21-03-2018, 07:46 PM
(21-03-2018, 05:29 PM)VK4ADC Wrote: I have been having a 'play' with FT8 on and off over the last few days and have a few comments about it..
Yes, it is an effective and relatively easy mode to work. An audio interface box plus stable HF (or VHF etc) rig is about all you need - plus the WSJT-X software - plus (ideally) a CAT or CIV control to the Yaesu or Icom radio {respectively}.
After a minimal amount of setting up, you can be on air on FT8, and there are LOTS of stations worldwide looking for FT8 mode contacts on HF. A quick flick across the main frequencies on 40, 30, 20, 17 and even 15 metres shows a lot happening at any point in time.
That means it is easy and probably attractive to newbies and old timers alike, once they get used to the screens. The middle-of -the-roaders maybe not so much.
The adverse effect of FT8 is that it requires minimal skills and provides minimum in the way of a challenge. Click on a DX callsign on screen, click on the Tx<--Rx button to make sure you are using the same 'frequency', click Enable Tx and it all more-or-less happens for you. Working that 'rare-ish DX' takes no effort.
I think that you have to make it challenging if you want any awards to be meaningful. A few FT8 button pressses over a few days can qualify you for USA's WAS award, and the above posting mentions DXCC purely on FT8. In about 1.5 hours this afternoon, I worked about 15 different countries in Europe. A challenge ? Not really.
My interest in FT8 will probably decline in a matter of months, if not weeks. I operated on the VHF, UHF and microwave bands for years because that was challenging. Funnily enough, I have never applied for the DXCC even though I qualified for it many, many years ago (about 30-35 or more...), and that was challenging back then.
My suggestion to others: retain that microphone or CW key - and use that instead..
I agree FT8 is very "soulless" but it has ensured that activity remains high even when conditions are poor. I am still working stations on 10m and sometimes 6m where I have not had any SSB or CW QSOsfor months. I also use digital signals as a indicator of open paths and when I see the signal strengths increasing it is time to start a careful hunt on CW or SSB. This is much more evident on JT65 which is, IMO, must better at weak signal detection.
My guess is that once the SS go up and conditions on HF improve there will be a big migration back to SSB and CW
73
Wayne VK4WDM