[VHFcontesting] [NEWSVHF] WB2VVV 144 MHz Spring Sprint

Wed Apr 16 22:38:25 EDT 2025

Hello Dave et al,

I will echo Dave’s comments re. FT8. I’m to the point of pulling down my 6/2M quad. Spent a bit of time listening around 50.125 and hearing nothing while 50.313 is alight with FT8, watching DX Maps. I do admit to not having even tried to setup a digital station as it holds little interest for me. I just enjoy listening on SSB/CW, seems that digital takes all the fun out of it, at least for me. My $0.02. 

Shawn
N7LQ

> On Apr 16, 2025, at 12:34, David Olean <k1whs at metrocast.net> wrote:
> 
> Hi Ron,
> 
> That is a very interesting perspective on analog vs. digital modes.  I agree that operator skill is a major driver of what we are seeing on the ham bands these days. From my perspective, FT-8 does nothing for me other than convenience. It allows me to make contacts while I am also drilling holes in a chassis, or machining metal on a lathe.  I sure can't do that while operating CW.   In using FT8 for a few years on VHF, I am still waiting to make a contact that I could not do via CW.  I think my ears are trained to dig CW signals out of the noise after years of CW EME.
> 
> I also remember years ago in the 1960's, when I did not know CW very well and was exclusively an AM or SSB op on VHF. I would listen to CW tapes of meteor scatter QSOs made by K2RTH. (K2R6) Bruce would chug along at 35 wpm and copy short bursts on MS and pick out calls or RS2 etc. I heard just gibberish. That experience led me to learn to be a better CW op. I was never good at 35 wpm. I struggle at 25 wpm, but I sure got good at picking weak signals out of the noise. It's all about rhythm. Each grid square or RR 73 has its own cadence and it is hard to describe to people without that skill.  If I did not know the code and have some experience with it, I would be on FT8 100% of the time to pick off DX.   The difference between AM and SSB was in the neighborhood of ten dB. CW vs SSB is about another ten dB maybe.  So FT8 is another world when you compare it to what SSB can do. You get another ten dB just on your end of the path.
> 
> Q65 is a different beast and it really provides a huge improvement over CW no matter how good your "ears" are. It is a game changer and adds another ten dB to the equation.  So also is FT8  a game changer for the less skilled ops with no CW background.   Also consider that old hams are losing their hearing.It happens to almost all of us at some point. In that case FT8 is a great way to continue with the hobby.  There is no denying that!
> 
> I would agree that the instant gratification contingent will gravitate to FT8 and stay there. No tuning is needed. No CW ability is needed. You do not need to copy through noise, and you can operate a milling machine or build a Revell plastic muscle car while you make contacts.  I love the feature of the digital modes in that I can go out of the ham shack on the hill, water a pine tree, and then skoot back to the chair with no one the wiser. That is convenience.
> 
> I just love hearing signals and will never tire of the sound of DX. This past Monday, I marveled at how watery N2NT sounded coming in on my omni antenna from almost 300 miles away.  The flutter and fading is what floats my boat, and I will not give that up. I just am sad when people take the easy way out and forego SSB and CW for the convenience of FT8. It is what it is, but I don't like it. Please check the calling frequencies for SSB or CW every once in awhile.  You might be surprised and hear someone!
> 
> 73
> 
> Dave K1WHS
> 
> 
>> On 4/15/2025 6:06 PM, Ron Klimas WZ1V wrote:
>> I guess that's a matter of perspective.
>> I looked back at all my contest logs since the Analog Category started.
>> They revealed that SSB-CW activity has remained pretty much the same
>> now as it was 3 or 4 years ago. Activity is dependent on band conditions
>> more than any other factor. I would also go as far to say that one's
>> location, station capability, operator skill and patience are much
>> bigger determining factors than just saying the contest rules are to blame.
>> Everyone's using those same rules so it's a level playing field.
>> What's really happening IMO is there are operators that just don't
> 
>> want to struggle straining to hear weak signals in the noise for hours.
>> They prefer to stay on FT8 and let the computer pull out the signal.
>> By the same token, when band conditions are poor, more people
>> move to FT8 sooner because their analog CQ's are going unanswered.
>> Because the software can decode weaker signals in the noise than
>> most humans can perceive, the weakest FT8 CQ's get answered.
>> Why walk 3 miles to the srore in the rain when you can take yoir car there ?
>> Then again, if it's a sunny day it might be nice to go for a walk.
>> Just my 2 cents, I've done both many times.
>> 
>> 73 Ron WZ1V
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: CHRIS FAGAS via NEWSVHF <newsvhf at mailman.qth.net>
>> To:
>> Cc: vhfcontesting at contesting.com, newsvhf at mailman.qth.net
>> Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2025 17:00:12 -0400
>> Subject: [NEWSVHF] WB2VVV 144 MHz Spring Sprint
>> 
>>>   144 MHz Spring Sprint - 2025
>>> 
>>> Call: WB2VVV
>>> Operator(s): WB2VVV
>>> Station: WB2VVV
>>> 
>>> Class: Single Op LP
>>> QTH: FN41
>>> Operating Time (hrs): 1.1
>>> 
>>> Summary:
>>> Total:  QSOs = 21  Mults = 10  Total Score = 210
>>> 
>>> Club: North East Weak Signal Group
>>> 
>>> Comments:
>>> 
>>> Operated ANALOG ONLY with LOW POWER for a little over an hour from my Rhode
>>> Island FN41cr QTH. Made 21 QSOs and worked 10 different Grids.
>>> 
>>> I really like the way CQ has split their VHF contest into 2 dates, one for
>>> ANALOG and one for DIGITAL, and I look forward to operating on the ANALOG date -
>>> when everyone operating will be operating ANALOG. OTOH, ARRL has created an
>>> ANALOG ONLY category within its three VHF contests, but this does not boost
>>> ANALOG activity one bit. Instead we are watching the ANALOG activity drop every
>>> contest. Presumably DIGITAL activity is increasing, but I wouldn't know as I have
>>> no interest in DIGITAL modes.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
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