Topband: A Bit of Zone 2 History -- FT8

[GEORGE WALLNER]

Gentlemen,
I think we need to be a bit more thoughtful about the role of FT8.
"Real Amateur Radio" probably started to disappear 40 years ago: digital 
transceivers, SSB, Yagis on rotators, etc. Although the magic was 
diminishing, the "barrier to entry" to good DX was getting lower and more 
people were able to join and enjoy the hobby. Ultimately, not a bad thing.
160 meters endured longer as "real Amateur Radio" because it remained 
difficult and unpredictable. And 160 was mostly CW, which is an 
ultra-difficult personal skills based communications mode! 160 remained 
"magical". Well, like it or not, technology has caught up with 160 meters in 
the shape of FT8. The new mode has taken some of the magic out, but it 
brought in new blood. Look at a band-scope on any weeknight: there are lots 
of signals around 1840 and not much between 1820 and 1835. Many of hose 
signals around 1840 are new 160 m ops enjoying Amateur Radio. Granted, not 
the same sweat-and-tears radio that we are used to, but still Amateur Radio.

73 and CU on TB CW,
George,
AA7JV/C6AGU


On Sat, 9 Nov 2019 12:50:23 -0500
  "John Harden, D.M.D." <jhdmd at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> I fully concur!!
>
> 73,
>
> John, W4NU
> K4JAG, 1959 to 1998
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>> On Nov 9, 2019, at 12:42 PM, Doug Renwick <ve5ra at sasktel.net> wrote:
>>
>> To all those who worship FT8 - Enjoy the decline.
>> Quote: " I agree Doug - as I said - FT8 is not real ham radio - but that is
>> where we are today."
>>
>> Doug 
>>
>> "The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits."
>> Albert Einstein 
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>
>> I congratulate you on your effort. However there are many of us who do not
>> consider FT8 as a 'legitimate' QSO.
>> Doug
>>
>>
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