Topband: Leaving
Hi all, While I have enjoyed many of the technical topics of the list, I have become rather annoyed by the blame that has repeatedly come across the reflector. From the FT8 arguments in addition to the "millennials causing the WWV shutdown" argument, it appears that the parts of the hobby that I enjoy do not cross paths with those on the topband reflector. Although I wish you all many CW DX, it appears that I am no longer welcome and that I must take my leave. I just wish that you guys would realize that your sandbox is everyone's sandbox and that there is room for everyone in the hobby and not just the "good ole boys" who have been around for 40+ years. 73 from a 27 year old ham, DE K1NZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Noise on 160
Caught this interference around the FT8 freq. It's causing trouble from 1.8407 to 1.8417. Any thoughts? It sounds like a buzz and seems to zig zag over multiple minutes. https://imgur.com/SgXeJGx Nick K1NZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Niceties
I recently saw a post come across the reflector that referred to FT8 as junk. If I were to call CW a junk mode or insinuate that it's bad in any way, shape, or form, I would have a mob of OM with pitchforks and torches at my house in a heartbeat. Can we please just play nice and accept that the many hams in this hobby have differing interests and try to be supportive of them regardless of which modes, bands, or parts of the hobby they choose to enjoy? Merry Christmas, Nick K1NZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: The Future of Ham Radio
Hi all, I apologize if this is not the place for this, but the recent FT8 discussion has gotten me to thinking. I'm one of the younger hams in the hobby. I got my license and extra at 20 and am 26 now. I was semi-active on the phone bands up until late 2015 when I moved into my current apartment and put up a bunch of wire antennas. I have a G5RV, 30m dipole, and a 160m L. Now, I am one to admit that I'm not all that proficient at Morse, but I can fudge my way through a QSO. Because of this, I have almost exclusively (outside of contests) turned to digital operating. I, personally have that thrill of working a new one on whatever band regardless of mode, even if it's a JT/FT mode. I just worked my first Bahrain on 40m FT8 tonight and cracked a beer to celebrate. My whole reason for writing this post is because of the "You can play in my sandbox only of you play my way" mentality. I am referring to the JT/FT modes if you want to be specific. I am lucky in that I rent from my uncle who doesn't care what wires I put up. On the other hand, most people my age are either living with their parents or are renting from people that will not let them participate in the hobby. In addition, I'm part of the vast minority of hams who got licensed before they were 40. I'll be blunt. It's going to be hard to retain teens in this hobby. Once they find girls/boys and go off to college, we might as well write them off for 20 years. This is an old (wo)man's hobby. It requires disposable income. I've barely cobbled together a station myself, but I'm limping along because of my love for this hobby. I hate to say it, but this whole mindset is why the youth of today are turned off from ham radio. Why should I pump hundreds of dollars into a hobby if I'm going to be greeted with "You need to learn CW" "FT8 is ruining the hobby" "You're not a real ham because you didn't pass the code test." I realize that new things involve change and that change is scary, but can we please welcome people into the hobby, even though that future isn't what is comfortable? Isn't is better to be using the bands than for them to be sold off and forgotten? This hobby is extremely multi-faceted. Can we please not judge and harass the people that want to get involved? I guess the whole reason why I wrote this post is because I'm sick of the "DO IT MY WAY" mindset. Can we please just get back to having fun and ignore the politics? 73 es gud DX, Nick K1NZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: A way forward to keep 'old school' modes vibrant alongside FT-8? (long)
Hi Dale, My comments were more aimed at the "let's separate FT/JT modes into their own separate DXCC category and disqualify them from Mixed" sentiment. I have no problem with the per mode style DXCC awards. I just wanted to point out that someone can't retroactively change the definition of Mixed because they don't like a specific mode being in there. I guess I wasn't as clear as I could have been in my phrasing. 73, Nick K1NZ On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 11:04 AM, Dale Putnam <daleput...@hotmail.com> wrote: > Hi Nick, > > Not necessarily needed retraction. Not at all.. > > It seems to me that a solely one more or other.. is called for, also, > > a mixed mode, already in place, with any or all of a mix of modes. > > These are all digi modes that I am speaking of. > > Pretty much the same as "phone" awards.. doesn't care if it is FM voice, > SSB voice, or AM voice. > > Neither would the "digi" award.. but the difference would be noted with a > single mode cert. > > > Have a great day, > --... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy > > "Actions speak louder than words" > 1856 - Abraham Lincoln > > > -- > *From:* Topband <topband-boun...@contesting.com> on behalf of Nick Maslon > - K1NZ <k...@arrl.net> > *Sent:* Thursday, October 26, 2017 8:58 AM > *To:* topband@contesting.com > *Subject:* Re: Topband: A way forward to keep 'old school' modes vibrant > alongside FT-8? (long) > > I just have one question about your suggestion about creating a "new" digi > DXCC award and excluding JT/FT modes from mixed. Are those people (myself > included) who have applied JT/FT credit to their Mixed award and received > it as such going to have to mail the certificate back to the League and > have the award retracted? It will be difficult to retroactively create a > "new" award without including every mode in mixed, which by definition is > mixed. Creating a "Mixed but without JT/FT modes" DXCC is getting into the > splitting hairs and logistics nightmare ballpark. > > PS. I am also one of the <30 crowd. > > 73, > Nick K1NZ > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > TopBand Mail List Archives - contesting.com > <http://www.contesting.com/_topband> > www.contesting.com > Topband Mailing List Archives. Search String: [How to search] Display: ... > > > _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
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 station only they have built. Still others work under their own call from a multiop station and claim the credit. To each his own. It's not worth getting worked up over. I'm going to get put on blast for this but personally, I love digimodes. Outside of contests, I almost exclusively operate digi. It's what I enjoy. I'm not proficient enough with CW to have a real impact on the bands and phone takes its toll on you after a while. That being said, I lament FT8 killing off JT65. I do understand they're both similar, but JT65 had a more "human" touch in that I did need to click the right buttons to send the right text instead of the computer automatically doing it for me. Plus, the longer cycle times were more conducive to getting in a freeform 73 note. At the end of the day, this hobby is big enough for everyone. Have fun. Enjoy yourself. Make new friends. The magic isn't gone just yet! 73, Nick K1NZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Digital on 160M stats
I'm not beating W1VT, but I'm at 32 worked on 160 digi. Nick K1NZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: to JT or not to JT
The way I see it, do what you enjoy. That's what's great about this hobby. There are so many things you can do and digimodes and JT are just one of them. Here's an example for you guys. Warwick, E51WL is, as far as I know, the only active ham on one of the North Cook Islands. He only works JT (that I'm aware of). Is my QSO on top band with him the other night invalid? Do I have to wait potentially decades for the next dxpedition to work someone on phone or CW for it to be a "real" QSO? Following that logic, I guess I'm not a real ham because I'm a "ditless wonder" (no code extra) and didn't walk uphill 20 miles in a blizzard to the FCC office to take my novice test. I guess my point here is that we should be having fun and enjoying the hobby. There are so many facets to this hobby. Play with the ones you enjoy and keep you active. Other people have other interests and that doesn't mean that they're any less of a ham. Hell, some of the digital modes are bringing new, young, blood to an otherwise OM's hobby. I apologize for getting a little ranty. I'll crawl back into my hole now. 73 and the best of DX for everyone, Nick K1NZ On the Droid. _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Top Band and JT65
Hi Len, So, you would rather me set up stations in W1 and work EU, W4 and work the Caribbean, W5 and work SA, and W6 and work Asia on SSB or CW instead of letting me work digimodes from my QTH in W1? All those stations are in the same DXCC entity and they all count for the same award. 73, Nick K1NZ On the Droid. On May 14, 2017 13:07, "Lennart m" <lennart.michaels...@telia.com> wrote: Yes - almost but: You have to complete your QSO on yourself You are not obliged to use any PC or any other supports. If you do, then it would not be a valid 100% QSO between two OPS. That is my 10 USD worth Len¨ SM7BIC -Ursprungligt meddelande- Från: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] För Nick Maslon - K1NZ Skickat: den 14 maj 2017 17:17 Till: topband@contesting.com Ämne: Re: Topband: Top Band and JT65 Hi everyone, Here's my stance on awards such as DXCC and achieving them with digimodes such as JT65. Honestly, they're only worth the amount of importance you put into them. They're essentially made up radio points anyway. If DXCC means SSB and CW only, good for you. If you're having fun working working DXCC with the JTmodes, good for you. If you only count entities worked from stations you've built, good for you. If you operate from large stations that aren't your own under your call, good for you. Honestly, that piece of paper means something different to everyone. Isn't the whole point of this hobby just to enjoy getting on the air, make new friends, and pray that the sun doesn't obliterate the ionosphere? Just my $.02. 73, Nick K1NZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Top Band and JT65
Hi everyone, Here's my stance on awards such as DXCC and achieving them with digimodes such as JT65. Honestly, they're only worth the amount of importance you put into them. They're essentially made up radio points anyway. If DXCC means SSB and CW only, good for you. If you're having fun working working DXCC with the JTmodes, good for you. If you only count entities worked from stations you've built, good for you. If you operate from large stations that aren't your own under your call, good for you. Honestly, that piece of paper means something different to everyone. Isn't the whole point of this hobby just to enjoy getting on the air, make new friends, and pray that the sun doesn't obliterate the ionosphere? Just my $.02. 73, Nick K1NZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
