Topband: 160

Alan Swinger awswinger at earthlink.net
Sat Aug 3 08:29:31 EDT 2019 

Lloyd - I may have overstated but did so to make the point that the Mode is sufficiently different from others that it and companion modes should have a separate award category and not lumped in with  the current ones. - Alan K9MBQ


-----Original Message-----
>From: Lloyd - N9LB <lloydberg at charter.net>
>Sent: Aug 2, 2019 7:57 PM
>To: topband at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: Topband: 160
>
>Alan, respectfully, it doesn’t sound like you ever looked at Joe Taylor's WSJT program and you do not understand the facts of FT8.
>
>Operators can NOT "walk away and not participate in making QSOs" as the program is written.  Yes, a very small number of people have hacked W1JT's program to run continuously, but 99.99% of the FT8 users are human and actively involved in making the QSO.
>
>WSJT/FT8 is very similar to the popular MMTTY RTTY program - click on a decoded call displayed on the screen to enter that call into the program and click on a button to start calling.
>
>To use WSJT/FT8 you must:
>Select mode of operation
>Set up eight menu screens, 
>Type of decode,
>Select initial RX and TX frequencies ( simplex or split, and what split )
>Deal with QRM / interference / use your skill to QSY around the band segment as conditions
>And that does not include all the usual stuff: selecting the band, select the antenna, aim the antenna, set power, etc.
> 
>Here is link to "WSJT-X - FT8 and Beyond", the Keynote Speech of Joe Taylor, K1JT, 21 June 2019 at the Friedrichshafen Hamvention. 
>http://dokufunk.org/amateur_radio/contributions/?CID=9458#A28986
>
>Shall we also disqualify CW ops who use memory keyers and CW decoders?  Nope
>
>Shall we also disqualify phone ops who use voice recorders or synthesized voices or voice recognition programs?  Nope
>
>It is all just new technology - get used to change!   Change is inevitable. 
>
>73
>
>Lloyd - N9LB
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Alan Swinger
>Sent: Friday, August 02, 2019 4:22 PM
>To: rich_k7zv at gphilltop.com; Harald Rester <harryrester at gmx.de>
>Cc: topband at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: Topband: 160
>
>Below is Letter for QST on this subject that may (or not) be published FYI. Glad to hear AA1K back calling CQ on CW in the AM. I am there too looking for CW DX. - 73, Alan K9MBQ
>
> If Hams who use WSJT/FT modes enjoy using them, by all means do so.
>However, I strongly disagree with and object to the fact that QSOs made in these modes count for DXCC Digital awards in the same way as RTTY, PSK, etc do. 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, this is unlike Digital modes where operators must remain engaged to make QSOs. Therefore, seems to me that such Computer-generated contacts should have a separate category in the current award systems since the operators are not directly involved in making the QSOs . . . call it Computer-Aided Digital or something more clever. No argument that skill is required to set up a station to make FT-8 contacts, but a different set than what those of us who work DXCC, Challenge, etc use on CW, RTTY, and SSB, including those towers, expensive equipment, skills, and years of hard work to get the new ones when there was NO FT-8 or similar modes!
>So, I do not be begrudge the new low signal computer-aided modes, nor do I cast aspersions on the Ops who enjoy using them . . . even though I am unlikely to join their ranks, but the Ham community should not penalize those of us who used non-FT modes to get our hard earned awards by giving an unfair advantage to a new technology. We (Ham Radio) need the New Technology, but these modes are sufficiently different in many ways from the older modes that justifies a separate category in the award spectrum.  Therefore, I urge the ARRL and the CQ Magazine leadership to establish a Digital award category that is separate and different from the current DXCC et al Digital criteria.
>Alan Swinger K9MBQ
>Charlottesville, VA
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: rich_k7zv at gphilltop.com
>>Sent: Aug 2, 2019 4:22 PM
>>To: Harald Rester <harryrester at gmx.de>
>>Cc: topband at contesting.com
>>Subject: Re: Topband: 160
>>
>>As ham radio changes there will remain at least a niche for CW, SSB, 
>>and RTTY and it's competitions. FT8 will supplement the bands , not 
>>supplant it, IMO. Do you think FT8, FT4 and whatever digital modes come 
>>along are the future or will something else take its place? Who 
>>knows... time and technology moves on. Maybe it might attract some of 
>>the Millennials to fill in the void by us Baby Boomers who will all too soon be making.
>>Let's set a good example for them to follow.
>>
>>Rich K7ZV
>>
>>
>>On 2019-08-02 12:42 pm, Harald Rester wrote:
>>> Think about the time *we all *could have been on the air, while 
>>> staring at our screens, typing and reading. I make QSY to the shack - Hpe CU!
>>> 
>>> Harry, DH1NBE
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Am 02.08.2019 um 21:26 schrieb uy0zg:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I do not propose stopping the FT8.
>>>> 
>>>> just compete with each other.
>>>> 
>>>> But keep in mind - Arnold will be the first  -)):
>>>> 
>>>> https://www.alamy.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-terminator-2-judgment-da
>>>> y-1991-image66516208.html
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> ---
>>>> Nick, UY0ZG
>>>> http://www.topband.in.ua
>>>> 
>>>> W0MU Mike Fatchett писал 2019-08-02 21:52:
>>>>> Ah so all FT8 users are cheaters.  Does that mean that all Russian 
>>>>> hams use way more power than they should and their scores should 
>>>>> not count either?
>>>>> 
>>>>> The real issue here is change.  Ham radio has been in constant 
>>>>> motion and change since it started and I hope in continues that way 
>>>>> well after we are dead.
>>>>> 
>>>>> So we better stop FT8 and protect VE1ZZ?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sorry no.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Good day.
>>>>> 
>>>>> On 8/2/2019 12:45 PM, uy0zg wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hello, Mike
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> This is how the world works so that humanity always has moral 
>>>>>> values.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> They must be protected.
>>>>>> Example:
>>>>>> in a few years, 334 VE1ZZ countries will lose their value. His 
>>>>>> achievements will be eaten by computer programs and robots ....
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> It is right ?
>>>>>> Will there be many talents at 160 meters like Jack?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Will not be !
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On the contrary - more and more stupidity and envy....
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> ---
>>>>>> Nick, UY0ZG
>>>>>> http://www.topband.in.ua
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> W0MU Mike Fatchett писал 2019-08-02 18:24:
>>>>>>> Cheating is cheating.  How many people used remote stations, 
>>>>>>> exceeded their power limits, etc.   Singling out a mode because 
>>>>>>> you are upset that it has taken away activity in your  preferred 
>>>>>>> mode is not helpful to the hobby.    Not everyone that use FT8 
>>>>>>> cheats.  Not everyone that uses a amp that exceeds their legal 
>>>>>>> limit uses it in that fashion.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> How can you guarantee that everyone on the "Honor Role" was 100 
>>>>>>> percent honorable or even anyone that got DXCC did it right? You 
>>>>>>> can't so please stop singling out a mode you don't care for.  We 
>>>>>>> get it.  Move on.  It is here.  Just like the Reverse beacon, 
>>>>>>> packet cluster, etc.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> We are all hams enjoying many aspects of the hobby.  Can't we get 
>>>>>>> along?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> W0MU
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