[Elecraft] Digi modes...what am I missing?

[P.J.Hicks]

I work PSK31 almost exclusively. Mostly because I like it but partly because my CW is not up to being "ON THE AIR" ... yet. The benefit to me is I can occasionally pull in a DX station with <5watts and a simple dipole antenna.  It is a somewhat slower paced communication, and is concentrated around one small range of frequencies... no panadapter required. No laborious knob turning up and down the bands. 



That said I use macros to send the mundane cookie cutter info...na me, location, sig report, etc. all nicely formatted while I fill in the logging info and look up the other station's QRZ page. The QRZ page gives me an insight into the other ham's interests, most times, some are pretty sketchy, that I can use to start a 'real' conversation. 



As in other modes you make it suit your style. If you read the mail a bit before hitting the xmt you'll see who likes to chat and who just wants a 'quickie'. 



See ya on the waterfall, PJH, N7PXY