[VHFcontesting] Digital and VHF contests

[Mike Smith VE9AA]

No flames from me Dave.  I think it’s great that your world has opened up, but I got into ham radio in the 1970’s to use CW and to a lesser degree, voice (primarily SSB).

 

I find that BECAUSE of WSJT, FSK441, FT-whatever, the number of CW/SSB QSO’s available to me on 6m DXing or 2m/6m contesting, has gone into the dustbin already and to me, that’s sad.  Very sad.

 

I agree everyone should choose, but when those choices AFFECT me, I will comment on it.

 

YMMV !

 

Mike VE9AA FN66

 

Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB

 

From: James C [mailto:jabeco at gmail.com] 
Sent: September 19, 2019 11:33 AM
To: Mike Smith VE9AA
Cc: VHF Contesting
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Digital and VHF contests

 

Conversely, I haven't had this much fun contesting ever! (26 years in the hobby)

 

The WSJT suite has made contesting a reality for me. (I live in an area where the closest active vhf+ op is 150miles away).

 

Before WSJT I was thrilled to make 5 contacts in a contest. Now I'm competitively chasing grids for FFMA, Having fun in contests, Enjoying the fellowship Slack and the other loggers have provided, Making contacts on 6m MS daily, Activating rare grids and more. 

 

If it wasn't for WSJT none of this would have happened. I will never operate CW and I might get on phone to enjoy a legacy contact once a blue moon. 

 

My interest in 6m (and VHF+ DX) is at an all time high thanks to WSJT. 

Huge thank you to K1JT for keeping the hobby interesting and alive. There are more then enough 6m ops using digital to keep busy with. I don't feel like I'm missing anything by ditching CW/SSB.. except a headache from listening to static for hours at a time. 

 

It's clear to anyone who's been paying attention that CW and SSB are headed to the dustbin of history. I commend those who are staying away from digi. It's a tough road to travel with so many folks staying current on technology. Good luck to the brave souls sticking to your CW/SSB guns. I'm afraid It's going to get more and more lonely for those guys.  

 

Flame on!

 

.-James K7KQA DN06 (6m - 7el LFA/KW)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Thu, Sep 19, 2019 at 6:51 AM Mike Smith VE9AA <ve9aa at nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:

You won't find me on FT(#).ever.

It's the exact opposite of why I like to contest on VHF, and generally just
get on VHF.



I like to say Hi to Paul(N1BUG), the crew @ W2SZ/1, Dave/K1WHS in FN43 etc
etc

even if that means listening to their CW and sending a quick "dit dit" or a
"Hi Paul, here is FN66"

(ie: literally 1 extra second for VHF contest QSO's that only take 5-10
seconds anyways.



I can very much appreciate a lot of folks like FT-whatever, but it does
nothing for me.



Each to his own I guess.  My interest in VHF contesting (and 6m DXing) is at
an all time low.

(and I've been at it a long time!)



Mike VE9AA FN66

Keswick Ridge, NB



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