[Elecraft] FT8: "Magic radio"?

[Joan]

One of the very best things about Ham radio is how mindbogglingly huge the tent is ^_^

de KX2CW 
Joan

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra, said Piglet.
Shaka, when the walls fell, said Pooh.

> On Jul 3, 2018, at 14:11, Bill Frantz <frantz at pwpconsult.com> wrote:
> 
> I can't resist.
> 
> My accomplishments: I have a DXCC with 150+ LotW confirmed entities. I have over 100 entities on both digital and CW, less on voice. I have a triple play WAS. I have 5 contacts with KH1/KH7Z in their log, 2 CW, 2 FT8, and 1 SSB. (I'm missing RTTY.) I'm active in ARES/RACES, and like to rag chew, either on the local repeaters, or with PSK31. I'm trying to be a well rounded ham.
> 
> I look at FT8 as another step in station automation.
> 
> Back when I started, in the early 1960s, it was normal to have separate transmitters and receivers. Frequently people would have to manually switch the antenna between the two. Now we have full break in with CW. That's an advance in station automation.
> 
> We used to keep logs on paper, now many of us keep them on a computer reducing the chance for error in details like frequency and time. FT8 carries it a step further by building a log entry which includes the call, grid and signal reports. That's an advance in station automation.
> 
> We used to scan the bands by turning the big knob to locate other stations. Now we have spotting networks and panadapters. That's an advance in station automation.
> 
> When one station wanted to call another, it had to transmit for a long enough time so the other station could find him. CQs were long for the same reason. Now we can change to his listening frequency and make a call. Many people use this technique for working DX pileups. FT8 makes it even more automatic by highlighting all messages that include your call sign. That's an advance in station automation.
> 
> Where do I come down in all of this? I'm all over the place. In CW contests, I operate unassisted because I want to improve my CW skills, and getting the calls from a spot or decoder doesn't help me toward this goal. When working as part of a contest team, I'm happy using everything that is legal for our entry category. When trying to work rare DX, I'm quite happy running power. I just want to put out a clean signal and not be too obnoxious to other hams.
> 
> I've heard a lot of comment about various contest rules being too automated or requiring facilities that are not available to everyone. For example contests that provide real-time score tracking. Here I think we should let 1000 flowers bloom. Sure, enjoy Straight Key Night (SKN) and bring out your boat anchor and old paper log book. But also have contests where contesters and an audience can keep track of the scores in real time. Some people can't do CW and sit SKN out. Others may not have the Internet connectivity needed for the real-time contest. In the old days, many hams did not have a Teletype machine for RTTY contests and had to forgo RTTY contacts.
> 
> Do what you enjoy. Ham radio is a very big tent.
> 
> 73 Bill AE6JV
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz        | Re: Computer reliability, performance, and security:
> 408-356-8506       | The guy who *is* wearing a parachute is *not* the
> www.pwpconsult.com | first to reach the ground.  - Terence Kelly
> 
>