Topband: 160

[Jeff Blaine]

This makes complete sense to me.  You are right - FTx is a different 
beastie and compared with RTTY, the latter takes a ton more HUMAN work 
to bag the week ones.

73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com


On 8/2/19 7:06 PM, GEORGE WALLNER wrote:
> Nobody is talking about "shutting" anything down.
> Quite the opposite: expand the DXCC program by creating a new 
> category! FT-x is sufficiently different to justify that. The skills 
> need for FT-x are different from those required for the traditional 
> modes. A new award category would reflect that.
> I would go further, but I don't think too far:
> FT-x could be crucial to HAM radio's future. On a recent mini 
> DXpedition I asked a young and recently licensed HAM to operate FT-8. 
> He said, sure, give me a minute. He brought his laptop (not the one 
> that was part of the FT-8 station) and proceeded to operate FT-8, 
> while using his laptop to watch a movie and was looking at Facebook, 
> and he was in chats with friends (and HAM-s) on his phone. I was 
> somewhat peeved, until I came to realize that this is how the new 
> generation lives: multi-threading using their electronic devices. 
> Unlike us, most of them are not willing to put on the head-phones and 
> concentrate on weak CW signals for hours, to the exclusion of 
> everything else. They don't live like that and they will not enjoy a 
> hobby like that. It is not my place to judge whether this is good or 
> bad. It is what it is. But to attract this new "multi-activity 
> generation" to HAM radio (an entire generation, not just the odd kid), 
> the hobby must offer a mode that is compatible with how they live. 
> FT-8 is perfect for that: it can be operated remotely from a 
> smart-phone via an app, while riding a bus or train and doing other 
> things... And, yes, it can be automated.
> There will be nothing wrong with a young HAM working 100 countries in 
> a month while not even at his station. Good for him! Just don't mix 
> his achievement with mine. (Is RTTY really a digital mode? It seems to 
> be very analog these days.)
> 73,
> George,
> AA7JV
>
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, 2 Aug 2019 17:05:23 -0500
>  Cecil <chacuff at cableone.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>> On Aug 2, 2019, at 4:45 PM, Cecil <chacuff at cableone.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> This is nonsense....
>>
>>> That is only possible if someone has modified the software and is 
>>> cheating the system...which I might add could be done with computers 
>>> and creative software writing to any of the digital modes including 
>>> CW....
>>
>> That is cheating and not grounds for disallowance from total DXCC 
>> participation for all users.
>>
>> Certainly I can do that for one QSO if I need to run to the bathroom 
>> or grab a quick cup of coffee etc....but if you believe for a second 
>> that the FT8 software is designed to crank it up, walk away for a 
>> couple hours and come back later to tally up your take as you 
>> describe you are showing your lack of knowledge of WSJT’s design.
>>
>> Am I suggesting that some are not doing that...no...not for a 
>> minute.  Would I suggest that all DXers are running no more than the 
>> legal limit when chasing a new one or no more than 200 watts on 30 
>> meters, or not using a remote station element to gain an unfair 
>> advantage to add a new one...nope.
>> But it is happening...
>>
>> Should we shut down the entire awards system because the possibility 
>> exists that someone will cheat...I think not.
>>
>> I for one think you should rethink your article before submission 
>> Alan...
>>
>> Respectfully
>>
>> Cecil
>> K5DL
>>>>> On Aug 2, 2019, at 4:22 PM, Alan Swinger <awswinger at earthlink.net> 
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> . Since FT8 operators can walk away and not participate in QSOs, 
>>>> and come back after some other activity and see how many new 
>>>> countries and QSOs that the computer made, 
>>
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