Re: Topband: FT8

2023-11-17 Thread Rod Mackintosh
Well done Ross. A real credit to you and I look forward to hearing when you two more countries on 160m. 73 Rod ZL3NW Virus-free.www.avg.com

Topband: FT8

2023-11-17 Thread Ross Johnson
Please think about this , I live on a 600 square metre section. My inverted L with K2AV radial is only 10 metres high. Land is expensive here. In 6 years I have worked 98 countries on top band and we are very isolated. Two mornings ago 4W8X was copyable for 2 hours , best at -08 but my 1

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

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

Re: Topband: FT8 etc.

2021-03-10 Thread Cecil
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

Re: Topband: FT8 etc.

2021-03-10 Thread Hugh Valentine
worry…..Be Happy….” Val N4RJ Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10 From: Steve HA0DU<mailto:ha...@dx.hu> Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 6:58 PM To: topband@contesting.com<mailto:topband@contesting.com> Subject: Topband: FT8 etc. Gentlem

Topband: FT8 etc.

2021-03-10 Thread Steve HA0DU
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

Re: Topband: FT8

2020-05-14 Thread W0MU Mike Fatchett
It is just another FT8 bashing post.  It is why we had to create another list.  I just set up a new filter so I won't be bothered by trolls. W0MU On 5/13/2020 1:03 PM, Ross Johnson wrote: Roger your lack understanding surprises me , and others here. Like your station mine only hears what it

Topband: FT8

2020-05-13 Thread Ross Johnson
Roger your lack understanding surprises me , and others here. Like your station mine only hears what it hears. Ft8 users are not all connected via the net. So its interesting to see on cluster wot other ZLs are hearing or working. I seldom post but some have an ego issue I suspect. And

Re: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

2020-05-13 Thread Jim Brown
On 5/13/2020 7:51 AM, Henk PA5KT via Topband wrote: That is because for some people it can be useful information if they want to make contacts. Yes. Cluster and RBN spots can be quite useful for showing propagation. WSJT-X can be set to automatically post every decode to PSKReporter. Anyone

Re: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

2020-05-13 Thread kolson
at the screen. The cluster can serve both. 73, Kevin K3OX - Original Message - From: Roger Kennedy To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Tue, 12 May 2020 19:58:03 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster Why oh why do some people post on the DX Cluster every FT8 station

Re: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

2020-05-13 Thread John Kaufmann via Topband
I use the VE7CC node for spots. You can filter out FT8 spots on VE7CC via the 'set/noft8' command. 73, John W1FV _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

2020-05-13 Thread Joe Subich, W4TV
The solution is to switch to DXLab Suite (DXKeeper for logging, and SpotCollector for cluster/spotting). SpotCollector allows the operator to block spots based on digital mode - e.g., one can block JT9/JT65/FT4/FT4 spots and still display RTTY spots. The mode of a given spot is identified by

Re: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

2020-05-13 Thread Henk PA5KT via Topband
That is because for some people it can be useful information if they want to make contacts. What is DX or not is up for the listener. There is nothing different then with CW spots. 73 Henk PA5KT Op 13-5-2020 om 01:58 schreef Roger Kennedy: Why oh why do some people post on the DX Cluster

Re: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

2020-05-13 Thread Wes
I think it is probably automatic.  Some are even posting every spot twice.  I emailed one guy and asked him why and he was clueless. Mind you, I only occasionally look at spots on the web (DXScape) so mental filtering is just fine for this Luddite. Wes N7WS On 5/13/2020 7:24 AM,

Re: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

2020-05-13 Thread pwhelton
their software but again I would think it should be configurable. Regards, Pat - KZ5J -Original Message- From: Topband On Behalf Of Roger Kennedy Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2020 6:58 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster Why oh why do some people post on

Re: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

2020-05-12 Thread Joshua Arritt
The Twitter analogy inspires a thought: suppose it were possible to build algorithmic server-side or client-side filtering for DX cluster data to could parse out spots for which you may not be interested. And vice versa... we can do this kind of selective handling at the display level and the

Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

2020-05-12 Thread Roger Kennedy
Mike the DX Cluster I use only shows 160m spots anyway ! Roger G3YRO _ From: Michael Walker [mailto:va...@portcredit.net] Because they can. The DX cluster is like bragging on Twitter. :) May I suggest that you run some filters that are related to your cluster login that only

Re: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

2020-05-12 Thread Michael Walker
Because they can. The DX cluster is like bragging on Twitter. :) May I suggest that you run some filters that are related to your cluster login that only allow spots for those bands you are interested in. Mike va3mw On Tue, May 12, 2020 at 7:58 PM Roger Kennedy wrote: > > Why oh why do

Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

2020-05-12 Thread Roger Kennedy
Why oh why do some people post on the DX Cluster every FT8 station they have heard? One GM station this evening posted 21 stations . . . none of them were even DX ! I don't even see why you would post ANY on the DX Cluster . . . I thought the whole point of FT8 is that you leave your computer

Topband: FT8 and comments.

2020-01-11 Thread John
Hi guys not posted for many years , I worked as a ships Radio Officer for 28 years finally ended career with a Norwegian company working North of 65 degrees on a semi sub offshore drilling rig Dyvi Stena. In the early days had to send reports mostly cw, then later creed teleprinter horrible

Topband: FT8!!

2019-08-04 Thread Salvatore Ted K2QMF
Meghan Markle Confirms Unfortunate News track.volutrk.com http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5d4749f89dc0649f87116st04duc _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: FT8 on 160 - how you can make a difference

2019-08-04 Thread George Taft via Topband
Mark etal Using CW, I've worked DXCC on Topband for at least the past ten "seasons" including 2018/2019. But last year was the most skimpy with just 105 in the log. Peak was several years ago at 155. I use July 1 - June 30 as a "season". Mebbe when the new mode fad settles, CW on 160 may agn

Re: Topband: FT8 on 160 - how you can make a difference

2019-08-03 Thread Mark K3MSB
Jerry You said " Yes DX last year on 160 CW was pretty scarce" and other have made a similar comment. Are you referring to new ones, or just DX in general?I worked 16 new ones on CW last season and understand that "scarce" can be different depending upon how many DXCC one already has worked.

Re: Topband: FT8 on 160 - how you can make a difference

2019-08-03 Thread K4SAV
NR2DX asked: "If read your post correctly you are saying that you are working against an ambient noise level of 20-30 db over S9 is that correct.? " No. The S9+20 to 30 dB is the S meter reading when all the FT8 stations are transmitting after the band opens a little. Receiver bandwidth was

Re: Topband: FT8 on 160 - how you can make a difference

2019-08-03 Thread Paul Mclaren
For me it is quite simple CW and SSB when I am in the shack and FT8 when I am not. It’s the same for all bands and has actually increased my enjoyment and access to the radio. I don’t have the luxury to spend hours in the shack so finding out what is being received when I am busy is a definite

Re: Topband: FT8 on 160 - how you can make a difference

2019-08-03 Thread Phil Duff
> On Aug 3, 2019, at 4:32 PM, Cecil wrote: > > I worked very little DX on 6M until FT8 so there is still something more > going on than you have discovered in your testing. > > Cecil > K5DL > From my experience - it's simply that there is much more DX using FT8 on all bands than other

Re: Topband: FT8 on 160 - how you can make a difference

2019-08-03 Thread Artek Manuals
Dave If read your post correctly you are saying that you are working against an ambient noise level of 20-30 db over S9 is that correct.? And for starters your measurements are made against that background did I understand that correctly? Trying to keep this simple Dave NR1DX On

Re: Topband: FT8 on 160 - how you can make a difference

2019-08-03 Thread Cecil
I worked very little DX on 6M until FT8 so there is still something more going on than you have discovered in your testing. Cecil K5DL Sent from my iPad > On Aug 3, 2019, at 4:23 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: > > Have you attempted to open a conversation with the creators of the mode and >

Re: Topband: FT8 on 160 - how you can make a difference

2019-08-03 Thread W0MU Mike Fatchett
Have you attempted to open a conversation with the creators of the mode and discuss what you are seeing?  They seem like they are quite knowledgeable.  How can you disprove their claims of weak signal mode when you are not sure how they are coming up with their numbers? I never heard EU or JA

Topband: FT8

2019-08-01 Thread Ross Johnson
Interesting reading, this proves to me beyond dough at least some cw operators feel they are superior and any other means of communication is below them. I passed the cw test here in 1976 but rarely us it , might try to work the odd Dxpedition . It doesn’t help when they wont slow down for

Topband: FT8

2019-02-04 Thread Craig Clark
2. Re: FT8 vs other modes This discussion has been fascinating for the breadth and depth of opinions. The fundamental fact however is that this is a hobby with a wide range of options. FT8 will not be the end of CW operation. It is just another mode. Life is change. We cannot "live" in the

Re: Topband: FT8 vs other modes - my numbers.

2019-02-03 Thread Arthur Delibert
Well said. Thank you. From: Topband on behalf of Cecil Acuff Sent: Sunday, February 3, 2019 7:06 PM To: DXer Cc: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 vs other modes - my numbers. Yeah the elitist attitude of CW being the only thing that’s real

Re: Topband: FT8 vs other modes - my numbers.

2019-02-03 Thread Cecil Acuff
Yeah the elitist attitude of CW being the only thing that’s real that seems to permeate this list at times is quite stale. I work CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8whatever gets the contact in the log...it’s all radiotake the radio away or have Mother Nature take the path down and nothing gets

Topband: FT8 vs other modes - my numbers.

2019-02-03 Thread DXer
Tim, You wrote in your reply to Mike, W0MU: >...you are buying into a myth that both supporters and detractors of FT8 perpetuate. The myth that FT8 is superior for DX'ing, to other modes. With all due respect, I think you are 'buying' into the 'red herring' that some are using to 'bad

Re: Topband: FT8 vs other modes - my numbers

2019-02-03 Thread Jeff Blaine
Tim, My take on the popularity is explained this way.  FT8 has an SNR advantage over CW of around 5 dB, PSK31 - about 10 dB and SSB of more than 15 dB.  So for a given set of link conditions, FT8 result in a Q in the log more often than the other modes. Add in the poor prop conditions and

Re: Topband: FT8 vs other modes - my numbers

2019-02-03 Thread Tim Shoppa
Mike, you are buying into a myth that both supporters and detractors of FT8 perpetuate. The myth that FT8 is superior for DX'ing, to other modes. 2018 was my "year of FT8". I participated in several on-air WSJT new feature tests including DXpedition mode testing. I spent the vast majority of my

Re: Topband: FT8 vs other modes - my numbers

2019-02-02 Thread W0MU Mike Fatchett
FT8 was not created to be a rate mode.  It is a weak signal mode.  For those of us a long way from the East Coast and salt it allows us to work stations that we probably had very little shot of working without FT8. Productive in what way?  To work new ones?  Check!    DXing is not necessarily

Topband: FT8 vs other modes - my numbers

2019-02-01 Thread Tim Shoppa
There are some untrue things being assumed here, as if they are advantages to FT8 that make FT8 be a more productive mode for DX'ing. In fact FT8 is the least productive of all modes I used in 2018. And I was on FT8 a lot in 2018. I tried hard to be productive in FT8 - measured in Q's per hour,

Topband: FT8 (again)

2019-02-01 Thread Tree
I think the time has come to wind down the discussion on FT8 here. I think it has been discussed enough for everyone to have their views and I don't think more discussion is going to change anyone's mind about how they feel about it. This is not something well aligned to the focus of this list.

Re: Topband: EK8ZT on Topband FT8

2018-12-28 Thread Gary Smith
LOL, oh comeon, enough carping, I've made hundreds of QSOs, many of them CW, while driving. 73, Gary KA1J > [sigh] > > On 12/28/2018 10:33 AM, Tim Duffy wrote: > > even cooking dinner at the same time! > > > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband -

Re: Topband: EK8ZT on Topband FT8

2018-12-28 Thread Wes Stewart
[sigh] On 12/28/2018 10:33 AM, Tim Duffy wrote: even cooking dinner at the same time! _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Topband: EK8ZT on Topband FT8

2018-12-28 Thread Tim Duffy
Being that K8ZT is a friend of mine, I asked him if he was on FT8 160 meters yesterday around sunset. Anthony responded that he was on and made several 160 meter FT8 QSOs, and even cooking dinner at the same time! Probably WD4ELG heard Anthony, K8ZT in Ohio grid EN91 73 Tim K3LR

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-25 Thread Chuck Dietz
the > article, > the test was CW at 12 wpm and 9 Hz filter BW , no ring using WWV as time > source for the synchronization. > > That was state of the art back in the early 70's, almost 50 years ago. > > 73's > JC > N4IS > > > -Original Message- > From: Topband [

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-24 Thread JC
-Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of K4SAV Sent: Monday, December 24, 2018 3:10 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works Although I have finished my FT8 testing, there is one final thought I would like to leave

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-24 Thread Tim Shoppa
t from Mail for Windows 10 > > From: K4SAV > Sent: Monday, December 24, 2018 2:10 PM > To: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works > > Although I have finished my FT8 testing, there is one final thought I > would like to leave with you, a

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-24 Thread Eugene Popov /RA0FF/ via Topband
stations! > >Just sayin’. > >Chuck W5PR > >Sent from Mail for Windows 10 > >From: K4SAV >Sent: Monday, December 24, 2018 2:10 PM >To: topband@contesting.com >Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works > >Although I have finished my FT8 testing, th

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-24 Thread Chuck Dietz
sayin’. Chuck W5PR Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: K4SAV Sent: Monday, December 24, 2018 2:10 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works Although I have finished my FT8 testing, there is one final thought I would like to leave with you, and also to correct

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-24 Thread K4SAV
Although I have finished my FT8 testing, there is one final thought I would like to leave with you, and also to correct one statement I made earlier. Someone thought FT8 measured the noise in the interval when the FT8 signals were off, and I replied that would result in a real S/N number.

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-22 Thread James M. Roop
Jerry, If you would like to do some mid-day comparison testing between FT8 and CW, let me know. Looks like the path length is about 400 miles. Jim, K9SE _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-22 Thread K4SAV
Still doing FT8 testing this morning 3 hours after sunrise I looked for something resembling dead band conditions with only a few weak stations. There was nothing on 160 but the west coast guys were still on 80. They were weak but there. They would have been good copy on CW but FT8 was

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-21 Thread K4SAV
Yesterday I said " I don't have a measurement with the results of that showdown of CW versus FT8 in dead band conditions but the answer would be interesting to know." This afternoon I tried to get an answer to that. I wanted to see if FT8 would decode a station I couldn't hear. I wanted

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-20 Thread jon jones
Jerry: Clever way to evaluate FT8 SNR reports with your VFO 1 and 2 comparisons. I often see positive numbers on FT8 160 meter signal reports for strong stations on FT8. For example -- if a station is S9 + 10 dB audible, then it reads a positive number for the FT8 signal report. At the risk

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-20 Thread Martin
Correct me if im wrong: A K3 owner could easily check this. You need 2 computers, running WSJT on both. Don't know if you can run 2 instances of WSJT on a single computer. Feed the left channel from LINE OUT (=mainRX) to one instance of FT-8 and the right channel (=sub-RX) to the other

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-20 Thread Patrik Hrvatin
Hi,Narroving filter in WSJT-X digi modes will degrade decodes! Best performance you'll get using wide open filters on you radio.I sugest you to look at the WSJT-X archives and find the answer to your question by the author it self - K1JT.As we are radio Amateurs i beleive its worth to

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-20 Thread Joe Subich, W4TV
On 2018-12-20 11:45 AM, K4SAV wrote: > In the case of a crowded band it becomes obvious that CW is much > superior to decoding a weak signal because all those strong signals > limit the ability of FT8 to decode a weak signal. That is only true if you leave AGC enabled and the strong signals

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-20 Thread K4SAV
Thanks to the folks commenting on how FT8 works. VE3KI said: "The noise floor the wsjt-x signal is referenced to is the noise within the bandpass during the two-second period when no-one is transmitting, not the signal level when people are transmitting." That was what I originally thought

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-20 Thread ly2ij
HI, Thanks for sharing experience! Question to FT8 and "noise" relations - In usual case everything in passband is noise except signal of interest. So with only one FT8 signal and white noise in passband S/N can be increased narrowing passband till it matches signal width. EME guys know that

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-19 Thread K4SAV
That would be my definition of noise power also. That would not help explain the numbers produced by FT8. It's curious that my VFO1 - VFO2 measurement produces numbers very close to what FT8 reports. I have no information as to why that should be, only measurements that produce those

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-19 Thread Joe Subich, W4TV
Is the definition of "noise floor" being changed for FT8? WSJT-X (and WSJT before that) defines noise as the integrated value of noise (noise power) across the 2500 Hz (approximately based on the receiver filter) receive bandwidth. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 2018-12-19 9:57 PM, K4SAV wrote:

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-19 Thread K4SAV
Joe, thanks for the information. I am not exactly sure what all that means. My conclusions were based on observed data. It seems pretty obvious to me that a signal that is more than 50 dB above the noise floor should not receive a S/N number of -1 dB, which is what FT8 gives. I don't know

Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-19 Thread Joe Subich, W4TV
On 2018-12-19 4:28 PM, K4SAV wrote: > The official documentation for FT8 says it will decode signals 24 dB > below the noise floor. That is not a correct statement most of the > time. No, that is a correct statement. Signal reports in WSJT-X for FT8, JT65 and JT9 are *all* measured *with

Topband: FT8 - How it really works

2018-12-19 Thread K4SAV
While sitting around being bored and recovering from a gall bladder operation, I decided to do some experiments with FT8. First thing I did was upgrade the software to WSJT-X v2.0. I hope this post doesn't turn into another FT8 bashing session. My only goal was to understand how this mode

Re: Topband: FT8 Tonight

2018-07-19 Thread WW3S
If you are decoding them they are not "just listening". Sent from my iPad > On Jul 19, 2018, at 6:02 PM, CT1EKD wrote: > > MIKE > You can find DH5CW/ DP0GVN Matthias at the ON4KST chat, he as a modest > antenna for TX. > Check with him, and ask him to reply to you. > > Pedro - CT1EKD

Re: Topband: FT8 Tonight

2018-07-19 Thread W0MU Mike Fatchett
Thanks...I never thought to look there.  I am usually hanging out on the 50mhz  chat. On 7/19/2018 4:02 PM, CT1EKD wrote: MIKE You can find  DH5CW/ DP0GVN Matthias  at the ON4KST chat, he as a modest antenna for TX. Check with him, and ask him to reply to you. Pedro - CT1EKD Citando W0MU

Re: Topband: FT8 Tonight

2018-07-16 Thread Grant Saviers
Interesting. Must be a fun place in the middle of Antarctic winter and keeping a 160m antenna up. OTOH, they can lay wire on the ice for a 660 ft elevated dipole. I had 3 SSB QSO's with them on 20m when I was MM in the Southern Ocean Jan 2017. From the newbies on the radio I think getting

Topband: FT8 Tonight

2018-07-15 Thread W0MU Mike Fatchett
Once again being decoded at DP0GVN  -15db.  No contact is it appear they are just listening. _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: FT8 Observations

2018-04-25 Thread VK3HJ
Having no interest in FT8 or JT modes (for now), I don't have much to comment on that, but do have a few comments on the subsequent discussion. My feeling is that, as mentioned already, many stations haven't made a decent job of improving their receiving capability, or are unable to do so.

Re: Topband: FT8 Observations

2018-04-25 Thread K4SAV
I'm not sure how many people have actually compared the new digital modes with CW as far as low signal level decoding. I did that for a long time when JT-65 first became available. Back then it was much easier to separate one station and compare the reported S/N to what I see on my receiver

Re: Topband: FT8 Observations

2018-04-25 Thread Joe Subich, W4TV
On 2018-04-23 12:08 PM, Tim Shoppa wrote: On being able to hear signals at -12 to -17 dB on FT8, I do broadly > agree. A CW signal at those levels would be easily heard and copied > by any decent CW operator. -12 to -17 dB on FT8 (or any of the other "JT modes") is signal to noise + QRM in a

Re: Topband: FT8 Observations

2018-04-25 Thread Mike Waters
I have no idea how FT8 compares with other weak-signal digital modes (such as the ones that JT himself wrote), Dave. If no one knows here, then Google is your friend. :-) As for waiting until next fall and winter, keep in mind that we are approaching the southern hemisphere's fall and winter.

Re: Topband: FT8 Observations

2018-04-25 Thread David Olean
  Hi Mike and all who responded.     I guess I was just underwhelmed at what I could accomplish on FT8 vs CW on 160.  I figured it would open up a whole new level of rare countries and places that were now workable to me. Working Kazakhstan on 160 CW from my location is difficult, but doable

Re: Topband: FT8 Observations

2018-04-25 Thread Grant Saviers
Dave, Remember that the reported S/N is relative to the receive station noise + QRM level. Since many TB stations don't have your antennas and have high noise, they can't decode you or report a poor S/N. I get +9 and -18 reports from YB stations a hundred KM apart. It's not spotlight

Re: Topband: FT8 Observations

2018-04-25 Thread Mike DeChristopher
Hi Dave, In my [very, very, extremely] limited experiences with any of the JT modes, it has always seemed to me that many are alligators. I think the FT8 craze has inspired a lot of people to get on 160 with compromise tx antennas -- this is a good thing -- but I'm not sure they realize how much

Re: Topband: FT8 Observations

2018-04-25 Thread Tim Shoppa
On being able to hear signals at -12 to -17 dB on FT8, I do broadly agree. A CW signal at those levels would be easily heard and copied by any decent CW operator. I think a lot of the FT8 “processing gain” claims, assumes a really poor CW operator. A 0dB FT8 signal is not at noise level, it is

Topband: FT8 Observations

2018-04-23 Thread David Olean
I have been playing around with FT8 on 160M and am a bit puzzled. I have made plenty of contacts, but with many stations, it seems to require an inordinate amount of power to get their attention, or they do not respond at all. I also have noted that I can hear in a 2.8 kHz passband, signals

Re: Topband: FT8 discussion

2017-12-01 Thread VK3HJ
- From: Chuck Dietz Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2017 12:09 PM To: Mike Waters ; Tree Cc: topband Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 discussion I know this has been “Discussed Out,” but I just want to ask why the window is in the 1840 area instead of the 1990 area? _ Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: FT8 qrm & Bandplanning History on 160m

2017-12-01 Thread VK3HJ
The 160 m Band Plan was only fairly recently formalised in Australia, a decade or so ago. We have 1800 - 1875 kHz, with the CW sub-band 1810 - 1840 kHz. The digital narrow band modes seem to have established themselves on 1838 here with no great problems, but there are few users of the band

Re: Topband: FT8 Usage or CW QRM

2017-11-30 Thread Joe Subich, W4TV
On 11/30/2017 6:05 AM, Ed Sawyer wrote: There is a simple way to solve the 1840 problem. Just "update the app" to default to 1980 and the whole 2.5khz crowd will move up there. The FT8 operator has every right to operate in an area that will allow him international QSOs - just as CW and SSB

Re: Topband: FT8 qrm & Bandplanning History on 160m

2017-11-30 Thread Joe Subich, W4TV
g events (eg: contests). 73 JEFF K1ZM/VY2ZM -Original Message- From: Ed Sawyer <sawye...@earthlink.net> To: topband <topband@contesting.com> Sent: Wed, Nov 29, 2017 7:44 pm Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 qrm I'm sorry but I don't buy the argument that the way to be a "gentle

Re: Topband: FT8 discussion

2017-11-30 Thread DXer
With a 1 minute cycle, where only 46 seconds of it is payload, like in JT65 and JT9, a CW id is possible, and indeed available, to those that want to activate it. Not feasible with a 15 seconds cycle where 13 seconds is payload. If CW id becomes mandatory, it may be the end of FT8, to the delight

Topband: FT8 discussion

2017-11-30 Thread Roger Kennedy
I agree totally that a good place for an FT8 segment on Top Band would be up around 1.990 Mhz . . . However, many parts of the world (including a lot of Europe) aren't licensed to use that part of the band ! (I suspect that's why 1.840 was chosen - sadly) I also agree that anyone transmitting

Re: Topband: FT8 Usage or CW QRM

2017-11-30 Thread DXer
I respect your right to enjoy not enjoying FT8, or any other mode for that matter. I'll side with you every time this right is challenged. Bottom line is, nature hates vacuum. If a section of a band is not used most of the time, it may be 'adopted' by another SIG. There is strength in numbers,

Re: Topband: FT8 Usage or CW QRM

2017-11-30 Thread Michael Walker
The beauty of any mode, not just FT8, is that no makes you use it. If you don't like it, that is fine. Don't. However, this is many a night, even recently, where there are a bunch of guys on FT8 including good DX and only 1 guy on CW if that. For all you complaining about not liking it, that

Re: Topband: FT8 discussion

2017-11-30 Thread Rob Atkinson
Actually the problem with the alleged QRM and FT8 is more about simply identifying ham computerized modes of digital transmission and reception and separating them out from the rest of the noise generated by poorly filtered appliances, leaky cable TV, power line data communications etc. I am

Re: Topband: FT8 Usage or CW QRM

2017-11-30 Thread Bill Cromwell
Hi Ed, On 160 meters (as well as other bands) there are the gentlemen's agreements that do depend on gentlemen. As long as the FT* folks are behaving in a civilized manner I say they should just get on the air and take their chances like everybody else. Personally I am completely

Re: Topband: FT8 Usage or CW QRM

2017-11-30 Thread Ed Sawyer
The more I hear and learn about FT8, the more amazingly bad this mode sounds. There is a simple way to solve the 1840 problem. Just "update the app" to default to 1980 and the whole 2.5khz crowd will move up there. Amazingly, most won't even know they moved, they will just wonder why their

Re: Topband: FT8 discussion

2017-11-29 Thread k8gg
Ladies and Gentlemen, Isn't it time to just stop the discussion?? 73, George, K8GG _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Topband: FT8 Usage or CW QRM? :^)

2017-11-29 Thread DXer
>>No one 'owns" a band segment on 160M under what is a VOLUNTARY >>BANDPLAN - and the band segments do "flex" in contests when there is >>so much activity to warrant the overlap that naturally occurs. The concept described above may have worked from time immemorial, up to, and excluding, the

Re: Topband: FT8 qrm & Bandplanning History on 160m

2017-11-29 Thread Tim Shoppa
t would >> (most likely) create a lot of food fights going forward. >> At the end of the day - we must respect that 160M is a most UNUSUAL band and >> there are no really HARD ans FAST inviolate sub-bands in the traditional >> sense that we find on the higher bands. >> Person

Re: Topband: FT8 qrm & Bandplanning History on 160m

2017-11-29 Thread Joe Subich, W4TV
: contests). 73 JEFF K1ZM/VY2ZM -Original Message- From: Ed Sawyer <sawye...@earthlink.net> To: topband <topband@contesting.com> Sent: Wed, Nov 29, 2017 7:44 pm Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 qrm I'm sorry but I don't buy the argument that the way to be a "gentlema

Re: Topband: FT8 discussion

2017-11-29 Thread Chuck Dietz
I know this has been “Discussed Out,” but I just want to ask why the window is in the 1840 area instead of the 1990 area? They are asking for QRM at 1840. It will be a losing battle during contests. Just sayin’ Chuck W5PR Sent from Mail for Windows 10 _ Topband Reflector

Topband: FT8 qrm & Bandplanning History on 160m

2017-11-29 Thread Roger Kennedy
Hi Jeff Agree with most of your comments . . . However - if there was a 160m CW sub-band, it might be a RULE in the USA . . . but it wouldn't apply elsewhere . . . So what would be the point?! I think 160m works pretty well as it is. (and compared to all the other bands, it's still the most

Re: Topband: FT8 and digital QRM

2017-11-29 Thread Michael Clarson
160 is the only HF band where all HF modes (except CW) have no restrictions. The FT8 guys will really enjoy the CQ WW 160 SSB contest! At least 160 isn't all that useful to the 2.8 kHz wide Sailmail guys -- they really use the full 2.8 kHz. The band segmants are pretty consistent on all the bands.

Re: Topband: FT8 qrm & Bandplanning History on 160m

2017-11-29 Thread Rich C
; and there are no really HARD ans FAST inviolate sub-bands in the > traditional sense that we find on the higher bands. > > > Personally - I am not an FT8 user - but I respect the rights of others to > use this new mode. We cannot hold back technology here - that never > works ver

Re: Topband: FT8 qrm & Bandplanning History on 160m

2017-11-29 Thread k1zm--- via Topband
to be FLEXIBLE - especially during competitive operating events (eg: contests). 73 JEFF K1ZM/VY2ZM -Original Message- From: Ed Sawyer <sawye...@earthlink.net> To: topband <topband@contesting.com> Sent: Wed, Nov 29, 2017 7:44 pm Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 qrm I'm

Re: Topband: FT8 qrm - 3khz wideband digital

2017-11-29 Thread HP
My two cents is - at least with FT8 so far 99.99 percent of the folks stay in the 2 - 3 khz segment . I am amazed I see virtually nothing about the proliferation of 3 khz wideband digital two way hash on all HF bands . For instance last night on the ZA1WW on 3536 , it covered both the ZA and

Topband: FT8 and digital QRM

2017-11-29 Thread Ralph Parker
>I noticed a few freq cops on the cluster announcements where some FT8 users think they deserve clear >space which we know does not exist is a shared band that we have. What I have failed to understand over the years is why the digital stations were 'assigned' a spot in the middle of the 'CW

Re: Topband: FT8 qrm

2017-11-29 Thread cqtestk4xs--- via Topband
KH7XS/K4XS -Original Message- From: Greg <n...@windstream.net> To: 'topband' <topband@contesting.com> Sent: Wed, Nov 29, 2017 7:26 pm Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 qrm Jeez -- enough already...how difficult is it to avoid 2.5 khz of bandwidth that is not even in the DX portion of the band! Lea

Re: Topband: FT8 discussion

2017-11-29 Thread Mike Waters
Well said. Just a few weeks ago, someone made the point that we should be thankful that there is activity up there. The gist of it was that during the year, much of the time the only activity on 160m is digital. "Use it or lose it" was his point. I do not wish to discuss this. 73, Mike

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