Topband
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Topband: 160

To: Lloyd - N9LB <lloydberg@charter.net>, topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160
From: Alan Swinger <awswinger@earthlink.net>
Reply-to: Alan Swinger <awswinger@earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2019 08:29:31 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
List-post: <mailto:topband@contesting.com>
Lloyd - I may have overstated but did so to make the point that the Mode is 
sufficiently different from others that it and companion modes should have a 
separate award category and not lumped in with  the current ones. - Alan K9MBQ


-----Original Message-----
>From: Lloyd - N9LB <lloydberg@charter.net>
>Sent: Aug 2, 2019 7:57 PM
>To: topband@contesting.com
>Subject: Re: Topband: 160
>
>Alan, respectfully, it doesn’t sound like you ever looked at Joe Taylor's WSJT 
>program and you do not understand the facts of FT8.
>
>Operators can NOT "walk away and not participate in making QSOs" as the 
>program is written.  Yes, a very small number of people have hacked W1JT's 
>program to run continuously, but 99.99% of the FT8 users are human and 
>actively involved in making the QSO.
>
>WSJT/FT8 is very similar to the popular MMTTY RTTY program - click on a 
>decoded call displayed on the screen to enter that call into the program and 
>click on a button to start calling.
>
>To use WSJT/FT8 you must:
>Select mode of operation
>Set up eight menu screens, 
>Type of decode,
>Select initial RX and TX frequencies ( simplex or split, and what split )
>Deal with QRM / interference / use your skill to QSY around the band segment 
>as conditions
>And that does not include all the usual stuff: selecting the band, select the 
>antenna, aim the antenna, set power, etc.
> 
>Here is link to "WSJT-X - FT8 and Beyond", the Keynote Speech of Joe Taylor, 
>K1JT, 21 June 2019 at the Friedrichshafen Hamvention. 
>http://dokufunk.org/amateur_radio/contributions/?CID=9458#A28986
>
>Shall we also disqualify CW ops who use memory keyers and CW decoders?  Nope
>
>Shall we also disqualify phone ops who use voice recorders or synthesized 
>voices or voice recognition programs?  Nope
>
>It is all just new technology - get used to change!   Change is inevitable. 
>
>73
>
>Lloyd - N9LB
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Alan Swinger
>Sent: Friday, August 02, 2019 4:22 PM
>To: rich_k7zv@gphilltop.com; Harald Rester <harryrester@gmx.de>
>Cc: topband@contesting.com
>Subject: Re: Topband: 160
>
>Below is Letter for QST on this subject that may (or not) be published FYI. 
>Glad to hear AA1K back calling CQ on CW in the AM. I am there too looking for 
>CW DX. - 73, Alan K9MBQ
>
> If Hams who use WSJT/FT modes enjoy using them, by all means do so.
>However, I strongly disagree with and object to the fact that QSOs made in 
>these modes count for DXCC Digital awards in the same way as RTTY, PSK, etc 
>do. 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, this is unlike Digital modes where operators must remain 
>engaged to make QSOs. Therefore, seems to me that such Computer-generated 
>contacts should have a separate category in the current award systems since 
>the operators are not directly involved in making the QSOs . . . call it 
>Computer-Aided Digital or something more clever. No argument that skill is 
>required to set up a station to make FT-8 contacts, but a different set than 
>what those of us who work DXCC, Challenge, etc use on CW, RTTY, and SSB, 
>including those towers, expensive equipment, skills, and years of hard work to 
>get the new ones when there was NO FT-8 or similar modes!
>So, I do not be begrudge the new low signal computer-aided modes, nor do I 
>cast aspersions on the Ops who enjoy using them . . . even though I am 
>unlikely to join their ranks, but the Ham community should not penalize those 
>of us who used non-FT modes to get our hard earned awards by giving an unfair 
>advantage to a new technology. We (Ham Radio) need the New Technology, but 
>these modes are sufficiently different in many ways from the older modes that 
>justifies a separate category in the award spectrum.  Therefore, I urge the 
>ARRL and the CQ Magazine leadership to establish a Digital award category that 
>is separate and different from the current DXCC et al Digital criteria.
>Alan Swinger K9MBQ
>Charlottesville, VA
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: rich_k7zv@gphilltop.com
>>Sent: Aug 2, 2019 4:22 PM
>>To: Harald Rester <harryrester@gmx.de>
>>Cc: topband@contesting.com
>>Subject: Re: Topband: 160
>>
>>As ham radio changes there will remain at least a niche for CW, SSB, 
>>and RTTY and it's competitions. FT8 will supplement the bands , not 
>>supplant it, IMO. Do you think FT8, FT4 and whatever digital modes come 
>>along are the future or will something else take its place? Who 
>>knows... time and technology moves on. Maybe it might attract some of 
>>the Millennials to fill in the void by us Baby Boomers who will all too soon 
>>be making.
>>Let's set a good example for them to follow.
>>
>>Rich K7ZV
>>
>>
>>On 2019-08-02 12:42 pm, Harald Rester wrote:
>>> Think about the time *we all *could have been on the air, while 
>>> staring at our screens, typing and reading. I make QSY to the shack - Hpe 
>>> CU!
>>> 
>>> Harry, DH1NBE
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Am 02.08.2019 um 21:26 schrieb uy0zg:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I do not propose stopping the FT8.
>>>> 
>>>> just compete with each other.
>>>> 
>>>> But keep in mind - Arnold will be the first  -)):
>>>> 
>>>> https://www.alamy.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-terminator-2-judgment-da
>>>> y-1991-image66516208.html
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> ---
>>>> Nick, UY0ZG
>>>> http://www.topband.in.ua
>>>> 
>>>> W0MU Mike Fatchett писал 2019-08-02 21:52:
>>>>> Ah so all FT8 users are cheaters.  Does that mean that all Russian 
>>>>> hams use way more power than they should and their scores should 
>>>>> not count either?
>>>>> 
>>>>> The real issue here is change.  Ham radio has been in constant 
>>>>> motion and change since it started and I hope in continues that way 
>>>>> well after we are dead.
>>>>> 
>>>>> So we better stop FT8 and protect VE1ZZ?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sorry no.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Good day.
>>>>> 
>>>>> On 8/2/2019 12:45 PM, uy0zg wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hello, Mike
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> This is how the world works so that humanity always has moral 
>>>>>> values.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> They must be protected.
>>>>>> Example:
>>>>>> in a few years, 334 VE1ZZ countries will lose their value. His 
>>>>>> achievements will be eaten by computer programs and robots ....
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> It is right ?
>>>>>> Will there be many talents at 160 meters like Jack?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Will not be !
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On the contrary - more and more stupidity and envy....
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> ---
>>>>>> Nick, UY0ZG
>>>>>> http://www.topband.in.ua
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> W0MU Mike Fatchett писал 2019-08-02 18:24:
>>>>>>> Cheating is cheating.  How many people used remote stations, 
>>>>>>> exceeded their power limits, etc.   Singling out a mode because 
>>>>>>> you are upset that it has taken away activity in your  preferred 
>>>>>>> mode is not helpful to the hobby.    Not everyone that use FT8 
>>>>>>> cheats.  Not everyone that uses a amp that exceeds their legal 
>>>>>>> limit uses it in that fashion.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> How can you guarantee that everyone on the "Honor Role" was 100 
>>>>>>> percent honorable or even anyone that got DXCC did it right? You 
>>>>>>> can't so please stop singling out a mode you don't care for.  We 
>>>>>>> get it.  Move on.  It is here.  Just like the Reverse beacon, 
>>>>>>> packet cluster, etc.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> We are all hams enjoying many aspects of the hobby.  Can't we get 
>>>>>>> along?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> W0MU
>>>>>> _________________
>>>>>> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband 
>>>>>> Reflector
>>>>> 
>>>>> _________________
>>>>> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband 
>>>>> Reflector
>>>> _________________
>>>> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband 
>>>> Reflector
>>> _________________
>>> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband 
>>> Reflector
>>_________________
>>Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband 
>>Reflector
>_________________
>Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
>
>_________________
>Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>