Topband: Subject: Re: Straws in the Wind ....A 160m Dx'ing Sea Change

[Pete Rimmel N8PR]

This is just the same type of comment that was made back when SSB took over for AM Phone operations. 

SSB was considered “Not Real Ham Radio”  and now is not even a pause in anyone’s mind about it being a “development” mode. 

FT8 is the same...  a development that allows us to hear deeper into the noise.  

I work EME using JT65 and most of the QSOs on 2 meter EME would not have been made if the stations were using CW. 

I don’t understand why there is resistance to change and progress.

You must remember that since CW is no longer required to get a license in the US, why denigrate those who want to work DX with a mode other than CW and SSB (oh, and RTTY,PSK31, Heilschreiber, Olivia...)? 

BTW, Is not part of ham radio figuring out how to put together effective stations and antennas?  Without that ability, the rare ones would not be worked, ,no matter what mode is used.  

Many hams still have not figured out that FT8 is a WEAK SIGNAL mode, not a LOW POWER mode.  1500 Watts and a good TX antenna is still frequently not good copy on the other side of the world on 160.  the testament to that is that if you watch the signal reports on FT8 anything lower than a – 12 SNR report would not be good copy on CW...  I see and have worked – on HF – stations with a –24 SNR...  Yes I know that it is said that lower than  -19 is not possible on HF with FT8, but That is not true, since I use a Waller Flag receive antenna on 160 through 30 Meters, which hears better than most receive antennas other than phased beverages, and unless you have 100 acres, you cannot have them in at least 8 directions.  My WF rotates to point at any incoming sighal, and will change polarization, as well. 

73, and Keep complaining... as long as you are on here typing, I’m on there working the DX without you in my way  --  LOL  !!

73,  PeteR  N8PR


Date: Sun, 01 Apr 2018 07:16:07 +0000
From: Peter Sundberg <sm2cew at telia.com>
To: "k1zm at aol.com" <k1zm at aol.com>,topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Straws in the Wind ....A 160m Dx'ing Sea Change
is Upon us!
Message-ID: <20180401071612.32FC3AC9BC8 at mx.contesting.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed


Apparently SV5DKL made 13.000 QSO's on the bands in a few months, 
totally without operator intervention. I bet many hams were happy to 
put SV5 as a new DXCC in their log, Isn't it wonderful that his 
computer was so helpful with that while the operator was busy with 
other things.

As for the legal aspects of unattended operation of a ham radio 
station - who will be able to tell if the operator is there or not as 
it is fully automatic anyway..

In the near future - if we embrace this way of operating -   for 
Wednesday activity nights on 160m we just let our computer do the 
work and check in the morning how many contacts that were made and 
how many that are already credited via LotW. Simple as that.

In contrast to this digital automation it was very interesting to 
read Jeff K1ZM's report from the Spratly expedition on how the 
experienced and highly skilled crew put in a BIG effort to make real 
radio contacts. Way to go!  And I am glad that they did not leave an 
FT8 robot station behind, neatly tucked away in a corner of the 
conference room.. :-)

I do not want to take part in this modern Internet driven computer 
game. If people would disconnect their FT8 computers from the report 
services on the net there would be a lot less amazing contacts in the 
noise as the "a priori" advantage is lost. Then it would be more 
apparent what the radio channel is actually providing for them.

I think that the statement from Ken K4ZW in his recent posting is 
very appropriate:

"For those who think guys like me are dinosaurs, I would kindly 
suggest you don't understand what motives us. 73 Ken K4ZW"

We can't change/stop this new lazy way of automatic band harvesting. 
Many will even make huge amounts of money on the new way of operating.

But we can still do it the old fashion way, as it pleases us to make 
radio contacts. Therefore I will continue to populate the 160m band 
with my CW signal until there are no more stations to work.


73
Peter SM2CEW