[SADXA] Fwd: Requesting change in DXCC Program

[Richard Solomon]

RTTY operation is not that far from FT8 operation in
the amount of savvy required.

Software has come a long way since the Model 14 (my
first RTTY machine). I do miss the smell of that old clunker.

73, Dick, W1KSZ

On Fri, Apr 15, 2022 at 9:39 AM Carl Foster <carlfoster at cactuscomm.net>
wrote:

> Hi Wes,I agree that the WSJT modes should be completely separate
> categories. With one exception (New Hampshire on 160 for 160 WAS), none of
> my awards include any FT8 contacts. I use FT8 to see where the propagation
> is, and then switch to CW, SSB, or RTTY. Sometimes I will answer a CQ if I
> sense that the station is desperate for an Arizona contact. The only band I
> call CQ on FT8 is 6 meters, just to see if it is open. People who use
> communication skills that are honed over several years should not be lumped
> in with people who get a DXCC or other award by simply clicking the left
> mouse button over a weekend. I hope the contest committees take some
> action. Carl  KB7AZ Sent from my HAL 9000
> -------- Original message --------From: Wes <wes_n7ws at triconet.org> Date:
> 4/15/22  8:22 AM  (GMT-07:00) To: SADXA <sadxa at mailman.qth.net> Subject:
> [SADXA] Fwd: Requesting change in DXCC Program FYI.  So far only one reply
> from W9JJ.-------- Forwarded Message --------Subject:     Requesting change
> in DXCC ProgramDate:  Thu, 14 Apr 2022 11:34:34 -0700From:    Wes <
> wes_n7ws at triconet.org>To:  K6FG at arrl.netCC:        k5uz at arrl.org,
> w9jj at arrl.org, staratula at arrl.orgDear Mark, et.al.I have been DXing since
> I became a ham in 1958, although I didn't formally join the DXCC program
> until 1981.  I have the 5-Band DXCC award, as well as endorsements for 160,
> 30, 17 and 12 meters.  I also hold CW and (traditional) RTTY awards and I
> am on the DXCC Honor Roll, both Mixed and Phone.During these 64 years of
> DXing I have seen many changes. Countries became entities, band awards and
> DXCC Challenge were introduced.  Logbook of the World and electronic QSLing
> became the new norm.  Contests, spotting networks, skimmers, DXpeditions,
> big and small, proliferated, and so on and so forth.  But none of these
> changes was as rapid and overwhelming as the emergence of WSJT in it's
> various forms.When the League decided to include these modes into the DXCC
> program I think it was thought that they're digital so let's turn the RTTY
> award into a Digital award and lump them all together. I don't think anyone
> could have predicted the sea change that WSJT would make upon the way some
> of us work DX. Personally, while I operate using FT-4 and FT-8 and I QSL
> for my QSO partner's benefit, I have chosen to NOT apply for DXCC credit
> for these contacts.I believe that the skills needed to make contacts using
> these modes are enough different that they should be recognized as such by
> having separate awards.  So I'm proposing that the RTTY DXCC be
> resurrected, any non-RTTY credits be removed and applied to a newly created
> Digital award.The League itself has made the case for this revision by way
> of the announcement of the *ARRL International Digital Contest <
> http://arrl.org/arrl-digital-contest>. *That announcement includes the
> verbiage, "All non-RTTY modes are permitted. Going forward, RTTY will be
> the sole mode for the ARRL RTTY Roundup, which will continue to take place
> in January."Clearly, the contest people see the difference, I think the
> DXCC program should see it too.Respectfully submitted,Wes Stewart,
> N7WS______________________________________________________________SADXA
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