I am aware of at least two people who have written software that will
make FT-8 contacts, log them and upload the logs to LOTW with no human
assistance. The ARRL knows this. A bunch of people, including me have
tried to get them to move FT-8 off to a separate category but they
ignored us completely. So a computer to computer FT-8 contact made
autonomously by software counts at same a human getting through a CW
pileup using skill and brains. Arrrrrgh!!!
I wonder how many computers have made Honor Roll using FT-8?
Enough. Back to chasing DX. 329 Current confirmed with no FT-8
de NG0G
On 6/1/26 2:03 PM, k1zm--- via Topband wrote:
Monday 01 June
I have been following this thread and YES - FT8 has materially changed 160m.
There is almost NO CW on the band today - except during MAJOR contest weekends.
I can often hear 30-40 countries each winter night on 1840 on FT8 and only a
handful of the SAME stations on CW when I tune down the band such as:
OK1CFF5INON7PQEA5CZS1COZ1BNN
and one or two random others.
And to make matters worse - FT8 Dx'peditioners seem to have failed to operate
at THEIR OWN SUNRISE peaks to make matters worse when they come to 160m. They
operate early evening looking into EU - and then qsy to 80m or 40m when
propagation at THEIR SR periods favors qso's into North America on 160m. This
is maddening to make matters worse...
OR
Pacific Dx'peditoners often fail to understand EAST COAST SR peaks here on the
EAST COAST - and come on the band LONG AFTER SR has occurred here on Cape Cod.
This too is disappointing....
For me - this has been a SEA CHANGE on 160m and I too have often had no other
choice but to HOLD MY NOSE and get on FT8 along with W8LRL and AA1K both of
whom I often see on 1840 these days. I am not IN LOVE with FT8 - far from it
- but it is either that - or not be able to make any DX contacts most nights on
160m at all. I never thought I would live long enough to see this take place
on Topband!
And starting in 2020 the same thing happened on 6m during E season. Now you
just sit on 50.313 or 50.323 all day long now and work what you SEE on FT8 mode
- there is almost ZERO DX'ing on 6m CW or SSB anymore - same thing that
happened a few years thereafter to Topband.
FWIW
The 4 current160m DXCC Single Band honor roll members on Topband each made all
of their contacts on HUMAN modes - eg: CW or SSB - but most future DXCC's
almost assuredly will include entities worked on FT8. I do not think there
will be many more (IF ANY) DXCC single band honor roll members on Topband with
the exception of those that are there today...So IT IS WHAT IT IS - sadly!
I fully understand that you cannot hold back technology - FT8 is here to stay -
but I am very glad I lived (like a DINOSAUR) in the glory days of 160m.
About the only thing that remains today is that YOU STILL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
PROPAGATION on 160m in order to run up a strong DXCC total.
That's about all that remains - everything else has changed - SO IT IS WHAT IT
IS - HI HI
Thanks for the bandwidth...
73 [email protected]
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Stephen Hawkins NG0G
[email protected]
73 49 111 01001001
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