Topband: FT-8 Contest would be great for Topband

[Dave AA6YQ]

+ AA6YQ comments below

It would seem that the new digital modes have re-invigorated ham radio, at least activity wise. But if ham radio is so fragile that it cannot sustain in the face of interest in a new mode, maybe it deserves to die. I personally don't think it will, it is and has always been a big tent...73, Kevin K3OX

+ If CW, AM, SSB, transistors, integrated circuits, VHF repeaters, packet clusters, CW decoders, soundcard RTTY applications, soundcard PSK applications, panoramic reception, and software-defined radios haven't managed to kill amateur radio, I doubt that FT4 or FT8 will succeed.

+ It's been my experience that many ops consider the technology they were using up through age 35 to be "standard". Any technology that appears after they reach that age will be considered a  mortal threat to amateur radio.

        73,

                Dave, AA6YQ