Topband: https://clublog.org/logsearch/CB0ZA

[Michael Tope]

Since reclassifying 160 DXCC totals to exclude FT8 would be terribly 
unfair to those who submitted FT8 confirmations toward DXCC in good 
faith, it seems like a possible solution would be to add provisions for 
a CW endorsement to the 160 meter DXCC award. If it were workable 
administratively, it would provide a way for those who made the majority 
of their DXCC contacts on CW to compare themselves with others who have 
done similarly. It would also provide a way for those who enjoy FT8 to 
compare their progress with others in the "unlimited" category. Who 
knows, it might even encourage a resurgence of CW activity, since that 
endorsement would carry a certain cache.

73, Mike W4EF....................

On 2/19/2024 1:51 PM, Wes Stewart via Topband wrote:
>   It is unreasonable to assume all FT8 QSOs are with robots, however, many are.  Technically, some "I" (my computer) makes are made with me not in attendance.  When I can disable transmit and walk out to the kitchen to get another beer and come back to see that my software has tuned my radio to the Fox frequency and called him to complete the QSO, I think that's a "robot."
> And that is exactly why I do not submit WSJT contacts for DXCC credit.  If others want to, that's between them and their ethics.  Why do I make the contacts then? you may ask. Because one of my DX clubs has an internal competition where certain expeditions are designated as targets for "band slot Bingo", where we compete for the greatest number of slots worked.  You can't win if you don't play.
> As to efficiency, I think FT8 wastes a lot of time.  Other modes, including RTTY, are simply faster, although they require more operator skill on both ends.  F/H is particularly bad in this regard.  You can call and call and might actually be in the queue but not know it until you go to the kitchen for that beer and come back and see that "you" made the contact.
> Another particularly distasteful thing about FT8 is that the DX can set filters to exclude certain callers based on signal strength, distance, country, etc. and the callers never know it.  I know there will be vehement denial of this but I know it happens.
> WSJT will never replace RTTY.
>
>      On Monday, February 19, 2024 at 12:56:59 PM MST, Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote:
>   
>   On 2/19/2024 7:27 AM, Saulius Zalnerauskas wrote:
>> Look's like this "Sherlock Holmes" not understand what CB0ZA Robot doing.
> It is unreasonable to assume that all FT8 QSOs are with robots. I know
> some of the very experienced CW ops who run FT8 on expeditions. WSJT-X
> software makes the mode quite time-efficient for expeditions. It's a
> replacement for RTTY, not CW.
> _________________
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