Topband: Straws in the Wind ....A 160m Dx'ing Sea Change is Upon us!

[daraymond at iowatelecom.net]

IMHO, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the demise of CW (alas). 
Between FT8 and RHR, topband standings as we have known them are virtually 
meaningless.  The guy with a  backyard vertical, reasonable radial system, 
and 100w can easily accomplish on topband (and get equal DXCC credit) what 
has historically taken a significant effort. . .QRO, large antennas/arrays, 
and receive antennas.  As for the DXpeditions, they will quickly migrate to 
this mode with the improving QSO throughput as it requires comparatively 
little skill on the part of the operators.   For me personally, it is 
disappointing to watch it all unfold.  But unfold, it will.           73. . 
.Dave, W0FLS

-----Original Message----- 
From: k1zm--- via Topband
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2018 6:50 AM
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Topband: Straws in the Wind ....A 160m Dx'ing Sea Change is Upon 
us!

Hello Gang
I am probably not the only one who has been paying attention lately, but I 
may be the first to comment directly on what has been taking place right 
before our eyes the past two nights on 1.836kHz - and its possible 
implications going forward for future Dx'ing on 160m. Pls read on.

I am sure most readers of these pages are well aware of the current 
dx'pedition to Malawi operating as 7Q7EI.  Norbert DJ7JC has been a real 
trooper working the lowbands and has had quite a bit of success doing so - 
so well deserved kudos & thanks to Norbert.  Norbert has managed to make 
quite a few NA stations happy with a NEW ONE on Topband and we all very much 
appreciate his efforts - well done Norbert - thank you!

So what I am about to comment on next IN NO WAY is an negative opinion on 
Norbert - it is just an observation as to what is now occurring and its 
possible implications for all of us who like to work DX on 160M!.

On or about 27 March, Norbert tried 160M CW operating on 1830kHz - in his 
grayline period - and was heard by a number of stations including NO3M and 
me here at VY2ZM.  Others were in there too perhaps - Kaz K8KS may have been 
another and a few more as well.  I also heard some EU stations in there 
calling among the NA stations.

About 0228z, Norbert asnwered me as UY2ZM - went QRZ a few times but QRNN on 
his side prevented a legitimate qso.  I heard him fine but I know he did not 
copy my callsign correctly - and later he even said so over ON4KST noting "I 
heard a few callers, mainly from EU but logged no NA or EU qso's on 
Topband - so I went back to 80M CW as the sun came up."

The next night Norbert came on ON4KST  chat and announced that he was going 
to try 1836 using the new FT8 Dx'pedition mode now in beta trials following 
its release by K1JT.  I am told that the dx'pedition version of FT8 will 
also be used experimentally by the upcoming KH1 Dx'pedition.

Dx'pedition Mode - offers some unique promise when and if it ever is fully 
conceived including:

1) A shortened qso sequence using only 2 of the traditional FT8 required QSO 
elements
2) The promise of simultaneous qso's between Multiple HOUNDS and the FOX (in 
this example the FOX was 7Q7EI)
3) The potential, as a result, of up to 300-400 qso's per hour may be 
possible one day - which would improve the overall qso totals of any 
dx'pedition - IF this ever becomes REALITY.

So on night two Norbert came up on FT8 dx'pedition mode - first on 80m and I 
managed to work him fairly quickly here at VY2ZM.

Others worked him as well - as we all struggled to learn exactly how to 
operate this new flavor of FT8.  It is a bit tricky and I invite anyone 
reading this who may be interested to take a look - because Dx'pedition mode 
uses special settings within WSJT-x - and one must configure things exactly 
right - or it just does not function as one might expect traditional FT8 to 
function in order to complete qso's.

Nearer to his SR, Norbert went to 1836 and I think he may have worked a 
couple of NA stations - I tried but without success because I did not pay 
close enough attention to ON4KST - and I came to 160m too late in the game 
to have a good shot as he went into daylight on his side.

So what is going on here exactly?  And why did I choose to make this post to 
Topband?

The answer is fairly simple and stems from what I observed this past summer 
on 6M during the Sporadic E season.  I happen to like to work 6M E during 
the summer and was all set around the end of June for what I hoped would be 
a great E season on 6M CW into Europe.  I worked a couple of stations on CW 
in late June but during the first or second week of July, K1JT released the 
production version of FT8 and almost immediately everyone realized its 
potential (particularly those in the Mid and Far Western USA) - where it was 
immediately called a "GAME CHANGER" by K7JA and others on the Left Coast.


Well - it SURELY WAS A GAME CHANGER - because I did not hear a single CW DX 
station out of Europe on 6M for the rest of the summer E season after that - 
everyone had qsy'ed to 50.313 to work FT8 - because it WORKED so well on 
6M - even on E skip paths.  And since I did not have FT8 capability - I was 
TOTALLY SHUT OUT and had NO 6M E season of Dx'ing - BUMMER!


So how does this apply to Topband?  Pls read on.....


Last night was NIGHT 3 into NA on the lowbands from 7Q7EI - and Norbert was 
back - first on 160m on 1836 from about 0130z - until around 0320z - again 
on FT8 - in dx'pedition mode.  By now, most of us had downloaded the 
dx'pedition mode version of WSJT-x and had sort of figured out how to do the 
parameter settings correctly - so quite a few QSO's ensued.


I happened to be one of the lucky ones on 160M - there were quite a few 
others.


Watching my screen though (along with KAZ K8KS) it was clear that K1JT still 
has some clean up work to do to refine the dx'pedition mode software - 
because the promise of 300 qso's per hour is not yet possible - but I think 
the throughput rate will one day improve materially.  (:Last night the 
throughput was SO SLOW that some suggested to Norbert that he stop using 
dx'pedition mode in favor of the more reliable current release of FT8 that 
is on the air today.)


Norbert also elected to stay on FT8 - despite many requests from those 
constrained by CW only capability to move over to CW mode - so those without 
FT8 basically sat on the sidelines last night watching all of this 
transpire.  My thoughts at the time were - "Here we go again!  This is 6M E 
season "DEJA VUE all over again - the 6M E migration to Ft8 was now 
happening all over again - but this time on 160M - and it suggests a real 
possibility of it becoming the choice of major dxpeditions going forward - 
meaning - FT8 is likely to be used on 160m far more regularly going forward 
and  CW mode utilized much less perhaps (maybe!).  My crystal ball is no 
better than yours - but if FT8 dx'pedition mode gets perfected by K1JT and 
becomes more EFFICIENT one day than CW mode - you can be SURE that it will 
become very popular and it will get used far more (at the expense of CW) by 
the rarer Dx'peditions when they choose to QSY to Topband!


You can take that to the BANK!

At one point, Norbert who was on CHAT all night long - lamented some of the 
comments he was seeing by others on CHAT.  Basically, while he was more than 
courteous, it was clear that he felt like "HEY!  I am the FOX here.....I get 
to choose to operate whatever mode I think will work - and those sitting in 
their comfortable chairs back at home (and not sitting in the heat here on 
the shores of Lake Malawi - really do not get to decide this.!!  Again, I am 
the FOX here.......)  Basically, Norbert was right on here - IMHO....

Some more observations:

1) Experimental FT8 qso's are not completing reliably as they should - at 
least not yet all the time - for example:  K8KZ was clearly seeing 7Q7EI 
calling him on his screen for at least 20 mins before the software linked up 
at  each end to sent the RR73 message - the signal that the QSO was 
complete.

And Norbert was clearly "seeing" K8KS for the same 20 mins - before they 
linked up to finalize and log the QSO.  I had similar problems on 160M when 
working Norbert - so it is clear that K1JT has some more work to do,. But, 
we do have to realize that this is still only a BETA/experimental release - 
and YES - it does have some glitches and bugs yet to be ironed out.

But it does work (after a fashion) and I am sure it will get better - and 
WHEN IT DOES become a fully functional PRODUCTION RELEASE, I do think we 
will witness some MAJOR operating changes going forward when working future 
DX'peditions and even when casual dx'ing on 160M - which is happening every 
night on 1840 today.  I am seeing Wal W8LRL most every night - and am 
dabbling in it myself as is my XYL Miriam VY2HH - so old dawgs (like me) are 
being forced (sometimes kicking and screaming) to learn new tricks.

One final comment:

This all took place on 1836 and I think on 3569 down on 80m these past few 
nights.  Traditional FT8 (according to the ARRL 160m bandplan) takes place 
on 1840.  So I am hopeful that the migration to the new mode continues to 
take place in an orderly fashion because FT8 and CW really will not mix 
well - should FT8 start showing up below 1830 that will cause problems  - 
(just my opinion) - but reality I think.

So - I think that is the lot for now.  Not much more to report - but for 
sure - "A change is coming to Dx'ing on 160M - there is NO DOUBT about it - 
I do not think this is a passing FAD.  "DIGI-WIGI" or its other name "JINGLE 
BELLS" looks like it is here to stay!!!

73 JEFF  K1ZM/VY2ZM






Jeff Briggs
DXing on the Edge: The Thrill of 160 Meters
Available worldwide through BookBaby, Array Solutions, DX Engineering, Royal 
Society of Great Britain, & Amazon















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