Re: Topband: Rx splinter

[David Cutter via Topband]

You might look at Cross Country Wireless for a high performance multicoupler:
http://www.crosscountrywireless.net/multicoupler.htm
Look at the IP3

David G3UNA-G6CP

-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of vk2wf
Sent: 01 February 2019 22:03
To: WW3S; topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Rx splinter

In the professional / commercial world a receiver multicoupler is used to 
connect a number of receivers to one antenna.
RegardsAdrian vk2wf 


Sent from my SAMSUNG Galaxy S7 on the Telstra Mobile Network
 Original message From: WW3S  Date: 
2/2/19  7:50 am  (GMT+10:00) To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Rx 
splinter What’s the best way to split one rx antenna between 2 transceivers?

Sent from my iPad
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Re: Topband: Rx splinter

[N4ZR]

Mini-circuits also makes a passive splitter (ZFSC-2-4)that works fine 
for this - though any passive device will cost you 3.5-4 dB


73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the Reverse Beacon Network
at , now
spotting RTTY activity worldwide.
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.

On 2/1/2019 3:50 PM, WW3S wrote:

What’s the best way to split one rx antenna between 2 transceivers?

Sent from my iPad
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Re: Topband: Rx splinter

[vk2wf]

In the professional / commercial world a receiver multicoupler is used to 
connect a number of receivers to one antenna.
RegardsAdrian vk2wf 


Sent from my SAMSUNG Galaxy S7 on the Telstra Mobile Network
 Original message From: WW3S  Date: 
2/2/19  7:50 am  (GMT+10:00) To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Rx 
splinter 
What’s the best way to split one rx antenna between 2 transceivers?

Sent from my iPad
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Re: Topband: Rx splinter

[Peter]

Hi

May I throw up the BCC splitter?
http://www.bavarian-contest-club.de/projects/misc_projects/splitter.pdf

Peter
PC2A

9 circle RX array PCB's
https://www.pi4cc.nl/tech-info/rx-array/


Op 1-2-2019 om 21:50 schreef WW3S:

What’s the best way to split one rx antenna between 2 transceivers?

Sent from my iPad
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Re: Topband: Rx splinter

[VE6WZ Steve]

https://www.w8ji.com/combiner_and_splitters.htm



From Babcocks iPhone

> On Feb 1, 2019, at 1:50 PM, WW3S  wrote:
> 
> What’s the best way to split one rx antenna between 2 transceivers?
> 
> Sent from my iPad
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Re: Topband: Rx splinter

[Chortek, Robert L.]

I’ve also used KD9SV products with great success.

73,

Bob AA6VB 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 1, 2019, at 1:00 PM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM  wrote:
> 
> FOR SURE KD9SV PRODUCTS
> 
> https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/svp-sv-rsc
> 
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
> 
>> El vie., 1 feb. 2019 a las 17:50, WW3S () escribió:
>> 
>> What’s the best way to split one rx antenna between 2 transceivers?
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
>> _
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>> Reflector
>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: Topband: Rx splinter

[Jorge Diez - CX6VM]

FOR SURE KD9SV PRODUCTS

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/svp-sv-rsc

73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W

El vie., 1 feb. 2019 a las 17:50, WW3S () escribió:

> What’s the best way to split one rx antenna between 2 transceivers?
>
> Sent from my iPad
> _
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> Reflector
>


-- 
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Topband: Rx splinter

[WW3S]

What’s the best way to split one rx antenna between 2 transceivers?

Sent from my iPad
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Topband: ZL3IX topband QSO

[Andree DL8LAS via Topband]

 Hey topbanders,
nice opening to ZL tonight.Worked ZL3IX by my first call.Very nice sig from 
Greg,a soundfile from this  QSO is on my homepage
www.dl8las.com
vy 73 Andy DL8LAS  / DR5X
 
www.dl8las.com
www.swing-company-bigband.de/
www.uni-big-band-kiel.de/
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Re: Topband: FT-8

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: w5zn 
> .snip
> Last weekend leading up to and during CQWW 160, all of the FT8 folks
> bitterly complained that the CW guys had taken over the entire band and
> destroyed FT8.
> .snip


In the US anyway, it was pretty clear to me that folks were steering clear
of 1840 thru and including 1843. But contesters were operating at 1839.5
and 1839.7 and 1844. The FT8 signals did not seem to be occupying close to
the edges though. Can't speak to what was going on in Europe.

There *were* some absolutely bodacious signals in the contest, a lot of
them. 20 or 30 over S9 on a calibrated K3. All the way, 1800 to 1840, 1845
to 1875. Think the SSB guys that live on 1850 and 1847 LSB were hearing a
lot of CW, and probably just turned on their autonotch.

I do think some cheap front ends, or too broad IF's may have been
absolutely CRUSHED by the sum RF signal voltage on the band. The answer
there, as always when one needs a clear 10 kHz to keep front end or IF's
from going mush, is to get a modern receiver. The K3 is into its 11th year
since release. Time enough to modernize a bit.

I thought it was rather decent of the boys to stay away from the FT8 slot.

73, Guy K2AV
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Topband: FT8 vs other modes - my numbers

[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, or DXCC , or any other quantitative measure. And FT8 was far
and away the least productive mode for me.

You will note I am no stranger to digital modes - I am often in top 3 of CQ
WW RTTY in USA SO HP(A). So please take for granted that I am competent at
digital modes and my poor FT8 results are not because I'm a poor digital
mode operator.

In below calculations I use "half hour off time" calculations, in
calculating on time for each mode. "Half hour off time" calculations are
super commonly done in contests.

In 2018 I was on CW for 481 hours. I made 32610 QSO's for a rate of 68 per
hour and worked 185 DXCC.

In 2018 I was on SSB for 107 hours. I made 7344 QSO's for a rate of 69 per
hour and worked 104 DXCC.

In 2018 I was on RTTY for 250 hours. I made 13319 QSO's for a rate of 53
per hour and worked 117 DXCC's.

In 2018 I was on FT8 for 376 hours. I made 6460 QSO's for a rate of 17 per
hour and worked 110 DXCC's.

BY ANY QUANTITATIVE MEASURE, FT8 was my least productive mode by far.

I DO NOT HAVE A SUPERSTATION. In fact I just have a single wire antenna.
But I have worked hard on developing my operating skills in all modes in my
40 years of being a ham.

If I had to choose one mode in 2019 to exercise and improve my skills, it
would be phone. I can get on for a half hour in Tuesday night phone fray
with 100W and make Q's at a rate of 40-60Q's an hour (rates completely
unachievable with FT8). While I have greatly improved my phone skills in
the past couple years, I still think there's lots of room for improvement!

Tim N3QE
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Topband: Reverse Beacon Network

[Paul Christensen]

>"This trend began rising dramatically during November, 2018."

Sorry, meant, November, 2017.

Paul, W9AC

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Re: Topband: Reverse Beacon Network

[JAYB1943]

The reason PSK reporter is so one-sided to FT8 is that the WSJT software 
AUTOMATICALLY sends the spot to PSK Reporter. If you are on CW or SSB, you 
have to MANUALLY enter your spot on PSK Reporter. Don’t draw too many 
conclusions from the PSK graphs, they are substantially FT8 reports. 
However, they sure do give you an indication what bands are open and in what 
direction; but be advised that many FT8 operators forget to change the band 
selection on WSJT-X when they change bands. This results in erroneous band 
reporting on PSK but still a good indicator of band conditions.
   jay ny2ny 
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Re: Topband: FT-8

[cqtestk4xs--- via Topband]

The catch is DAILY operating.  Few signals on 160 CW anymore...that's the rub.
KH7XS


-Original Message-
From: w5zn 
To: topband 
Sent: Fri, Feb 1, 2019 1:33 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: FT-8

This is all very comical to me and reached a hilarious high point last 
weekend. All of the CW folks say FT8 has destroyed CW activity on the 
band.

Last weekend leading up to and during CQWW 160, all of the FT8 folks 
bitterly complained that the CW guys had taken over the entire band and 
destroyed FT8.

I'm not a judge and don't stay in a Holiday Inn Express but it appears 
to me both modes are healthy!

73 Joel W5ZN

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Re: Topband: Reverse Beacon Network

[Paul Christensen]

>"However going to reversebeacon.net and entering my callsign - I can find
out that I am indeed getting out and the band is open..."

If PSKReporter is to believed, total global CW activity across bands is now
less than 1% of FT8.  For example, look at the report for the last 12 hours
(0.4%).  This trend began rising dramatically during November, 2018.  

We can all pretend it's "band conditions" driving these statistics, but I
think it's much more than that.  The numbers show that FT8 has become an
insatiable HF video game. 

https://pskreporter.info/cgi-bin/pskstats.pl

I have no idea as to the accuracy of input drivers that make the reported
statistics, nor how it's all compiled.  Anyone?

Paul, W9AC

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Re: Topband: JAs in "droves"

[MICHAEL ST ANGELO]

HF frequencies are not really used for communications these days except for 
backup or emergency purposes. Ironically, this fact will take the pressure off 
of auctioning the Amateur 160 Meter and HF bands.
I worked for two companies that ran HF Coastal stations, ITT and AT  ITT 
wanted to close the  stations in the late 1970's and sell the valuable real 
estate. They could not shut down unless the circuits could be handled by an 
alternative carrier or service.
 I visited the WSL Southampton receiving site in in 1979. They handled Marine 
Wireless Telegraph(CW), SITOR and were the receiving site for ARINC 
Aeronautical SSB. They had one commercial HF point-to-point circuit, a 
diplomatic RTTY circuit from the UN to Havana, Cuba. The equipment consisted of 
two Hammarlund SuperPRO receivers run by a Northern Radio stabilized 
oscillator. These boatanchors were probably installed in the 1960's. 
They could not close down the site until they found an alternate facility for 
the diplomatic circuit. They offered to move the circuit to a cable or 
satellite facility but the Cuban's did not budge;they wanted a HF circuit. The 
diplomatic circuit was eventually moved to WLO and the site shut down. ARINC 
set up their own stations. Marine services were handled by other carries and 
eventually Global Wireless. I don't know if Global Wireless does HF any more.
If you thing of it, the 20th century was the heyday of HF communications. The 
sunspot peaks in 57-58 an 69-70 offered great propagation; we probably will not 
see peaks close to that in our lifetime.
Remember, this is a hobby and make the most of it.
Mike N2MS 


> One of these days, ham radio will be no more. Commercial users have had their
> eyes on those frequencies for years and sooner or later, they will get them. 
> In
> the USA, money talks and they have a lot of money!
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> Brad Anbro, N9EN
> Bluff City, Tennessee
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Re: Topband: JA's came in droves today on 160

[Jamie WW3S]

I like the boating reference.I myself use fishing.theres all 
kinds of fishing.salt water, freshwater, etcsome guys like to 
just fish on the weekend (ragchewers?), maybe just fish with old friends 
or family once in a while..some folks like to tie their own flies ( 
homebrewers?)some folks like big fish on lite lines 
(qrpers?)some folks like trout in the streams, some like bass in the 
lake.some are "pro" fisherman, big rigs, enormous HP motors, all the 
fancy gadgets (contesters?), some catch and release, some fish to 
eat...but in the end, its all fishing, and they dont bitch about 
each other.


-- Original Message --
From: "GEORGE WALLNER" 
To: "topband@contesting.com" 
Sent: 2/1/2019 10:11:31 AM
Subject: Re: Topband: JA's came in droves today on 160


Terry makes the crucial point: FT8 (and the likes) should be in a different 
class. Other hobbies do that: sailboats don't race against power boats, etc.
I don't think that there is much point arguing whether FT8 is Amateur Radio or 
not. It is. I don't care for it, but I have been involved with enough FT8 
efforts to see that it has many aspects of what we call Amateur Radio. FT8 has 
its place by attracting a different cohort of operators. It is also true that 
it requires less effort, but that suits some people just fine. (Many FT8 
operators watch movies, are on the Internet, etc., while working FT8.)
It is lamentable that often when the CW segment is empty, the FT8 segment is 
busy. But that is not the fault of the FT8 operators. Regardless, CW is alive 
and well: witness the CQ160 CW contest. It was super busy (most of the time) 
and far more exciting than FT8 ever will be.

73,
George,
AA7JV/C6AGU




On Thu, 31 Jan 2019 13:59:06 -0800 (PST)
 terry burge  wrote:

JWIT,

Or to put it, just what I think. Paul's description of how WSPR and FT8 can/is 
automatic points out what a lot of us object to. It would not be bad IF they 
had a separate class for DXCC for the digital modes just because it can be like 
'shooting fish in a barrel'. Some of us have work over 40 years to build a 
great DXCC total. Now FT8 comes along and apparently you can do it in a few 
weeks. We are at the bottom of the sunspot cycle but when it gets good see how 
long it takes to get a DXCC with FT8. People who have been around for a few 
cycles know the 'work the world with a wet noodle' expression can be valid up 
on 10 meters. So imagine what FT8 can do. Can that be compared to working them 
yourself by hand with CW or phone?

It just should not be considered when competing with CW or SSB. It is too easy. 
And automating contacts just threatens to destroy the whole basis of DXCC and 
perhaps DX'ing. Make a different class for the digital modes on DXCC at try to 
keep the challenge in ham radio.
That's my feeling anyhow.
Terry
KI7M

On January 31, 2019 at 1:37 PM MICHAEL ST ANGELO  wrote:


I don't understand why there is such uproar for FT-8 while some of those people 
use DX Spotting while operating. Both are computer assisted applications. we've 
been doing spotting for years.
It's up to the user. I prefer CW but may use FT-8 in he future. The genie is 
out of the bottle; you can't put it back in

My $0.02

Mike N2MS
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Topband: Reverse Beacon Network

[Tree]

This is old news to most - but maybe some of you have not tried out the
Reverse Beacon Network.  As I type this - I am CQing on what appears to be
a dead band just before my sunrise.  However going to reversebeacon.net and
entering my callsign - I can find out that I am indeed getting out and the
band is open.  I have copied one print out from the website below so you
get the idea.  Note the entry at the bottom from JA1LZR with a signal 17 db
above the noise level.  I often see entries from CX6, VK and ZL and when
the band is open to EU in the morning to a couple of OH stations.

With poor activity between contests - sometimes this is the only
gratification one can get on the band - but at least it is something.

Tree N6TR/7
Manning, OR

de dx freq cq/dx snr speed time
VE6WZ   K7RAT
 1820.5 CW CQ [LoTW] 30 dB 24 wpm 1546z
26 Jan
N7TUG   K7RAT
 1825.0 CW CQ [LoTW] 2 dB 24 wpm 1545z
26 Jan
N6TV   K7RAT
 1820.5 CW CQ [LoTW] 21 dB 24 wpm 1545z
26 Jan
VE6WZ   K7RAT
 1820.5 CW CQ [LoTW] 27 dB 24 wpm 1544z
26 Jan
VE6JY   K7RAT
 1820.5 CW CQ [LoTW] 28 dB 24 wpm 1542z
26 Jan
VE6WZ   K7RAT
 1820.5 CW CQ [LoTW] 40 dB 24 wpm 1542z
26 Jan
N7TR   K7RAT
 1820.5 CW CQ [LoTW] 36 dB 24 wpm 1542z
26 Jan
WA7LNW   K7RAT
 1820.5 CW CQ [LoTW] 28 dB 24 wpm 1542z
26 Jan
N7TUG   K7RAT
 1820.5 CW CQ [LoTW] 25 dB 24 wpm 1541z
26 Jan
VE6JY   K7RAT
 1820.5 CW CQ [LoTW] 28 dB 24 wpm 1541z
26 Jan
NC7J   K7RAT
 1820.5 CW CQ [LoTW] 19 dB 23 wpm 1541z
26 Jan
VE7AB   K7RAT
 1820.5 CW CQ [LoTW] 32 dB 24 wpm 1541z
26 Jan
JA1LZR   K7RAT
 1820.5 CW CQ [LoTW] 17 dB 24 wpm 1535z
26 Jan
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Topband: FT8 (again)

[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.
We can discuss propagation and activity without going into the
philosophical discussion.

Thanks.

The Management
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Topband: CQWW 160m SSB- HR

[Dennis Egan]

Speaking of CQ160 SSB and ARRL DX CW, I will be in HR for both of the
contests this year.   Callsign will either be HR9/W1UE or HQ9X (I don't
have the authorization for the HQ9X yet).  I plan on putting in a full
effort with a KW and a dipole from the Chillax Roatan station in both
contests.  There is another group that will be there for ARRL DX SSB, doing
a Multi-2.

As opposed to prior efforts from HR9, I will remember to bring my
microphone!

Hope to work lots on SSB (and CW)!

Dennis W1UE
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Topband: Topband - SSB!!

[Tree]

On Fri, Feb 1, 2019 at 6:10 AM Jan Erik Holm  wrote:

> 23 december 1997 I worked KH6AT on 160m SSB. Bryce wrote
> on the QSL card: First ever SSB QSO between KH6 and Europe.
>
> I hope that he was right.
>
> 73 Jim SM2EKM


Congratulations on the achievement Jan and Bryce.  If anyone should know if
it has been done before - it's probably Bryce,  Perhaps N6VI has some data
as he lived in Hawaii for awhile.

At the risk of putting cold water on the FT8 discussion and turning this
into an SSB thread - I believe I might have been on one end of the first XE
- VK QSO on SSB - although XE is a very big place and it's hard to know for
sure (so is VK).  Perhaps saying it was between XE2 and VK6 makes it unique
enough that it is more likely.  It came during either an ARRL DX SSB
contest or CQ WW SSB contest during one of the XE2SI multi-ops that we did
field day style back in the early 1980's.  Mike, VK6HD, called me and
finally it dawned on me who it was.

N6NB has archived some photos of the XE2SI operations here -
http://n6nb.com/xe2si.htm

I have also had some QSOs with Vlad, RA4LW, on SSB - here is probably the
best one - https://www.kkn.net/n6tr/160/RA4LW_2-Jan-2009_1429z_SSB.mp3.

Back in the day (1986) - there was more activity on SSB in the mornings
from the South Pacific.  You would typically hear a roundtable going on
between ZL, VK and perhaps an FO or some other juicy country in the mix.
ZL2BT was a big time operator on 160 and was often on SSB.

The band will be full of SSB in four weeks during the CQ 160 contest.
There isn't another contest like it - where (on SSB) USA can work USA - and
DX can work DX and sometimes you get lucky enough that DX can work the
USA.  I have found it to be an enjoyable event - in small doses - where I
typically go up the band as far as necessary to have a clear frequency and
give out QSOs to whomever roams up the band.  Lots of people who normally
don't operate CW - but enjoy 160 meters show up in the log.  It is followed
by the ARRL DX test - so SSB will once again be very prominent.

In other news - the Stew Perry results are pretty much finalized.  You can
check them out here https://www.kkn.net/stew/STEWSCR.TXT.  We did have a
few logs get lost on the cracks between the WA7BNM log entry page and the
final destination - but I think we found them all.  However, you might
check to make sure your score is listed and if not - resubmit your log with
a note to me.

73 Tree N6TR / K7RAT
Manning, OR
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Re: Topband: JA's came in droves today on 160

[GEORGE WALLNER]

Terry makes the crucial point: FT8 (and the likes) should be in a different 
class. Other hobbies do that: sailboats don't race against power boats, etc.
I don't think that there is much point arguing whether FT8 is Amateur Radio 
or not. It is. I don't care for it, but I have been involved with enough FT8 
efforts to see that it has many aspects of what we call Amateur Radio. FT8 
has its place by attracting a different cohort of operators. It is also true 
that it requires less effort, but that suits some people just fine. (Many 
FT8 operators watch movies, are on the Internet, etc., while working FT8.)
It is lamentable that often when the CW segment is empty, the FT8 segment is 
busy. But that is not the fault of the FT8 operators. Regardless, CW is 
alive and well: witness the CQ160 CW contest. It was super busy (most of the 
time) and far more exciting than FT8 ever will be.


73,
George,
AA7JV/C6AGU




On Thu, 31 Jan 2019 13:59:06 -0800 (PST)
 terry burge  wrote:

JWIT,

Or to put it, just what I think. Paul's description of how WSPR and FT8 can/is 
automatic points out what a lot of us object to. It would not be bad IF they 
had a separate class for DXCC for the digital modes just because it can be like 
'shooting fish in a barrel'. Some of us have work over 40 years to build a 
great DXCC total. Now FT8 comes along and apparently you can do it in a few 
weeks. We are at the bottom of the sunspot cycle but when it gets good see how 
long it takes to get a DXCC with FT8. People who have been around for a few 
cycles know the 'work the world with a wet noodle' expression can be valid up 
on 10 meters. So imagine what FT8 can do. Can that be compared to working them 
yourself by hand with CW or phone?

It just should not be considered when competing with CW or SSB. It is too easy. And automating contacts just threatens to destroy the whole basis of DXCC and perhaps DX'ing. Make a different class for the digital modes on DXCC at try to keep the challenge in ham radio. 

That's my feeling anyhow. 


Terry
KI7M

On January 31, 2019 at 1:37 PM MICHAEL ST ANGELO  wrote:


I don't understand why there is such uproar for FT-8 while some of those people use DX Spotting while operating. Both are computer assisted applications. we've been doing spotting for years. 


It's up to the user. I prefer CW but may use FT-8 in he future. The genie is 
out of the bottle; you can't put it back in

My $0.02

Mike N2MS
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Re: Topband: FT-8

[Jan Erik Holm]

23 december 1997 I worked KH6AT on 160m SSB. Bryce wrote
on the QSL card: First ever SSB QSO between KH6 and Europe.

I hope that he was right.

73 Jim SM2EKM
--
On 2019-02-01 05:18, K9FD wrote:

Aloha Len,
Remember those QSOs,  very rare SSB contact as I dont work SSB, but your 
signal was

loud so I gave it a try.
Good year for 160,  hoping they will return in the next couple years.
73 Merv  K9FD  ex KH7C

Hi Dave and all.
Cleaning my radio room but will keep a dear QSL card from year 2009 
stating

two different QSOs on SSB, reports 59, 58 and one on CW stating 569 CW.
Oh, the card is from KH7C ex K9FD for a two way QSO on 160 between Sweden
and Hawaii.
That is it!
73
Len SM7BIC

-Ursprungligt meddelande-
Från: Topband  För 
daraym...@iowatelecom.net

Skickat: den 31 januari 2019 23:37
Till: cqtestk...@aol.com; topband@contesting.com
Ämne: Re: Topband: FT-8

There is simply no substitute for the real, direct, visceral 
connection one
has with the person on the other end with either CW or SSB modes.  
I'll be

in charge of the QSO, thank you.   Not my computer.

73. . . Dave, W0FLS

-Original Message-
From: cqtestk4xs--- via Topband
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2019 3:59 PM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Topband: FT-8

This thread has been addressed on various reflectors.
I've tried it, made around 400 contacts or so, and found the mode pretty
boring.  Even with my pileups on FT-8 the mode left me cold.  I felt the
same way with RTTY...tried it and found it boring.  Why?  With CW 
SSB/AM I

felt a connection with the other person, someone sending with a key or a
person speaking to me.  With RTTY and especially FT-8 my machine is 
decoding
your machine.  Oh yeah, I know my XCVR is a machine and so is yours, 
but for

me it's not the same.
I understand why guys get all hot and bothered about the new mode, it 
gives
the guys who don't know CW a chance to work DX on a mode other than 
SSB and
gives the weaker signal guys a chance to work DX.  For the guys with 
bigger
stations it gives them a chance to work the rarer ones on tough bands 
like,
160 or 6.  Maybe that's why I'm not into FT-8, I've got a big station, 
and
can work CW.  Also, I've never been really into putting the new one in 
the

log as much as many guys are...I'm more of a contester.
If you want to work your pileups and/or work 300 countries on FT-8, 
that's

fine with me.  I'm not going to look down my nose at you but please don't
condescendingly  tell me I'm a dinosaur or refuse to accept new 
technology.

I'm accepting it, I just don't want to be part of it.  No hard feelings.
Bill KH7XS/KH7B/K4XS
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Re: Topband: FT-8

[w5zn]

This is all very comical to me and reached a hilarious high point last 
weekend. All of the CW folks say FT8 has destroyed CW activity on the 
band.


Last weekend leading up to and during CQWW 160, all of the FT8 folks 
bitterly complained that the CW guys had taken over the entire band and 
destroyed FT8.


I'm not a judge and don't stay in a Holiday Inn Express but it appears 
to me both modes are healthy!


73 Joel W5ZN

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Re: Topband: FT-8

[Michael Walker]

So

I get up at 3 in the morning and go down to the CW part of the band to see
if I can hear any of you guys calling CQ.  NADA ... from what I can tell,
the band is dead.  Not one signal.

I go up to the FT8 section, and it looks like 20M.  It is packed with
signals.  This happens all the time.

For all of you wining about how you don't like FT8, how many of actually
called CQ in the last week?  Month?  Let's be honest now.  :)

I know many who have been working Japan from the east coast on FT8 over the
past few weeks as well.

"If you build it, they will come"

The point is, that no one makes you want to work a mode you don't want to.
However, I don't see many CW signals on 160 unless there is a 160 CW
contest.The waterfall is a solid blue (and I can hear pretty well).

my 2 cents from the Great White North.

Mike va3mw
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Re: Topband: FT-8

[Wes]

A great summary of my feelings.

Wes  N7WS


On 2/1/2019 4:03 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:

Bill just about summarized my feelings.  I get no satisfaction from modes
where I can't even hear anything

in the speaker.  I love that technology is marching forward, BUT I want to
be there with it.

I am with CW and SSB and to a much lesser degree RTTY (I do a vy small
amount of RTTY (maybe 2-3% of my contesting a year is RTTY)..but even with
RTTY I'm involved, tuning signals, adjusting filters, guessing callsigns
when the software won't quite get it.

  


The one thing I don't like about FT-8, is that on 6m I can (sometimes) call
my guts out on CW or SSB and not work anyone (even though prop is there),
whereas up the band there are FT-8 signals all piled on top of one another.
Same for 160m I guess.

  


It's partially generational.  Give me DX "now" and don't make me work for it
at all (so says the masses).

  


I'll stop there before I get into real trouble, hi !

  


Mike VE9AA

  


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Re: Topband: JAs in "droves"

[Brad Anbro]

Hello all,

I'm just one of the little pip-squeaks on 80 & 160 meters; my current totals on 
those two
bands are 304/295 and 222/220 wkd/cfmd on those bands respectively. Since 
moving to
NE Tennessee from northern Illinois, I only have a full-size delta loop for 80 
meters and
put up a "temporary" inverted vee for 160. The inverted vee will be replaced by 
an
inverted L this summer and I also plan on installing bi-directional Beverages 
for the E-W,
NE-SW and NNW-SSE directions.

I have 'down-sized" my antenna installation considerably from what I had in 
Illinois. I
put up an 82' high guyed Rohn 55G tower and just above the top plate of the 
tower is
a CushCraft XM-240 (2-el. 40 meter monoband yagi) and 8' above that is a HyGain
204BA (4-el. 20 meter monoband yagi). I will be 68 years old this coming June 
and I am
all done with big antennas & big maintenance of them.

I wanted to have ONE GOOD ANTENNA for one day-time band (20 meters) and for
one night-time band (40 meters). Except for the challenge of 80 & 160 meters, I 
no
longer care about any of the other bands, since I have every country worked and
confirmed on multiple bands, with the exception of Scaffold Rocks -- I have that
one on 20 meters CW & SSB only.

Back in Illinois I had a home-built copy of a KLM 3-element 30 meter monoband
at 87' above ground, which I had built from 40 meter KLM yagi parts. With that
antenna and 100 watts, I managed a total of 327/324 on that band. Before moving
from Illinois, I kept noticing that there were fewer and fewer DX signals on 
that
that band. After coming to Tennessee, I threw up a delta loop for 30 meters and
found very little activity on that band - compared with years past.

I regularly TUNE the CW sub-bands and cannot recall any activity in "droves" on 
ANY
of the bands, from 20 meters through 160 meters. The other night before going 
to bed,
I checked out 40 meters, to see how much activity there was right before 
Europe's
sunrise. From 7.000 to 7.025 MHz., I counted a total of THREE DX stations! That 
was
with my monobander aimed at Europe...

I was first licensed in 1981 and began my DX'ing and contesting sojurn shortly 
after
that, mostly on CW. An old-timer friend of mine would keep me company on the
local DX spotting frequency and we would uncover country after country on 40 & 
80
meters; countries that were not the "run-of-the-mill" DX - especially during 
contests.
Not any more! There is absolutely NO problem in finding an unused frequency now.

I don't know if it is because of FT8 or what. It is my guess that with the 
advent of
the internet, "smart phones," "Instant Messenger" and all the other 
internet-based
modes of communication, people just don't bother with ham radio. They have no
need of it - what with their ability to communicate with others around the 
world via
their smart phones and the internet.

It is not my intention in this post to "bad-mouth" FT8 or any other technology 
or
mode of communication. All I am saying is that ham radio is NOT what it used to
be. Speaking only for myself, I will NEVER use FT8 or any of the other 
"digital" or
computer / internet-based modes of communication. One MACHINE "talking"
to another machine is not my idea of communicating.

I guess that the latest "controversy" in ham radio is the advent of "remote"
operation. As far as I am concerned, my Illinois DX totals are my DXCC totals. 
I am
now in Tennessee and propagation and conditions are completely different from
what I experienced in northern Illinois. Consequently, I do not feel that it is
"ethical" to be adding to my DXCC totals. This is one of the reasons why I will
never make any more submissions to the ARRL for my DXCC totals.

One of these days, ham radio will be no more. Commercial users have had their
eyes on those frequencies for years and sooner or later, they will get them. In
the USA, money talks and they have a lot of money!

Thank you.

Brad Anbro, N9EN
Bluff City, Tennessee
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Re: Topband: FT-8

[Mike Smith VE9AA]

Bill just about summarized my feelings.  I get no satisfaction from modes
where I can't even hear anything

in the speaker.  I love that technology is marching forward, BUT I want to
be there with it.

I am with CW and SSB and to a much lesser degree RTTY (I do a vy small
amount of RTTY (maybe 2-3% of my contesting a year is RTTY)..but even with
RTTY I'm involved, tuning signals, adjusting filters, guessing callsigns
when the software won't quite get it.

 

The one thing I don't like about FT-8, is that on 6m I can (sometimes) call
my guts out on CW or SSB and not work anyone (even though prop is there),
whereas up the band there are FT-8 signals all piled on top of one another.
Same for 160m I guess.

 

It's partially generational.  Give me DX "now" and don't make me work for it
at all (so says the masses).

 

I'll stop there before I get into real trouble, hi !

 

Mike VE9AA

 

This thread has been addressed on various reflectors.

I've tried it, made around 400 contacts or so, and found the mode pretty 

boring.  Even with my pileups on FT-8 the mode left me cold.  I felt the
same 

way with RTTY...tried it and found it boring.  Why?  With CW SSB/AM I felt a


connection with the other person, someone sending with a key or a person 

speaking to me.  With RTTY and especially FT-8 my machine is decoding your 

machine.  Oh yeah, I know my XCVR is a machine and so is yours, but for me
it's 

not the same.

I understand why guys get all hot and bothered about the new mode, it gives
the 

guys who don't know CW a chance to work DX on a mode other than SSB and
gives 

the weaker signal guys a chance to work DX.  For the guys with bigger
stations 

it gives them a chance to work the rarer ones on tough bands like, 160 or 6.


Maybe that's why I'm not into FT-8, I've got a big station, and can work CW.


Also, I've never been really into putting the new one in the log as much as 

many guys are...I'm more of a contester.

If you want to work your pileups and/or work 300 countries on FT-8, that's
fine 

with me.  I'm not going to look down my nose at you but please don't 

condescendingly  tell me I'm a dinosaur or refuse to accept new technology.


I'm accepting it, I just don't want to be part of it.  No hard feelings.

Bill KH7XS/KH7B/K4XS

Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB

 

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