[NLRS] [MWA] N0HJZ - CQWW VHF

[Rolf Krogstad]

What about RTTY, the human ear can't decode it either, yet it has had a
firm place in ham radio and contesting for many decades.

On Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 11:02 AM Rich Westerberg <richn0hjz at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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>>
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>>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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