[Elecraft] [Elecraft-KX] Peter Martinez And The CW-To-PSK31 Feature

[Wes]

On 2/7/2023 2:08 AM, Jim Brown wrote:
> On 2/6/2023 8:36 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
>> The key idea that led to the PSK31 and RTTY decoders was this: that a ham 
>> receiver should be able to demodulate all commonly heard signals and display 
>> them on the front panel, without resorting to a computer. That was around 
>> 2005, though. Since that time many new data modes have been added that made 
>> this less practical, but RTTY and PSK31 are still in widespread use
>
> When I tune the bands, I hear RTTY only during contests. RTTY used to be 
> common with DXpeditions, but was replaced several years ago by FT8, because of 
> its ability to provide QSOs to marginal stations is 10 dB better than CW. I 
> gave up on PSK31 after the third brag tape. That was more than 10 years ago. 
> There are far higher priorities for Elecraft's development activities.
>
> I love the modes that Joe Taylor and crew have given us -- they're a major 
> weapon against the RF noise that has grown exponentially over the last two 
> decades. Using FT8, one guy with 100W to a compact vertical provided a new 
> country from Crozet, a very rare and remote entity that hadn't been on the air 
> for decades. I and many neighbors worked him easily on 30 and 20, a nearly 
> 10,000 mile path. When I worked him, he had 7-9 dB of headroom for FT8. Oh -- 
> and unlike the mess on 30M CW with the Bouvet team, there's no one tuning and 
> or callling him on up on his frequency, no helpful clowns sending UP UP ASS 
> ASS, over, and over, and over again. Their words, not mine.
>
> Sure, CW has been my favorite mode for 66 years. But not THAT kind of CW. I'll 
> proudly log the FT8 QSOs.
>
> 73, Jim
>
I worked Thierry on 20M CW, as well as 20 and 30 FT8.  Already confirmed in 
LOTW.  I'll count the CW.  Phone was confirmed in 1981 :-)

Wes  N7WS