Ron,
Not to bash you since you said you were not an FT8 basher but until you
actually work digital modes you will most likely continue to believe that
the computers work the contacts. At one time I though the same thing.
This notion by non digital operators couldn't be farther from the truth. I
can tell you that during the contest I left my shack several times, even for
some extended times , and I left everything turned on and not even one
contact was worked by my computer during my absence. There are lots of
operator interactions with both the program(s) and radios needed to decode
and log a digital contact. Especially with weak signals. Even with lots of
activity you need to select the contact that could be the best for your
score with possibly new multipliers. Worked stations need to actively be
rejected to avoid dupes. The MSK, JT65 and many other modes require an
operator to read the decoded message and select the proper response. All
the computer does is decode the digital signal and many of those are deep
into the noise where your radio's discriminator cannot "decode" it.. I
won't even talk about how much operator intervention is need for digital EME
contacts.
I also remember reading in old QSTs similar anti-SSB from the old AM
operators.
Dave Buckwalter
K3SK
FM07
-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Klimas WZ1V <wz1v@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2023 4:31 PM
To: newsvhf@mailman.qth.net
Cc: vhfcontesting@contesting.com
Subject: [VHFcontesting] ARRL Jan VHF WZ1V
ARRL January VHF Contest - 2023
Call: WZ1V
Operator(s): WZ1V
Station: WZ1V
Class: Single Op-Analog HP
QTH: FN31RH
Operating Time (hrs): 20
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
-------------------
6: 93 21
2: 109 24
222: 51 21
432: 63 19
903:
1.2: 25 12
2.3:
3.4:
5.7:
10G:
24G:
-------------------
Total: 341 97 Total Score = 51,410
Club: North East Weak Signal Group
Comments:
Did Analog-Only again, CW-SSB. Had 1 FM QSO.
I've now operated the past 3 VHF contests this way.
It's a lot simpler since there's less modes to juggle, and not needing
another program for digital modes running.
Then again, for those that just stay mostly FT8, I guess that's even easier
since you can have the software automatically work and log the contacts. To
me it's just more rewarding to work and log each contact yourself the
old-school way. I'm not an FT8 basher.
I've done All-mode in many contests. The major Cons with running Analog-Only
is you'll never work as many Mults or QSOs, and activity levels can go to
near zero.
During Sunday night's opening to South America, I didn't hear a single DX
station on SSB or CW, even the locals pretty much all disappeared to FT8. I
guess I'd rather be bored making unanswered CQ's than be bored watching the
computer make contacts. I do miss working the DX though.
I was pretty happy making some very nice contacts on 2M and up. It was fun
working K3MD, N1JEZ, VE2XX and W1AIM on 1296, to name a few. I also found
several new stations in the region that have newly added 222 and 1296
capability.
Thanks for the QSO's !
73 Ron WZ1V
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
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