[TVARC] FT8 - The Great Equalizer

[Frank M]

I hear a lot lately about the bands being dead. Relative to the ‘good ol days’ it is true.
HOWEVER, it now seems as if FT8 digital mode has found a way around poor ionosphere conditions (and conditions in The Villages). 
Don’t misunderstand - still need the ionosphere, but the FT8 approach has found ways to pull signals out of the mud and bring them to life!!
For me, FT8 is a great equalizer for The Villages!! Don’t need big towers and big antennas and big linear for FT8. Just a decent transceiver (mine is the Icom IC-7300) and a computer (I am the oddball with the Mac).
As an example, last May, I started DXCC at zero count (threw away all contacts since 1954) and then in Sept last year added JT65 and FT8 capability. Today, I am at 162 countries worked with 145 confirmed on LoTW and most of them are digital contacts. I also have confirmed DXCC on Mixed, Digital and 40M. The biggest majority are FT8 with CW next.
I pass this information along not to brag but to point out how much FT8 can help overcome the ‘shortcomings of The Villages”.
Yesterday, we had an FT8 Band Opening on 10M that lasted quite a while. I was able to work the following on FT8: Australia, St Thomas, New Caledonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Dominica, Trinidad & Tobago, and many South America stations. Not bad for ‘The Villages’ on a DEAD BAND.
I wish to thank Dennis, N0SMX, for getting me interested in FT8. His presentation last year was the impetus to move into this field of digital ham radio.
If interested, give it a try - you might like it. It is slower than a CW or SSB pileup/contest contact but faster than most others. It is not for QSO’s but great for DX hunting, WAS hunting and Grid chasing and just making contacts everywhere, everyday.
Also, you may have seen a recent ARRL QST article talking about the tremendous growth in FT8.  Improvements and expansions are inevitable - e.g. DXpedition modes, Contest Modes (e.g. Field Day). 
I hope the addition of new technologies and capabilities never replace Voice and CW. Those are the beginnings and mainstays of ham radio. However, as our hobby continues to develop, so do the techniques and capabilities. Some of them will continue on into the future along with Voice and CW.

Regards to all,

Frank KA1AF