Topband: Top Band and JT65

[Glenn Wyant]

If an amateur has interest in  psk, jt65 etc or EME, cw or any band
or mode; it is not for us to judge his particular interests.

VA3DX


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <k8bhz at alphacomm.net>
To: <Topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2017 11:47 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: Top Band and JT65


> 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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>>
> 
> 
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