[ADXA] VP6D - Dennis

[Dennis Schaefer]

San,

I think FT8 is great for new hams or those new to DX'ing because it lets
them have some success.  On the other hand, they may get the idea that all
those towers and antennas are pointless.  It is also a lifesaver for those
in apartments who are limited to very inefficient antennas and have an
overwhelming noise level.  For me, it's just another way to work the DX - I
still have to get the RF there and back, and watching all the stations in
the pileup at once is kinda like having an SDR rig.  I've been helping a
couple of hams who are apartment-bound and I have been experimenting with
magnetic loop antennas.  Modes like FT8 are good for those situations.  For
'regular' DX'ing, though, it seems almost too easy.  I worked VP6D on 30M
FT8 with an end-fed antenna not designed for that band and 30 watts.

My fear is that it might supplant RTTY, which is not only a valuable part
of the ham tradition, and uses traditional DX chasing techniques.  You
can't wander away to get a cup of coffee while your rig calls and answers
the DX on RTTY!

73,
Dennis

On Mon, Oct 29, 2018 at 10:47 AM HamOP <k5yy1 at cox.net> wrote:

> Great job, Dennis..  I am just not into FT8 at this point in my DXing life
> but glad so many of our ADXA members like the hound/fox etc chasing and
> hearing the weak ones. Just wish when signals are so loud and FT8 not
> needed, that they would do a couple of more bands on RTTY before leaving in
> 3 days. Only needed on RTTY and happy to have them in my log. Guess no 60m
> unfortunately.
>
> Again, congrats on a great job of chasing those band modes. Next VP6D
> might be in 10+ years, so you can sit back and relax  now. Hi I was gone 3
> days and missed 28SSB and 80SSB. No big deal especially since without FT8 I
> can never catch up with the ‘big dogs’ in the ADXA. LOL
>
> 73
>
> San
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> Windows 10
>
>
>
> *From: *Dennis Schaefer <dennisw5rz at gmail.com>
> *Sent: *Monday, October 29, 2018 10:35 AM
> *To: *Joel Harrison <w5zn at w5zn.org>; ADXA <ADXA at mailman.qth.net>
> *Subject: *Re: [ADXA] VP6D
>
>
>
> Good VP6D expedition so far:
>
> CW - 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10
>
> SSB - 40, 20, 17, 15, 12
>
> FT8 - 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12
>
>
>
> Except for 160, I need them on 80 SSB and 10 SSB and FT8.
>
> I heard him once on 80 SSB but not really good enough to call him with the
> DX contest QRM all around.  I did hear Earl work him, though.
>
> I'm not counting on 80, but keeping a close ear on 10 meters and thinking
> about a 160 meter antenna for the future!
>
>
>
> DXA and the VP6D log search show slightly different totals, but that seems
> to be the result of some FT8 log systems problems.
>
> I'm not too worried about the FT8 contacts, but all were made quickly with
> about 30 watts and it is fun to watch the process.
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
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