Topband: Summer Update & a Surprise

[k3ky at radioprism.com]

For ARRL non-members, who will not be able to access the
article "Rotten Damped Spark Stuff" behind the pay wall,
a Google search (www.startpage.com) on that phrase
produced exactly one relevant hit:

http://w2pa.net/HRH/spark-to-cw/

It's actually a pretty good summary of the beginnings of
the demise of spark. I learned a few new things there.
It does help put it all in perspective.

I continue to be *Massively* uninterested in digital
modes on HF radio in the form they are currently taking.
(Yawn) I can do essentially all that on the internet
all day long. But perhaps there is some truth to the
notion that digital is 'saving' ham radio. I really
don't know... Yes, ham radio will change. I'm OK with
that. No, really...

Young whippersnappers! When did I change into an old
fart anyway? Somehow I missed that...

I have returned to building gear with vacuum tubes,
catering to my lifelong CW addiction. I find satisfaction
working at the bench and sending or answering CQ's to
what at times may seem like an empty band- or
occasionally tuning down to the low end to see what DX
I might find. Life is good...

SM6CVX Hans may have it right. From my perspective, it does
indeed appear that the sky has already fallen with respect
to CW and 6 meters- and apparently top band is well on the
way. If ham HF operation contracts into just a few clusters
(of digital,) it would be understandable if the
'authorities', sensing weakness and seemingly vast tracts
of unused frequencies, moved to shrink the ham bands. It has
happened before (220MHz). Or perhaps they just take the ham
bands by stealth by approving noxious wide band digital
unattended messaging systems, commercial traffic in
disguise.

It seems unlikely that ARRL will ever de-conflict CW/SSB
etc. vs. computer assisted modes for DXCC awards, but that
is what it would take to fix this mess IMO.

Thank you, my old friend CW, for all the happy memories.
You will go on a while longer, still having many friends
and supporters- even some young ones...

73, David K3KY




> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: Topband: Summer Update & a Surprise
> From: donovanf at starpower.net
> Date: Thu, August 01, 2019 12:13 am
> To: topband at contesting.com
> 
> 
> Rotten Damped Spark Stuff 
> 
> 
> http://p1k.arrl.org/pubs_archive/2989 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> 
> From: "W0MU Mike Fatchett" <w0mu at w0mu.com> 
> To: topband at contesting.com 
> Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2019 10:30:27 PM 
> Subject: Re: Topband: Summer Update & a Surprise 
> 
> Same thing was said about SSB. 
> 
> The sky is not falling. 
> 
> K1JT might have saved Ham Radio. Seems to be quite popular. 60 plus 
> percent of all LOTW confirms are FT-X now....Speaks volumes. 
> 
> There is room for CW, SSB, FT-X on topband and all bands. 
> 
> Criticizing people playing radio seems unproductive. 
> 
> W0MU 
> 
> On 7/31/2019 3:16 PM, Hans Hjelmström wrote: 
> > UNFORTUNATELY K1JT and FT 8 killed amateur radio on 6 meters. 
> > It will kill it on 160 meters,and SOON it will kill all amateur radio activity on all bands. 
> > 
> > Soon authorities will reduce our bands,as we do not use these frequencies any more. 
> > 
> > SORRY its all gone from enjoy ,challenge and efforts to a computer fake game. 
> > 
> > CW will be unknown in 20 years,as most of elder Hams are SK ,and newcomers do not need it. 
> > 
> > SAD and unfortunately facts. 
> > 
> > Kind regards ( still refuse FT 8 ,and will never use it) 
> > 
> > SM6CVX Hans 
> >> 31 jul 2019 kl. 18:39 skrev daraymond at iowatelecom.net: 
> >> 
> >> Interesting observations Jeff. I will remain on 160 CW as I have in years past. I enjoy the visceral satisfaction that comes with pulling out the weak signals and having direct, unencumbered interaction with the station to which I'm communicating. . .or trying. . .hi. CW is still great fun. 
> >> 
> >> 73. . . Dave, W0FLS 
> >> 
> >> -----Original Message----- From: k1zm--- via Topband 
> >> Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2019 7:20 AM 
> >> To: topband at contesting.com 
> >> Subject: Topband: Summer Update & a Surprise 
> >> 
> >> Hi Gang 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> It is mid summer here and E season on 6M has been fun to play with while 160m is pretty S L O W as it usually is. 
> >> On these pages there has been alot of chatter regarding FT8 - (which basically took over 6M DX'ing starting in July 2917 - all DX is now on 50.313 FT8 - which is why I had to adopt this mode in order to continue DX'ing on 6m). It was either do that or give up operating on 6M during E season. 
> >> I do hope that CW continues to thrive on Topband - but this past season there was TONS of DX on FT8 and in my opinion LESS DX on CW than in prior years. It is quite possible to work in JA on 160m from here on FT8 with 100w out - which would have been quite rare indeed on CW as I recall (I do not think I ever worked JA with 100w from here - but who knows?) 
> >> Today as I write this - I am listening to 28.074Mhz on a totally DEAD 10m band. If I tune the entire CW portion and the whole SSB portion, there is NOTHING - repeat NOTHING there - no signals whatsoever to be found. 
> >> Yet on 28.074Mhz - I just worked a whole page of Europeans on FT8 - to my almost total INCREDULITY!! 
> >> I am not sure how I feel about all of this - but one thing is SURE - the DX world has changed - and there is no looking back. 
> >> I love CW on Topband and used to love CW on 6m - but that no longer xists -so I do hope the 6m migration to FT8 does not repeat itself on Topband! 
> >> To all a good summer and CU on CW again starting in September. 
> >> 73 JEFF VY2ZM 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> . 
> >> 
> >> _________________ 
> >> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector 
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> >> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector 
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> > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector 
> 
> _________________ 
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector 
> 
> _________________
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector