Topband: The State of 160m

[m.r.c.]

PLEASE lets NOT start the FT8 /digital modes arguments again on this reflector, 
good, bad or indifferent.  take the arguments and discussion elsewhere, please

Robin


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hans Hjelmström" <sm6cvx at hjelmstrom.se>
To: "Bob Kile" <midnight18 at cox.net>
Cc: <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2022 10:38
Subject: Re: Topband: The State of 160m


> Hi Bob
>
> Interesting info. You do not hate FT 8 ,,, I do.
>
> I consider FT 8 killing all challenge,personal efforts and operating skills.
>
> Sorry its the start of the end of our hobby,made by FT 8
>
> Kind regards
>
> Hans SM6CVX
>> 1 jul 2022 kl. 18:57 skrev Bob Kile <midnight18 at cox.net>:
>>
>> My comments on the state of 160m. First let me say I am old enough to have 
>> experienced, Loran C with power limitations, LA police KMA367 on 1730, fish 
>> boats, buoy markers, Spy Trawlers sending code groups, Long delayed echoes, 
>> OHR, local DX chats on 1845-50 SSB, QSO’s with W1BB, K6SE, VS6DO, ZL2BT , 
>> JA7AO and many others that are were legends in their day and now are in 
>> higher places.
>>
>>
>> I also had the opportunity to make thousands of contacts on 160m during solar 
>> cycle 23 minimum 2005-2009 which for me was the ultimate hay day of 160m. 
>> Experiencing new countries and new stations every evening on Cw with 100W was 
>> truly an amazing event.
>>
>>
>> Whilst attending some Dayton contest forums this year some information was 
>> brought to light. A prominent DX-pedition group member commented that FT8 
>> comprised 37% of the QSOs. For somebody like myself looking for a more 
>> traditional achievement award of merit like WAZ on 160m CW it has become 
>> virtually impossible in a life time.
>>
>>
>> Most recently I have witnessed the devastating effects of the high costs of 
>> DX-peditons and limited operating times to juggle various modes. A very 
>> skilled and talented group went to 8Q7 in Maldives. Late in their operations 
>> they did go to CW mode on 160. They called CQ for about 5-10 minutes at my 
>> sunrise. I’m sure they were looking at RBN responses of which there are few 
>> in Asia worth a damn and went quiet only to show up on FT8 after my sunrise 
>> morning peak. It didn’t matter I had Q5 copy and had to switch antennas, turn 
>> amplifier on and try to make it through the Asian chatter. This I might point 
>> out happened not once but twice. Did I mention from out west this is a 10 
>> minute window 11,000 miles away. Only one western station VE6WZ worked them 
>> as a result of a spot I posted.
>>
>>
>> I don’t hate FT8 but It’s not my focus. It is very useful due to the shear 
>> numbers of operators and PSK Reporter for determining propagation. Alone it 
>> has had a profound impact on the HF bands some of which has been good and 
>> many cases not so. A good CW operator can easily copy -18 dB SN station. 
>> Perhaps C6AGU’s "Rig In a Box" will help by cutting DX-pedition costs and 
>> allow operators to be in comfort spending more time on air operating rather 
>> than fiddling around with all needed accessories and beat many of the 
>> environmental regulations.
>>
>>
>> Bob W7RH
>>
>> -- 
>> W7RH DM35OJ
>>
>>
>> If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say 
>> the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. George Carlin
>> _________________
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