[Elecraft] Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

[Randy Farmer]

What you say is true, and as a hard-core contester I take advantage of 
all the automation I can get to maximize my QSO rate.

The distinction is between transmitting and receiving. In receiving, the 
difference is that in CW and SSB my brain is an integral part of the 
process of getting the signal information from audio to log, no silicon 
required or desired. Development and maintenance of the skills required 
to do that accurately and efficiently are what I find most rewarding 
about operating. In that respect, I've been "geek free" since 1964.

73...
Randy, W8FN

On 6/1/2018 3:48 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
> Be it CW, RTTY, PSK, SSB,  JT65 or other modes, today's computer 
> integration into the ham shack as produced many automated contacts 
> with little to no personal intervention.   Where as one says FT-8 mode 
> is used to rack up countries........what about the automated CQ's from 
> memory keyers in CW mode with the follow up always being a 599 report, 
> or RTTY contacts structured with Function Keys for the exchange, and 
> software which supports other like modes.   Even SSB contacts with 
> CQ's in the operators voice with digital voice recorders will often 
> prevail.   Yes, I know it is repetitive calling and it is done to save 
> the voice or fingers, but really, automated is automated and the 
> dreaded computer is the basis, ..............not the FT-8 software.   
> As Chicken Little said..........."it's everywhere, it's everywhere."
>
> Just wait until the upcoming Field Day.  The FT-8 operations, with 
> operators trying to modify the data exchange to comply with the 
> reporting and confirmation of contacts for Field Day exchange is 
> surely to be a little more than a "train wreck".   UGH! Banish the 
> thoughts.
>
> 73
>
> Bob, K4TAX