Topband: Good Conditions, Little Activity

[Jim Brown]

On 10/9/2020 7:54 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:
> Well, FT8 does some really good things that typical CW operation doesn’t
> usually want to bother with.
> 
> 1) use of a calling frequency (“SSB” “carrier” frequency)
> 2) constant monitoring
> 3) highly efficient use of VERY close frequencies.  Never needs retuning.
> 4) computer driven to allow attention to band over broad time spans.
> 5) technical attention to issues effectively resulting in improved
> sensitivity
> 6) dB above noise replaces ancient RST signal reports.

Yes, all good characteristics. Another is a spot-reporting system 
(PSKReporter) that plots reception and QSO reports on a world map that 
can be zoomed. Each user can ask it to show reports, band by band, by 
mode, and for time periods that increment exponentially from 15 minutes 
to 24 hours. Most WSJT software can be configured to automatically make 
those reports, and the default is ON. It's a great way to study 
propagation in close to real time!

But the dominant one for me is the higher noise level both at my QTH and 
at the stations I'm trying to work; these noise levels have increased 
gradually over the years to the extent that CW QSOs I could make to EU 
from my QTH in NorCal in 2006-9 I can no longer make during the 
corresponding part of this solar cycle. And my station is better now 
than it was in 2006-9. FT8 has a signal to noise advantage of about 10 
dB over CW with great ops on both ends of the QSO.

During the current solar cycle, I've heard a total of seven CW signals 
from EU, and managed to work two of them. During that earlier solar 
cycle, my first since moving to W6 from W9, I logged a dozen or so EU 
countries. Over the past two seasons of the current solar cycle, I've 
added nearly 20 EU countries to my 160M DXCC count, all FT8.

My computer didn't make those QSOs -- it didn't build my station, nor 
did it design and build my antenna farm, it didn't know anything about 
propagation or when to call or how to call. I did all of that.

I'm glad that folks enjoy trans-Aatlantic ragchewing; I don't -- it 
bores me. I'm an engineer, station builder, and contester. CW contesting 
is my preferred mode.

73, Jim K9YC