[NLRS] [MWA] N0HJZ - CQWW VHF

[Rich Westerberg]

Jim -

First, I'm all for advancing technology and trying new things.  FT8 is
definitely an advancement in technology.

Whether spark-gap, AM, CW or SSB, you have always needed the amateur
operator to decode the signal.  This new technology does everything for
you.  The amateur doesn't add any value.  It will not be long before you
can put the computer on auto-pilot and let it work the complete contest for
you.

The mode has killed VHF Contests.  In the past, a June Contest could have
QSO counts over 1,000.  FT8 has skimmed off enough people where that might
not happen again.  It would be nice to have a real June Contest with SSB/CW
and a separate Digital contest.

Don't get me started on awards.

Rich

On Mon, Jul 19, 2021 at 10:36 AM Jim Lageson <jim.lageson at gmail.com> wrote:

> Sparkgap hams hated CW hams… CW hams hated AM hams…AM hams hated SSB
> “Donald Duck” hams …SSB hams hated AM and FM hams.. When PSK31 came CW and
> SSB hams hated it and cried that it will kill ham radio.. It didn’t.
>
> I happen to enjoy FT8. Having a VHF station with limited power and
> antennas digital modes has opened a whole new world to me. It seems the
> perfect weak signal mode for VHF. I don't feel FT8 is going to be the death
> to VHF contesting, it's just evolving. I  worked 58 Europeans this season
> using a Hex beam and a small 3 element yagi thanks to FT8. I worked
> N1BUG-1200 miles and VE2DFO-700miles on 2 meters FT8 running 10 watts
> during last weekend VHF contest.  Maybe contest sponsors should give more
> points for non-digital modes or let you work stations again on different
> modes, that would get folks off the screen. I consider myself a CW guy and
> would prefer to work that mode, but for now it is what it is.
>
> I hope I didn't open a can of worms but FT8 is not the devil.
>
> jim
> n0ur
>
> On Mon, Jul 19, 2021 at 1:48 AM Rich Westerberg <richn0hjz at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Due to a business trip, I could only spend a couple hours on Saturday.
>>
>> It was amazing how strong the signals were on 6M on Saturday night, and
>> there were still people sitting on their crystal on 50.313.
>>
>> I couldn't believe how few people were found on 2M SSB or CW.  I could
>> hear signals on 144.174.
>>
>> There are so many Upper Midwest folks I never heard on SSB and CW.  FT8
>> is going to be the death of VHF contesting.
>>
>> 73
>> Rich N0HJZ
>>
>>
>>
>>                     CQ Worldwide VHF Contest - 2021
>>
>> Call: N0HJZ
>> Operator(s): N0HJZ
>> Station: N0HJZ
>>
>> Class: SOAB LP
>> QTH: MN
>> Operating Time (hrs): 3
>>
>> Summary:
>>  Band  QSOs  Mults
>> -------------------
>>     6:  122    48
>>     2:    7     5
>> -------------------
>> Total:  129    53  Total Score = 7,208
>> _______________________________________________
>> Minnesota Wireless Association mailing list
>> To post a message: MWA at w0aa.org
>>
>> To contact the list manager: mwa-owner at w0aa.org
>>
>> List Help: http://mail.w0aa.org/mailman/listinfo/mwa_w0aa.org
>>
>> MWA Official Web Site:  https://www.w0aa.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Minnesota Wireless Association mailing list
> To post a message: MWA at w0aa.org
>
> To contact the list manager: mwa-owner at w0aa.org
>
> List Help: http://mail.w0aa.org/mailman/listinfo/mwa_w0aa.org
>
> MWA Official Web Site:  https://www.w0aa.org
>