160 to be feeble at best." My rig can't cut it, I don't have the 
antennas, I can't copy code (one of the real elephants in the room!), my 
location isn't on the coast where it's easy, etc, etc". There are MANY 
dxers operating successfully on small lots, and there are a myriad of 
clever, small receiving antennas out there. How about the gentleman on 
the left coast who worked DXCC on 160 from his mobile!! (without digital 
modes).

My TopBand rig is quite modest, no towers or rotors. The TX antennas are 
wires hanging from trees with no more than 50' vertical rise. The 16 
radials under each are only 48' long. Desperately needing a new rig, I 
bought the very cheapest HF transceiver on the market (no DSP, keyer, 
antenna tuner, etc). My location in Upper Michigan is not near either 
coast for "easy" dx, but is unfortunately close to the auroral oval. My 
amp was a non-working "gift" that doesn't run full power. However, I 
have 233 countries & 37 zones confirmed on 160. I have personally HEARD 
every qso made & have decoded them as necessary, in my HEAD. I don't 
spot myself or arrange skeds....I don't have a computer in the shack.

If ham radio was to go all digital, I would walk away from it....Not 
because I'm a curmudgeon, but simply because the challenge and resulting 
thrills would be gone.

Lest you think I am a ignorant technophobe, I am a degreed electrical 
engineer and have been a ham for over 60 years. I have a fine computer & 
am on it actively every day....but I never pretend that it's ham radio.

I realize from the comment below that it's rather boring to work digi 
modes, but I suspect that help is on the way....I am truly surprised 
that no one has produced an "app" that will take the remaining work out 
of it. You would simply download the app, check the appropriate boxes 
(DXCC, WAS, WAZ), select the desired bands, and turn it loose 24 hours a 
day. It would make all the contacts for you (with similar robo-stations) 
and send you a text or email when it's through. Heck, it could even 
apply for your desired awards, and then wake up your printer to print 
your award certificate out! It would then send another message to pick 
up your award....How truly exciting that would be.

Brian K8BHZ


2017 12:39 AM, DXer wrote:
> >>>To me, just not the challenge of dxing mostly cw and ssb.
>
> Fair enough. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
>
> Another angle. I find JT65 to be a very relaxing mode. Which other 
> mode allows one to read and write emails, go get a coffee, answer 
> 'nature's call', etc. while making contacts? Timing is important, but 
> doable. :^)
>
> 73 de Vince, VA3VF
> _________________
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>