Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing?

[Andreas Junge]

> With some of the new popular digi protocols most of what is written on the screen, some call it "received", has never been received as a complete message. It is reproduced from other sources than the radio path.


>  "without entering already known information (calls) to the software I wouldn't have been even close to where I am now.."



Both are true when you use a DXCLUSTER. Any spotting network will give you the whole call already. No need to decode it yourself, received over the internet, a non radio path. Even better, it’s spotted by a RBN Bot without human intervention. 

I don’t think we need to go down that rabbit whole. 

I am with Bob, AA6VB - we are not forced to use the new modes. On the other hand, these new modes enable a whole new layer of operators. A new target rich environment for more opportunities to work new DX. The RF still has to go from A to B to be decoded. 

73, Andreas, N6NU


> On Oct 25, 2017, at 10:50 AM, Peter Sundberg <sm2cew at telia.com> wrote:
> 
> Jay, please don't compare the new digi protocols with RTTY, a character based protocol.
> 
> What you see on the screen or paper in RTTY has actually been sent, and is received as it was sent. Or it is garbled because the link is not good enough.
> 
> With some of the new popular digi protocols most of what is written on the screen, some call it "received", has never been received as a complete message. It is reproduced from other sources than the radio path.
> 
> As a well known 6m op said after summing up his Zero to DXCC journey this last summer - "without entering already known information (calls) to the software I wouldn't have been even close to where I am now.."
> 
> BIG difference - no wonder the users of new digi protocols apply for a DXCC award after a week. Try that with RTTY.
> 
> 73
> Peter SM2CEW
> 
> 
> At 13:38 2017-10-25, JAYB1943 at OPTONLINE.NET wrote:
>> I guess I don’t understand what makes the new Digital modes any different from old RTTY...the “sounds” are similar enuf to learn to love and the words are still displayed on (in the old days) paper or a screen. There are many audibly-compromised hams out there ­ such as me â– who really welcome a mode that doesn’t require sharp hearing to work CW or especially SSB. In addition, I have recruited several new (young) hams by attracting them with the computer-based modes...all but eliminates “mike-fright” and “key-freezing”. I guess a lot of old-timers (I am 75) feel that the awards like DXCC and WAS, etc. earned with FT8 have less merit than they did with good-old CW or Phone or RTTY.  But few people objected when CW filters were invented or SSB replaced AM or smaller, lighter, more efficient radios replaced the old tube stuff...so is a CW DXCC earned in 1948 somehow worth more than one earned in 2000 using these major tech improvements ? There will always be a place for CW and voice modes in ham radio for those that want to practice those..and remember one of the major facets of ham radio is to “advance the state of the radio art” which surely describes the new digital modes. Room for everybody out there, guys....73 Jay NY2NY _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
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