Have any of you taken the time to write your Division Directors to ask
for changes and add FT-x as a separate award? That does not solve the
real issue here which is people have abandoned CW for FT8 and it made
people upset.
W0MU
On 8/2/2019 6:06 PM, GEORGE WALLNER wrote:
Nobody is talking about "shutting" anything down.
Quite the opposite: expand the DXCC program by creating a new
category! FT-x is sufficiently different to justify that. The skills
need for FT-x are different from those required for the traditional
modes. A new award category would reflect that.
I would go further, but I don't think too far:
FT-x could be crucial to HAM radio's future. On a recent mini
DXpedition I asked a young and recently licensed HAM to operate FT-8.
He said, sure, give me a minute. He brought his laptop (not the one
that was part of the FT-8 station) and proceeded to operate FT-8,
while using his laptop to watch a movie and was looking at Facebook,
and he was in chats with friends (and HAM-s) on his phone. I was
somewhat peeved, until I came to realize that this is how the new
generation lives: multi-threading using their electronic devices.
Unlike us, most of them are not willing to put on the head-phones and
concentrate on weak CW signals for hours, to the exclusion of
everything else. They don't live like that and they will not enjoy a
hobby like that. It is not my place to judge whether this is good or
bad. It is what it is. But to attract this new "multi-activity
generation" to HAM radio (an entire generation, not just the odd kid),
the hobby must offer a mode that is compatible with how they live.
FT-8 is perfect for that: it can be operated remotely from a
smart-phone via an app, while riding a bus or train and doing other
things... And, yes, it can be automated.
There will be nothing wrong with a young HAM working 100 countries in
a month while not even at his station. Good for him! Just don't mix
his achievement with mine. (Is RTTY really a digital mode? It seems to
be very analog these days.)
73,
George,
AA7JV
On Fri, 2 Aug 2019 17:05:23 -0500
Cecil <chacuff@cableone.net> wrote:
Sent from my iPad
On Aug 2, 2019, at 4:45 PM, Cecil <chacuff@cableone.net> wrote:
This is nonsense....
That is only possible if someone has modified the software and is
cheating the system...which I might add could be done with computers
and creative software writing to any of the digital modes including
CW....
That is cheating and not grounds for disallowance from total DXCC
participation for all users.
Certainly I can do that for one QSO if I need to run to the bathroom
or grab a quick cup of coffee etc....but if you believe for a second
that the FT8 software is designed to crank it up, walk away for a
couple hours and come back later to tally up your take as you
describe you are showing your lack of knowledge of WSJT’s design.
Am I suggesting that some are not doing that...no...not for a
minute. Would I suggest that all DXers are running no more than the
legal limit when chasing a new one or no more than 200 watts on 30
meters, or not using a remote station element to gain an unfair
advantage to add a new one...nope.
But it is happening...
Should we shut down the entire awards system because the possibility
exists that someone will cheat...I think not.
I for one think you should rethink your article before submission
Alan...
Respectfully
Cecil
K5DL
On Aug 2, 2019, at 4:22 PM, Alan Swinger <awswinger@earthlink.net>
wrote:
. Since FT8 operators can walk away and not participate in QSOs,
and come back after some other activity and see how many new
countries and QSOs that the computer made,
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