Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

[kolson at rcn.com]

It should be mentioned that when rarer DX shows up they often use FT8 Fox/Hound on non standard FT8 frequencies so the cluster can be helpful to find these operations. 

And really, the equivalent of the CW/SSB op who doesn't constantly tune the bands is the FT8 op who doesn't constantly stare at the screen. The cluster can serve both.

73, Kevin K3OX 

----- Original Message -----
From: Roger Kennedy <roger at wessexproductions.co.uk>
To: topband at contesting.com
Sent: Tue, 12 May 2020 19:58:03 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster


Why oh why do some people post on the DX Cluster every FT8 station they have
heard?

One GM station this evening posted 21 stations . . . none of them were even
DX !

I don't even see why you would post ANY on the DX Cluster . . . I thought
the whole point of FT8 is that you leave your computer listening on the same
frequency, so surely any stations will just come up on the screen?

Whereas posting the frequency of a CW or SSB DX station on the Cluster is
really useful to help people find those stations, and attempt a QSO.

Also . . . as others have said, DX propagation is still pretty good on 160m
most nights . . . but despite lots of CQ calls by myself and other EU
stations, we're often getting no replies! (despite RBN reports being good)

73 Roger G3YRO

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