Topband: 160

[Hans Hjelmström]

Agree 100 % with  Ed N1UR.
Its the same situation on 6 meters. Most expeditions go ONLY FT 8 nowadays.It gives more QSO:s ,it looks like.And more or less no options to find good openings on old modes.

I will never go FT 8 , because I feel, many many QSO on FT 8 , you do not hear anything 
in your own ears from the station you,,,,work..  I understand there is many many with
also big audio making qso between each others on FT 8,  BUT also even more making
,,,,qso ,,, without hearing anything. You need ,,,according to me,,, no efforts, no challenge,
and no human touch to each others.  Most times, there is a completely empty band
on both 6 and 160….BUT people do a lot of connections with their computers,
handling the traffic.   IF only arrl, did not allow connections below 0 db in any band dxcc,
and had a separate FT 8 ( unheard signals connection ) award ,that should solve a lot.
I asked them about this possibility about 2 years ago,and only got a very arrogant 
answer, on a fair question.

Last thing. What will happen, when authorities  find out, that Ham radio only need a
few few kc:s in future. Probably we will loose most of our bands of today.

In 20 years from now, also ,, CW is gone for ever. Any newcomers to our so loved 
hobby, do not need to make that effort to try and learn CW.They will play
a computer game instead.Probably they will not do that for 50 years as we did. 
They probably get bored within a few years.

Finally, of course,  everyone do what they prefer. This discussion is ONLY ment 
to put light on the  possible future for our hobby,and how is best for us Hams
and clubs ( like arrl )  how to handle it.How should we adjust our hobby for the best.?

Absolutely no bad feelings for these doing FT 8, BUT  I think it will kill our hobby.

Kind regards
Hans SM6CVX
> 3 aug 2019 kl. 12:51 skrev Ed Sawyer <sawyered at earthlink.net>:
> 
> Folks, for me, the real issue is the lack of people coming on CW on 160M for
> DXpeditions.  Lets be honest, many people don't like the struggle of Qs on
> 160 like we do.  And many are not great at CW.  By using FT8 on 160, they
> can "satisfy" topbanders while they operate on another band at the same time
> - routinely done all the time now by the way.  Is that automated?  Don't
> really care personally.  The problem is they just don't show up on CW.
> Increasingly, for the whole DXpedition.  So that has added an additional
> element to 160 DXing for me - prop, competition, and praying they get on CW.
> 
> 
> 
> I made the choice early on - not using FT8 and kidding myself that is
> somehow me working the station - plus honestly, its not fun.  Might be
> satisfying to see the counter go green, but if you compare it to sex, I
> think it will make sense.  If your robot does it, is it the same?  Enough
> said.
> 
> 
> 
> It really doesn't even matter about the award discussion.  If DXpeditions
> are not operating 160 on CW, who cares?
> 
> 
> 
> For me, its trashed 160M DXIng.  And I am sure I am not alone.
> 
> 
> 
> You will find me on the bands working whoever is left.  But the quest for
> 160M countries is over for me.  Sad but done.
> 
> 
> 
> Ed  N1UR
> 
> _________________
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