[ADXA] RTTY a lost mode it appears.

[HamOP]

I have a 316 DXCC worked total on RTTY since 2011, almost 8 years ago. It has been a lo of fun chasing on RTTY and a few PSK contacts in my digital chasing.

Today in Bernie’s Weekly DXer newsletter, after reviewing all upcoming and ongoing DXpeditions, the comments under each may have mentioned they would operate CW and FT8 or SSB, CW and FT8 or in one case SSB, CW and “digital” (bet it was FT8 they referred to)… RTTY was NOT mentioned anywhere. This is a disturbing trend for those who spent so many years working RTTY, to find that “only FT8” digital  or FT4 is being used nowadays, leaving out the slightly wider modes of PSK and RTTY. 

I have never submitted for RTTY DXCC ( I know what I have ), but now there is no strict RTTY DXCC but only a combined Digital DXCC. Earl may can tell us, MAYBE if someone has ALL RTTY and submits RTTY cards only, maybe his endorsements can be for his original RTTY award… not sure. Otherwise a person may have digital DXCC with a combination of several different digital modes in that total. Destroys the RTTY only, real old timer DXer types who have been on PSK and RTTY for decades, true pioneers if you will, like N5ZM is.

I would love to hit the 320 or more level on RTTY but can not do that if nobody is transmitting that human to human mode. FT8 or FT4 is OK and needed for low signal work, and to each his own as to his/her choice of modes when chasing DX. But at least give a little time to the RTTY guys only. Current data shows FT8 outnumbers RTTY on a DXpedition’s final stats by anywhere from 3:1 to 10:1 and many times FT8 only, including some recent sorta rare DXpeditions. Guess it’s like the days when SSB completely took over AM and no DXpedition worked AMers except on rare occasions or on a schedule and that is IF their equipment had AM mode on their rigs. Most rigs recently do not have AM anywhere except on there clock that it says AM or PM! HI

Thanks for reading. Felt something needed to be brought up on our ADXA site since good, semi-needed DX is uncommon recently. Things will improve in October with less summer QRM and QRN and with  FT8 guys working a lot more DX. The CW/SSB guys gotta wait a bit longer. LOL
San YY





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