DELETE, DELETE DELETE
AT LEAST CHANGE TO SUBJECT LINE ON THE THREAD IF YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO
TURN THIS INTO A FT8 BASHING SESSION , WHICH AS I RECALL THE
MODERATOR/LIST OWNER BANNED LAST YEAR
TALK ABOUT A WASTE OF BANDWIDTH
DAVE
On 10/9/2020 1:02 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
On 10/9/2020 7:54 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:
Well, FT8 does some really good things that typical CW operation doesn�t
usually want to bother with.
1) use of a calling frequency (�SSB� �carrier� frequency)
2) constant monitoring
3) highly efficient use of VERY close frequencies.� Never needs retuning.
4) computer driven to allow attention to band over broad time spans.
5) technical attention to issues effectively resulting in improved
sensitivity
6) dB above noise replaces ancient RST signal reports.
Yes, all good characteristics. Another is a spot-reporting system
(PSKReporter) that plots reception and QSO reports on a world map that
can be zoomed. Each user can ask it to show reports, band by band, by
mode, and for time periods that increment exponentially from 15
minutes to 24 hours. Most WSJT software can be configured to
automatically make those reports, and the default is ON. It's a great
way to study propagation in close to real time!
But the dominant one for me is the higher noise level both at my QTH
and at the stations I'm trying to work; these noise levels have
increased gradually over the years to the extent that CW QSOs I could
make to EU from my QTH in NorCal in 2006-9 I can no longer make during
the corresponding part of this solar cycle. And my station is better
now than it was in 2006-9. FT8 has a signal to noise advantage of
about 10 dB over CW with great ops on both ends of the QSO.
During the current solar cycle, I've heard a total of seven CW signals
from EU, and managed to work two of them. During that earlier solar
cycle, my first since moving to W6 from W9, I logged a dozen or so EU
countries. Over the past two seasons of the current solar cycle, I've
added nearly 20 EU countries to my 160M DXCC count, all FT8.
My computer didn't make those QSOs -- it didn't build my station, nor
did it design and build my antenna farm, it didn't know anything about
propagation or when to call or how to call. I did all of that.
I'm glad that folks enjoy trans-Aatlantic ragchewing; I don't -- it
bores me. I'm an engineer, station builder, and contester. CW
contesting is my preferred mode.
73, Jim K9YC
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