[Elecraft] Ideas for an FT8 Radio

[Bill Frantz]

I thought I would look through the high power QSOs in my log for 
Los Gatos, CA to find what I do, instead of what I think I do. I 
found that I use high power for:

   The Elecraft SSB net: I frequently need a relay to reach Chicago.
   DXpeditions: Minimizing the time for my QSO lets others make 
their QSOs
   Contests: Particularly when entering the contest to work DXCCs
   FT8: I have a number of Rx -24 DB contacts. My only 3W QSO 
has -17dB from @800W.

At the other end of the power spectrum, I have a QSO with a V3 
at 1.4W and 5W contacts around the world. (Many of these were 
back when there were sun spots.) All my contacts from New 
Hampshire were with 10W or less, most 5 or less. These contacts 
include a useful number of DXCCs. I do play QRP as well as QRO.

I also admit that when I got my amp, I was a kid in a candy 
store. I used it, perhaps at times when I didn't strictly need it.

It is obvious from this data that I clearly think that all's 
fair in love and DX. Also, I should take a careful look at my 
transmit antennas. I also act as if I believe that using enough 
power to make the QSO is a valid way for a ham to operate.

I will close with the thought that working EME is certainly a 
weak signal mode, and that it frequently takes a kilowatt to 
play in that league.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/2/19 at 2:56 PM, n8vz at qth.com (Carl J. Denbow) wrote:

>While it's legal to run maximum power on FT8, or any other weak 
>signal mode, it's certainly not in the spirit of the weak 
>signal mode ethos  Most weak-signal mode enthusiasts pride 
>themselves on the worldwide contacts they can make with low 
>wattage.  Many feel that 100 watts is QRO on these modes. 
>Personally, I usually run about 35 watts, but I've had QSOs 
>with stations in far-flung regions running power in the 
>milliwatt range with a dipole up 20 feet.  That's the real 
>attraction of these modes to many. And, until the advent of 
>FT8, you heard very few stations running more than 100 watts on 
>these modes.  FT8 seems to have attracted a whole different 
>crowd.  Some of these, I think, view FT8 as a "the new RTTY" 
>and operate according to the accepted operating procedures of 
>that mode.  I view this trend as very unfortunate.
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