Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Guy, This *really* opened my eyes. Thank you, Mr. Wizard (no sarcasm intended)! It appears that FT8 is actually our friend, fellow long-time Topbanders, whether we intend to operate that mode or not. FWIW, I don't intend to use that mode. If I ever do, it won't be in the customary CW portion at

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

>>>AA6YQ comments below -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of John K9UWA Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2017 12:03 PM To: topBand List Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long) Someone will develop a softwar

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Someone will develop a software program that takes the human voice or CW and packetize it much the same as cell phones already do into digital packet form. Then it will be added to the carrier or lack thereof similar to SSB and or CW. On the receive end the software will convert it back to

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Ireland <vk...@arach.net.au> Date: 25/10/2017 09:25 (GMT+00:00) To: Topband reflector <topband@contesting.com> Subject: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long) G’day As a committed (yeah, that’s probably the right word - complete with white jacket that laces up

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Hi Steve You've certainly stirred up some QRM here! I can visualize you right now, tinny in one hand and turning the barbie with the other, saying to yourself: "Was it something I said?" :-) -- 73 Ian, G3NRW g3...@g3nrw.net * Editor: TS-590 Family Resources Page:

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

>From time to time, tickling the RBN nodes on 160 proves that the band is open, sometimes nicely so. The almost constant FT8 signals nail it. People get on the band when they think there will be someone to talk to, this includes trying to get some elusive DX. In the end FT8 will prove that the

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Read the full content of my message, specifically the portion where i said: “One can on any given evening call CQ in the CW sub band and get picked up by skimmers around the world, yet not get a reply” 73 On Wed, Oct 25, 2017 at 9:49 PM Michael Walker wrote: > > Explain

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Explain why on some nights there are many FT8 signals, and no CW signals. No one calling CQ and everyone just listening. If you build it they will come. Mike va3mw _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Steve, as a relatively “young” ham living in a populous area, I have some things to offer to this thread... To give you some background: I’m 36, been licensed since 1994. Did the whole progression before code was eliminated all the way to Extra. Took electronics classes in high school and when

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

I'm with you, Steve.  BRAVO! 73  George  W8UVZ On Wednesday, October 25, 2017 7:31 AM, Hans Hjelmström wrote: Hi Steve I FULLY agree on all you write.  Unfortunately I also feel that Ham radio is more or less lost. According to me,,,this is NOT Ham radio,, it

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

On 10/25/2017 12:38 PM, Charlie Young wrote: ...The first big thrill was hearing my own CW echo several days in a row, before getting my 8877 amp finished and firing up JT65A. One of the biggest thrills in my ham radio life was hearing my 144 MHz moon echos using a station, that except for the

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

I think the game changing aspect of FT8 is that many folks who would normally be available to work on CW or SSB will now be on FT8. The amount of activity on the FT8 frequency of any band is phenomenal. This summer I constructed a 4 x 7 LFA stack on 6 meters, primarily because the largest

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

...@inolit.se>; <topband@contesting.com> Cc: "Peter Andersson" <sm6...@skara.net>; <sm6...@ssa.se>; "Kjell Nerlich" <sm6...@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 10:23 AM Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long) Hi

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

On 10/25/2017 10:17 AM, Chortek, Robert L. wrote: I rarely weigh in these debates (and don’t even know what these digital modes are except in the most general terms) but I don’t see any movement whatsoever to (a) require folks to use digital modes, or (b) prevent folks from using the

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

I am pretty serious about DXing.  I am not on the honor roll.  I have over 300 confirmed.  I couldn't tell you who is at the top. Why does it matter?  Those at the top did it their way, whatever that was.  Some did it all from their own homes and never moved, many started over, many today use

Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Spark had other uses, Add ozone to the air, reduce the insect bug population, warm up the shack in cold WX, Arc kept you awake, could light your cigar when needed. So outside of minimizing your personal connection with others , what else does digital do ? ( ; > ) 73

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

I rarely weigh in these debates (and don’t even know what these digital modes are except in the most general terms) but I don’t see any movement whatsoever to (a) require folks to use digital modes, or (b) prevent folks from using the traditional modes they enjoy have enjoyed for years. I just

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

>>>AA6YQ comments below -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of garyk9gs Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 11:22 AM To: 'Topband reflector' Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long) I was riding to a DX clu

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Steve, That was a good read. I see there's a lot of replies so I'll send this before reeading them... I too love CW and it is without a doubt my favorite mode. You asked a question and I have used FT8 and my favorite band is Topband, so here's my 2 pence. I think what might have turned

Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

SPARK FOREVER!! - Greg Chartrand - W7MY Richland, WA. W7MY Home Page: http://webpages.charter.net/w7my/ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

I represent the under 30 crowd (for another few years at least) who isn't really into JT65, FT8, etc.. I still prefer the "between the ears" -modes. However, I see the JT and other weak signal modes emerging as a response to real estate limits and restrictions. I was lucky in that I had space and

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

One can think of FT8 as a Pinball machine or a video game. You click "here" at the right time and maybe the ball falls just right and the other station comes back to you. If not, you click again. Preserve the CW/SSB mode awards. Jim - KR9U _ Topband Reflector Archives -

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Oooh! Vey well said, Dave!! Short and perfect. :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com On Oct 25, 2017 10:14 AM, "Dave AA6YQ" wrote: "Technologies available before you reached the age of 35 are standard; every op should use them. Technologies that arrived after you reached the age

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

-Gary K9GS  Original message From: "Wes Attaway (N5WA)" <wesatta...@bellsouth.net> Date: 10/25/17 8:11 AM (GMT-06:00) To: 'Steve Ireland' <vk...@arach.net.au>, 'Topband reflector' <topband@contesting.com> Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

"Technologies available before you reached the age of 35 are standard; every op should use them. Technologies that arrived after you reached the age of 35 will kill the hobby." We've heard this with every new technology, going back to the advent of CW in the days of spark. 73,

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Gentlemen, Why choose to let what others are doing upset us, especially when there is not a thing we can do about it? Let's just enjoy our 160m DX and contests instead. :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

I hope everyone in the US (except for me) switches to FT-8 on 160 meters which will give me a much better chance to work the dx-peditions and other rare ones on 160 meters CW:-) I downloaded the software to check out what FT-8 was all about, and after 30 minutes I had seen enough and decided it

Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Hi all, here's my $.02... Radio is what you make of it. Do what you enjoy. If you don't like the digimodes, stay away from them. DXCC means different things to different people. To some, it means only SSB or CW. To others, they're perfectly happy with digi modes. Others want to earn DXCC from a

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

As a younger old guy in ham radio at 53, licensed since 1978, I am enjoying the heck out of FT8.  It is very different than other modes such as CW or SSB. Why the commotion?  It takes up a couple of KC's on the band and nobody is forcing you to do it. It is allowing people how have smaller

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

ensics.com --- -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Steve Ireland Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 3:25 AM To: Topband reflector Subject: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long) G'day As a committed (yeah, that's probably the

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

om: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of ok1tn >Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 12:26 PM >To: Bob Kupps < n...@yahoo.com > >Cc: Topband reflector < topband@contesting.com >; Steve Ireland < >vk...@arach.net.au > >Subject: Re: Topband:

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

"Has the world really turned upside down and what do you think the future holds?" Hi Steve On the old days we used to call CQ several times and listening, very few people realize what listening really means. It means we need to tune around the band to find someone calling us. Take that knob

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Steve, Thanks for calling me this morning. Good signals. At one time I was interested in EME on 2 Meters. I found out that most of the QSOs were taking lace using some digital means where you didn't even hear the station you were working. My desire went to zero at that point in time.

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

t;topband@contesting.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 4:50 AM Subject: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long) G’day As a committed (yeah, that’s probably the right word - complete with white jacket that laces up at the back) topbander since 1970, I’ve never been so i

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

On Behalf Of ok1tn Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 12:26 PM To: Bob Kupps <n...@yahoo.com> Cc: Topband reflector <topband@contesting.com>; Steve Ireland <vk...@arach.net.au> Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long) Agree completely from me too. over 50yea

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

or<mailto:topband@contesting.com> Subject: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long) G’day As a committed (yeah, that’s probably the right word - complete with white jacket that laces up at the back) topbander since 1970, I’ve never been so intrigued and disturbed by

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

5, 2017 4:26 AM To: Topband reflector<mailto:topband@contesting.com> Subject: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long) G’day As a committed (yeah, that’s probably the right word - complete with white jacket that laces up at the back) topbander since 1970, I’ve never

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

2017 10:25 Till: Topband reflector Ämne: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long) G’day As a committed (yeah, that’s probably the right word - complete with white jacket that laces up at the back) topbander since 1970, I’ve never been so intrigued and disturbed by anything

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

10. 2017 12:17:42 Předmět: Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long) "Agree completely Steve. I was going to build a 2m EME station until I learned that computer to computer Qs were the only thing going on there these daysnot for me.  73 Bob HS0ZIA From: Steve Irel

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

m> Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 3:50 PM Subject: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long) G’day As a committed (yeah, that’s probably the right word - complete with white jacket that laces up at the back) topbander since 1970, I’ve never been so intrigued and disturbed

Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

G’day As a committed (yeah, that’s probably the right word - complete with white jacket that laces up at the back) topbander since 1970, I’ve never been so intrigued and disturbed by anything on the band as the emergence of the Franke-Taylor FT-8 digital mode. For me, radio has always been