Topband: FT8, etc VS the world

2021-03-11 Thread ROBERT ESHLEMAN 
I would like to add my word to this long running discourse.  I am 85 years old 
and have lost most of my hearing as a result of my profession (dentistry), my 
hobby, (low band DX'ing) and a surgical procedure for my trigeminal neuroglia.  
On 160 I have worked and confirmed 336 DXCC entities of which 335 were mostly 
on cw with several on SSB.  My last new one was T6AA using FT8 and required 
using all of the skills I need to work the other 335...hours of stalking, 
knowledge of propagation, frequency selection and path headings as well as 
timing of my calls during a 5 minute opening.  FT8 has given me a new interest 
in DX'ing which I had just about lost. I started DX'ing in 1950 and have lived 
through most of the huge changes in our hobby and the resistance to every one 
of them.  This is only a tempest in a teapot.  FT8 and its cousins are valid DX 
modes.  Bob W4DR, ex-W4QCW
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Re: Topband: FT8 etc.

2021-03-11 Thread Phil Lefever via Topband 
 "Advancement of the radio art" The primary raison d'etra of amateur radio for 
over 100 years.
Started with spark, CW followed, soon AM, SSB and zillions of forms of digital 
came to be. The day we stop innovating and striving for better is the day that 
amateur radio no longer has a reason to be. FT modes are simply the one of the 
newest incarnations. And every step of the journey there were the old guard 
hams saying how so and so is the end of the hobby.
I'm not especially a fan of digital modes, but I can't disparage anyone that 
is. Ham radio is a big tent there is room for all of us in the fraternity. 
73, Phil KB0NES


On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 11:01:34 PM CST, Cecil  
wrote:  
 
 Nice post!

Cecil
K5DL

Sent from my iPad

> On Mar 10, 2021, at 5:58 PM, Steve HA0DU  wrote:
> 
> Gentlemen,
> 
> Amateur radio is supposed to be a hobby. FUN.
> 
> What we see is TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT! It certainly changes the hobby, but it 
> should not change the fun. I read my license, but I can't find that FTx modes 
> MUST BE USED EXCLUSIVELY.
> 
> 45 years ago we did RTTY contests with an old RFT pagewriter, not even 
> punched tape, all transmissions by hand. Was it fun? YES. Do I want to do it 
> again? Of course not.
> 
> 45 years ago I did not have a transceiver. I did have an old military surplus 
> receiver and a homemade transmitter. CW only, 80/40. Was it fun? YES. Do I 
> want to use it again? Of course not.
> 
> 45 years ago (even 5 years ago) I wrote my contacts in a paper log. Do I 
> still have them? YES. Did I type up all QSOs in a computer file (when 
> computers became available)? YES.
> 
> 38 years ago VK0CW used a split of 25 kHz on 20 CW, so I had to turn the VFO 
> of the FT250 (aka Tempo One) five times right to TX, then five times left to 
> RX. Luckily I made the contact. Was it fun? YES. Do I want it back? Of course 
> not.
> 
> Just like in every other aspect of life, technology developed a LOT. Take 
> advantage of it!
> 
> Denying development is not what ham radio operators are (or should be) famous 
> about! Computers are everywhere. We are driving computers on four wheels. 
> Modern SDR radios are more or less computers. These are facts, even is some 
> of us do not like them.
> 
> Take my example. I work as a technical translator at home. Two screens are 
> connected to my computer (yes, computer aided translation is easier). On the 
> main screen I do the work. On the second screen there are some ham programs 
> running. When I see something interesting on the cluster or HamSpots. or 
> wherever, I take a look. If it is digital, it is convenient because I find a 
> TX frequency, I click on the call, and the computer will control my radio to 
> try to work the other station. If it is CW or SSB, I grab the key or the mic, 
> and try to work the other station. No question lost time from work is 
> significantly more if I have to use my hand to TX CW or hold the microphone 
> :).
> 
> Digital modes also opened EME for a lot more people. Yes, information 
> exchange is rather limited, but we still have many other chances to chat - 
> use them!
> 
> 73/DX
> Steve HA0DU
> 
> 
> -- 
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> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
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Re: Topband: CQ Zones

2021-03-11 Thread Mark Lunday 
Excellent/Ausgezeichnet!

This is how I contested when I started in 1977 - straight key madness!

Mark WD4ELG

Get Outlook for iOS

From: Topband  on behalf of 
uy0zg 
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2021 11:36:08 AM
To: Andy Blank 
Cc: Topband 
Subject: Re: Topband: CQ Zones

Hi

CQ WW CW 160m Contest 2021 DL1FY :

https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQwEzX3rrQU4data=04%7C01%7C%7C87f64aadfdc44db6ecbe08d8e4abe7bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435%7C1%7C0%7C637510774285689869%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000sdata=2fB0986ZRkm2akcqt7fAf%2BbuY7SGjwVC8ESQ8lZrtRU%3Dreserved=0

---
Nick, UY0ZG
https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.topband.in.ua%2Fdata=04%7C01%7C%7C87f64aadfdc44db6ecbe08d8e4abe7bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435%7C1%7C0%7C637510774285699866%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000sdata=WTQkiWVfbaobObEL%2F8MOj0XVZ0mK6TMKVqQcwRKB%2BGE%3Dreserved=0

Andy Blank писал 2021-03-11 17:42:
> How about this to change the mood.
>
> If anyone operated the CQ 160 CW or SSB contest this year and has some
> station pictures (preferably with you in them)...
> Please forward them to me directly.
>
> I am looking to feature some ops that have not been in the writeups
> before.
> No matter how small the score, we are just looking for Topband
> enthusiasts.
>
> 73, Andy N2NT
> Director CQ 160 Contest.
>
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 11, 2021 at 5:27 AM Mike Waters  wrote:
>
>> Well said. It's past time for that.
>>
>> 73 Mike
>> W0BTU
>>
>> On Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 11:00 PM W0MU Mike Fatchett 
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Seems like it might be time to remove or moderate people on this list.
>> > This is a bit over the top.
>> >
>> >
>> _
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>>  - Topband
>> Reflector
>>
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Re: Topband: CQ Zones

2021-03-11 Thread uy0zg 

Hi

CQ WW CW 160m Contest 2021 DL1FY :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwEzX3rrQU4

---
Nick, UY0ZG
http://www.topband.in.ua

Andy Blank писал 2021-03-11 17:42:

How about this to change the mood.

If anyone operated the CQ 160 CW or SSB contest this year and has some
station pictures (preferably with you in them)...
Please forward them to me directly.

I am looking to feature some ops that have not been in the writeups 
before.
No matter how small the score, we are just looking for Topband 
enthusiasts.


73, Andy N2NT
Director CQ 160 Contest.



On Thu, Mar 11, 2021 at 5:27 AM Mike Waters  wrote:


Well said. It's past time for that.

73 Mike
W0BTU

On Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 11:00 PM W0MU Mike Fatchett  
wrote:


> Seems like it might be time to remove or moderate people on this list.
> This is a bit over the top.
>
>
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Reflector


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Reflector

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Re: Topband: CQ Zones

2021-03-11 Thread Andy Blank 
How about this to change the mood.

If anyone operated the CQ 160 CW or SSB contest this year and has some
station pictures (preferably with you in them)...
Please forward them to me directly.

I am looking to feature some ops that have not been in the writeups before.
No matter how small the score, we are just looking for Topband enthusiasts.

73, Andy N2NT
Director CQ 160 Contest.



On Thu, Mar 11, 2021 at 5:27 AM Mike Waters  wrote:

> Well said. It's past time for that.
>
> 73 Mike
> W0BTU
>
> On Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 11:00 PM W0MU Mike Fatchett  wrote:
>
> > Seems like it might be time to remove or moderate people on this list.
> > This is a bit over the top.
> >
> >
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
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Re: Topband: CQ Zones

2021-03-11 Thread Mike Waters 
Well said. It's past time for that.

73 Mike
W0BTU

On Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 11:00 PM W0MU Mike Fatchett  wrote:

> Seems like it might be time to remove or moderate people on this list.
> This is a bit over the top.
>
>
_
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