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Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

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wayne burdick

Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

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At first I thought it was my receiver. Or my antenna farm, limited in scale by a pre-nuptial clause. Or noise caused by the zomboid army of switching power supplies oozing inexorably into my personal space.

Nope.

It turns out the dearth of CW and SSB signals on 6 meters at the height of 2018 Spring Sporadic-E season can be traced to one factor: the 24-hour intravenous rave that is FT-8.

Yeah, I get the whole sub-noise-floor-and-not-automated-(wink)-QSO thing. But I’d like to figure out how those of us who enjoy the occasional gear-grinding manual-transmission contact can find each other on this brave new highway. Ideas?

Wayne
N6KR

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David F. Reed-2

Re: [KX3] Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

I agree; the FT-8 thing has had a lot of negative impact; some of the other
modes that take longer, but are weak signal modes were far less
devastating; people used lower power and got along more or less without
interfering too much except with other JT modes...
I think the quick turn part of FT8 contributed to its rapid growth, and the
use of it with high power made it worse.

I am back to longing for a simple CW contact at a leisurely pace... Back to
my KX2 (serial number 72!) for a little fun on 30 M.

73 de Dave, W5SV

On Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 10:46 AM, Wayne Burdick [hidden email] [KX3] <
[hidden email]> wrote:

> At first I thought it was my receiver. Or my antenna farm, limited in
> scale by a pre-nuptial clause. Or noise caused by the zomboid army of
> switching power supplies oozing inexorably into my personal space.
>
> Nope.
>
> It turns out the dearth of CW and SSB signals on 6 meters at the height of
> 2018 Spring Sporadic-E season can be traced to one factor: the 24-hour
> intravenous rave that is FT-8.
>
> Yeah, I get the whole sub-noise-floor-and-not-automated-(wink)-QSO thing.
> But I’d like to figure out how those of us who enjoy the occasional
> gear-grinding manual-transmission contact can find each other on this brave
> new highway. Ideas?
>
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
> Posted by: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
> ------------------------------------
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
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Michael Blake

Re: [KX3] Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

To add insult to injury the signals are not even below the noise floor. Only when calculated against a 3 KHz bandwidth. You can clearly see signals on the P3 that are reporting -25 snr within WSJT-X.

I believe the main selling point is that you can work DXCC in short time with zero personal involvement :)

Michael Blake
[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>

> On Jun 1, 2018, at 11:53 AM, David F. Reed <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I agree; the FT-8 thing has had a lot of negative impact; some of the other
> modes that take longer, but are weak signal modes were far less
> devastating; people used lower power and got along more or less without
> interfering too much except with other JT modes...
> I think the quick turn part of FT8 contributed to its rapid growth, and the
> use of it with high power made it worse.
>
> I am back to longing for a simple CW contact at a leisurely pace... Back to
> my KX2 (serial number 72!) for a little fun on 30 M.
>
> 73 de Dave, W5SV
>
> On Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 10:46 AM, Wayne Burdick [hidden email] [KX3] <
> [hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> At first I thought it was my receiver. Or my antenna farm, limited in
>> scale by a pre-nuptial clause. Or noise caused by the zomboid army of
>> switching power supplies oozing inexorably into my personal space.
>>
>> Nope.
>>
>> It turns out the dearth of CW and SSB signals on 6 meters at the height of
>> 2018 Spring Sporadic-E season can be traced to one factor: the 24-hour
>> intravenous rave that is FT-8.
>>
>> Yeah, I get the whole sub-noise-floor-and-not-automated-(wink)-QSO thing.
>> But I’d like to figure out how those of us who enjoy the occasional
>> gear-grinding manual-transmission contact can find each other on this brave
>> new highway. Ideas?
>>
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>> Posted by: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Yahoo Groups Links
>>
>> <*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KX3/
>>
>> <*> Your email settings:
>> Individual Email | Traditional
>>
>> <*> To change settings online go to:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KX3/join
>> (Yahoo! ID required)
>>
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>> [hidden email]
>> [hidden email]
>>
>> <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>> [hidden email]
>>
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>> https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/
>>
>>
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Randy Farmer

Re: [KX3] Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

The "instant gratification" factor is still alive and well, now fueled
by all manner of digital gadgets. I'm a dinosaur, I suppose, but somehow
I've never been able to warm up to any kind of radio communication
technique for which my gray matter is not part of the demodulation chain
(this includes RTTY). I don't even use telnet spots when I'm contesting.
The idea of an overnight DXCC without intervention of carbon-based life
forms leaves me cold, and is tantamount to fishing with dynamite in my eyes.

73...
Randy, W8FN (ex-WA9VZM)

On 6/1/2018 11:00 AM, Michael Blake wrote:
> To add insult to injury the signals are not even below the noise floor. Only when calculated against a 3 KHz bandwidth. You can clearly see signals on the P3 that are reporting -25 snr within WSJT-X.
>
> I believe the main selling point is that you can work DXCC in short time with zero personal involvement :)
>
> Michael Blake
> [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>

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Jim Brown-10

Re: [KX3] Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by Michael Blake

On 6/1/2018 9:00 AM, Michael Blake wrote:
> I believe the main selling point is that you can work DXCC in short time with zero personal involvement:)

As I understand it, FT8 was developed primarily with 6M E-skip in mind,
because an older weak signal mode, JT65 took so long that a double hop
opening had faded before a QSO could be completed.

I chase 6M grids. Last season, I worked >140 grids, 40 of which were new
ones. That's not easy to do from the west coast when you already have
350 confirmed. 13 were JT65 or JT9, 14 were FT8, 10 were MSK144, 3 were
CW, and 1 was SSB. When you reach that level, the grids you're missing
are mostly those with low population density. A relatively small number
of hams working 6M know CW, and all of the WSJT modes are 20 dB or more
better than SSB. So FT8, by virtue of its new popularity, is lighting up
a bunch of grids that were otherwise not available for marginal conditions.

In two strong openings about ten days ago, I worked more than a dozen JA
stations in 9 grids! All but one has already been confirmed in LOTW.
That's another strong point -- in general, those who use digital modes
are FAR more likely to be on LOTW, which saves a lot of postage if
you're chasing awards.

73, Jim K9YC
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alorona

Re: Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

I wrote an April Fool's article back in like 1999 (I might still be able to find it on dejanews) describing a make-believe ARRL contest which was totally automated; contesters could come home from work and peruse their logs to see what stations their computers had 'worked' that day. When parody becomes reality, it's no longer funny. I'm chagrined that that fictitious day appears to have finally arrived.
FT8 is just a phase. It is the mode du jour, the next in a long parade of digital modes that stretches back to AMTOR and packet. This too, shall pass, to be replaced with the Next Big Mode, which in turn will pass and be replaced. In the meantime, there hasn't been a single CW signal in the morning on 40 meters so I can test out my new homebrew FD rig. It's very depressing.
Al W6LX

From: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
To: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
Cc: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>; [hidden email]
Sent: Friday, June 1, 2018 8:47 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

At first I thought it was my receiver. Or my antenna farm, limited in scale by a pre-nuptial clause. Or noise caused by the zomboid army of switching power supplies oozing inexorably into my personal space.

Nope.

It turns out the dearth of CW and SSB signals on 6 meters at the height of 2018 Spring Sporadic-E season can be traced to one factor: the 24-hour intravenous rave that is FT-8.

Yeah, I get the whole sub-noise-floor-and-not-automated-(wink)-QSO thing. But I’d like to figure out how those of us who enjoy the occasional gear-grinding manual-transmission contact can find each other on this brave new highway. Ideas?

Wayne
N6KR

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Tim McDonough N9PUZ

Re: Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

I can appreciate the technology behind modes such as FT-8 but for me,
regardless of whether it be CW, Phone, or a digital mode a meaningful QSO
results in me knowing some small amount of information about another ham
that I didn't know otherwise. Clicking on a call sign and then, mostly
automatically, having the computers complete the QSO just doesn't get my
motor running.

Tim N9PUZ

On Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 11:59 AM, Al Lorona <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I wrote an April Fool's article back in like 1999 (I might still be able
> to find it on dejanews) describing a make-believe ARRL contest which was
> totally automated; contesters could come home from work and peruse their
> logs to see what stations their computers had 'worked' that day. When
> parody becomes reality, it's no longer funny. I'm chagrined that that
> fictitious day appears to have finally arrived.
> FT8 is just a phase. It is the mode du jour, the next in a long parade of
> digital modes that stretches back to AMTOR and packet. This too, shall
> pass, to be replaced with the Next Big Mode, which in turn will pass and be
> replaced. In the meantime, there hasn't been a single CW signal in the
> morning on 40 meters so I can test out my new homebrew FD rig. It's very
> depressing.
> Al W6LX
>
> From: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
> To: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
> Cc: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>;
> [hidden email]
> Sent: Friday, June 1, 2018 8:47 AM
> Subject: [Elecraft] Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8
> microjuggernaut
>
> At first I thought it was my receiver. Or my antenna farm, limited in
> scale by a pre-nuptial clause. Or noise caused by the zomboid army of
> switching power supplies oozing inexorably into my personal space.
>
> Nope.
>
> It turns out the dearth of CW and SSB signals on 6 meters at the height of
> 2018 Spring Sporadic-E season can be traced to one factor: the 24-hour
> intravenous rave that is FT-8.
>
> Yeah, I get the whole sub-noise-floor-and-not-automated-(wink)-QSO thing.
> But I’d like to figure out how those of us who enjoy the occasional
> gear-grinding manual-transmission contact can find each other on this brave
> new highway. Ideas?
>
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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>
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Carl Yaffey

Re: Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

I usually check the CW area and the SSB area before hitting FT8. Sometimes call a few CQs. Crickets. . . . .

> On Jun 1, 2018, at 11:46 AM, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> At first I thought it was my receiver. Or my antenna farm, limited in scale by a pre-nuptial clause. Or noise caused by the zomboid army of switching power supplies oozing inexorably into my personal space.
>
> Nope.
>
> It turns out the dearth of CW and SSB signals on 6 meters at the height of 2018 Spring Sporadic-E season can be traced to one factor: the 24-hour intravenous rave that is FT-8.
>
> Yeah, I get the whole sub-noise-floor-and-not-automated-(wink)-QSO thing. But I’d like to figure out how those of us who enjoy the occasional gear-grinding manual-transmission contact can find each other on this brave new highway. Ideas?
>
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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Carl Yaffey K8NU
Recording studio.
[hidden email]
614 268 6353, Columbus OH
http://www.carl-yaffey.com
http://www.grassahol.com
http://www.bluesswing.com

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Jim Brown-10

Re: Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by alorona

On 6/1/2018 9:59 AM, Al Lorona wrote:
> I wrote an April Fool's article back in like 1999 (I might still be able to find it on dejanews) describing a make-believe ARRL contest which was totally automated; contesters could come home from work and peruse their logs to see what stations their computers had 'worked' that day. When parody becomes reality, it's no longer funny. I'm chagrined that that fictitious day appears to have finally arrived.

I suspect you haven't used any of the WSJT modes. Operator skill and
experience significantly increases the likelihood of completing QSOs,
especially QSOs with stations that you want to work. Indeed, auto
sequencing often gets in the way of that, responding to calls from
locals when DX (or stations in rare grids) are calling you.

73, Jim K9YC
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David Gilbert

Re: Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by alorona

I think it's way too simplistic to dismiss FT8 as being merely a phase.
I haven't tried it yet, but it seems to me that FT8 contacts have
similar appeal to folks who try to rack up as many countries or other
entities as they can ... where having a chat isn't the main intent.
I've made a ton of CW contacts where all I had to do was copy a callsign
and push a button on my keyboard to send my info. I doubt you can make
a strong case that those were much different than an FT8 contact.

It is certainly likely that some other mode will eventually take it's
place, but I don't see sub-noisefloor modes ever going away. They simply
have too much benefit for hams with antenna and/or power restrictions.
Besides, I could probably argue that exploring new modes is well within
the spirit of ham radio ... something you seem to have forgotten.

Dave AB7E

On 6/1/2018 9:59 AM, Al Lorona wrote:

> I wrote an April Fool's article back in like 1999 (I might still be able to find it on dejanews) describing a make-believe ARRL contest which was totally automated; contesters could come home from work and peruse their logs to see what stations their computers had 'worked' that day. When parody becomes reality, it's no longer funny. I'm chagrined that that fictitious day appears to have finally arrived.
> FT8 is just a phase. It is the mode du jour, the next in a long parade of digital modes that stretches back to AMTOR and packet. This too, shall pass, to be replaced with the Next Big Mode, which in turn will pass and be replaced. In the meantime, there hasn't been a single CW signal in the morning on 40 meters so I can test out my new homebrew FD rig. It's very depressing.
> Al W6LX
>
> From: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
> To: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
> Cc: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>; [hidden email]
> Sent: Friday, June 1, 2018 8:47 AM
> Subject: [Elecraft] Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut
>
> At first I thought it was my receiver. Or my antenna farm, limited in scale by a pre-nuptial clause. Or noise caused by the zomboid army of switching power supplies oozing inexorably into my personal space.
>
> Nope.
>
> It turns out the dearth of CW and SSB signals on 6 meters at the height of 2018 Spring Sporadic-E season can be traced to one factor: the 24-hour intravenous rave that is FT-8.
>
> Yeah, I get the whole sub-noise-floor-and-not-automated-(wink)-QSO thing. But I’d like to figure out how those of us who enjoy the occasional gear-grinding manual-transmission contact can find each other on this brave new highway. Ideas?
>
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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Mike Parkes

Re: Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by alorona

I miss Amtor! Long live ARQ modes. Of course the bands were in better shape
in those days.
Mike AB7RU

On Fri, Jun 1, 2018, 10:00 AM Al Lorona <[hidden email]> wrote:

Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by David Gilbert

Be it CW, RTTY, PSK, SSB, JT65 or other modes, today's computer
integration into the ham shack as produced many automated contacts with
little to no personal intervention.   Where as one says FT-8 mode is
used to rack up countries........what about the automated CQ's from
memory keyers in CW mode with the follow up always being a 599 report,
or RTTY contacts structured with Function Keys for the exchange, and
software which supports other like modes.   Even SSB contacts with CQ's
in the operators voice with digital voice recorders will often
prevail.   Yes, I know it is repetitive calling and it is done to save
the voice or fingers, but really, automated is automated and the dreaded
computer is the basis, ..............not the FT-8 software.   As Chicken
Little said..........."it's everywhere, it's everywhere."

Just wait until the upcoming Field Day. The FT-8 operations, with
operators trying to modify the data exchange to comply with the
reporting and confirmation of contacts for Field Day exchange is surely
to be a little more than a "train wreck".   UGH! Banish the thoughts.

73

Bob, K4TAX

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Josh Fiden

Re: Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by David Gilbert

FT8 is *not* a "sub-noise floor" mode like JT65. You can complete faster on CW. It's great that there's so much activity, but far too many crap overdriven signals calling relentlessly.

73
Josh W6XU

Sent from my mobile device

>

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stengrevics

Re: Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

I worked D41CV on 6 meter FT8 a couple of weeks ago. He was running 15 watts and was -18dB here. If that’s not sub-noise floor, I don’t know what is.

73,

John
WA1EAZ

> On Jun 1, 2018, at 5:03 PM, Josh Fiden <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> FT8 is *not* a "sub-noise floor" mode like JT65. You can complete faster on CW. It's great that there's so much activity, but far too many crap overdriven signals calling relentlessly.
>
> 73
> Josh W6XU
>
> Sent from my mobile device
>
>>
>
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Randy Farmer

Re: Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by Bob McGraw - K4TAX

What you say is true, and as a hard-core contester I take advantage of
all the automation I can get to maximize my QSO rate.

The distinction is between transmitting and receiving. In receiving, the
difference is that in CW and SSB my brain is an integral part of the
process of getting the signal information from audio to log, no silicon
required or desired. Development and maintenance of the skills required
to do that accurately and efficiently are what I find most rewarding
about operating. In that respect, I've been "geek free" since 1964.

73...
Randy, W8FN

On 6/1/2018 3:48 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:

> Be it CW, RTTY, PSK, SSB, JT65 or other modes, today's computer
> integration into the ham shack as produced many automated contacts
> with little to no personal intervention.   Where as one says FT-8 mode
> is used to rack up countries........what about the automated CQ's from
> memory keyers in CW mode with the follow up always being a 599 report,
> or RTTY contacts structured with Function Keys for the exchange, and
> software which supports other like modes.   Even SSB contacts with
> CQ's in the operators voice with digital voice recorders will often
> prevail.   Yes, I know it is repetitive calling and it is done to save
> the voice or fingers, but really, automated is automated and the
> dreaded computer is the basis, ..............not the FT-8 software.
> As Chicken Little said..........."it's everywhere, it's everywhere."
>
> Just wait until the upcoming Field Day. The FT-8 operations, with
> operators trying to modify the data exchange to comply with the
> reporting and confirmation of contacts for Field Day exchange is
> surely to be a little more than a "train wreck".   UGH! Banish the
> thoughts.
>
> 73
>
> Bob, K4TAX

Charlie T, K3ICH

Re: [KX3] Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by Randy Farmer

My computer just kicked me out of the shack with some really scary threats
if I even attempted to "pull the plug" while it was working toward DXCC
(which I already have on 6M SSB) on 50 MHz.

Seems I gave it a tad TOO much control over the station.

Now I'm afraid to even go into the room while the band's open. The damn
thing has taken over and doing it all, including internet QSL's.

Even the cats are hiding in the basement.

Oh well, there's always Andy Griffith re-runs on the old-time TV channels.

73, Charlie k3ICH

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Michael Blake

Re: Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Bob, I did not remember that Chicken Little said that!

Michael Blake
[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>

> On Jun 1, 2018, at 4:48 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Be it CW, RTTY, PSK, SSB, JT65 or other modes, today's computer integration into the ham shack as produced many automated contacts with little to no personal intervention. Where as one says FT-8 mode is used to rack up countries........what about the automated CQ's from memory keyers in CW mode with the follow up always being a 599 report, or RTTY contacts structured with Function Keys for the exchange, and software which supports other like modes. Even SSB contacts with CQ's in the operators voice with digital voice recorders will often prevail. Yes, I know it is repetitive calling and it is done to save the voice or fingers, but really, automated is automated and the dreaded computer is the basis, ..............not the FT-8 software. As Chicken Little said..........."it's everywhere, it's everywhere."
>
> Just wait until the upcoming Field Day. The FT-8 operations, with operators trying to modify the data exchange to comply with the reporting and confirmation of contacts for Field Day exchange is surely to be a little more than a "train wreck". UGH! Banish the thoughts.
>
> 73
>
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>
>
>
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rich hurd WC3T

Re: [KX3] Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by Charlie T, K3ICH

Just remember, a computer's attention span is exactly as long as itspower
cord. ;)

On Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 17:43 Charlie T <[hidden email]> wrote:

> My computer just kicked me out of the shack with some really scary threats
> if I even attempted to "pull the plug" while it was working toward DXCC
> (which I already have on 6M SSB) on 50 MHz.
>
> Seems I gave it a tad TOO much control over the station.
>
> Now I'm afraid to even go into the room while the band's open. The damn
> thing has taken over and doing it all, including internet QSL's.
>
> Even the cats are hiding in the basement.
>
> Oh well, there's always Andy Griffith re-runs on the old-time TV channels.
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>

--
72,
Rich Hurd / WC3T / DMR: 3142737
PA Army MARS, Northampton County RACES, EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer
for Scouting
Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988 (40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W) Grid:
*FN20is*
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WILLIE BABER

Re: [KX3] Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Stop Dave. Will you stop Dave? What do you think you are doing, Dave?

--------------------------

73, Will, wj9b

CWops #1085
CWA Advisor levels II and III
http://cwops.org/

--------------------------------------------
On Fri, 6/1/18, rich hurd WC3T <[hidden email]> wrote:

Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut
To: "Charlie T" <[hidden email]>
Cc: [hidden email]
Date: Friday, June 1, 2018, 4:02 PM

Just remember, a computer's
attention span is exactly as long as itspower
cord. ;)

On
Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 17:43 Charlie T <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> My computer
just kicked me out of the shack with some really scary
threats
> if I even attempted to
"pull the plug" while it was working toward
DXCC
> (which I already have on 6M SSB)
on 50 MHz.
>
> Seems I
gave it a tad TOO much control over the station.
>
> Now I'm afraid to
even go into the room while the band's open. The
damn
> thing has taken over and doing it
all, including internet QSL's.
>
> Even the cats are hiding in the
basement.
>
> Oh well,
there's always Andy Griffith re-runs on the old-time TV
channels.
>
> 73,
Charlie k3ICH
>
>
>
>
>
>
______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
>
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
> This list hosted by:
http://www.qsl.net
>
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
--
72,
Rich Hurd / WC3T / DMR: 3142737
PA Army MARS, Northampton County RACES,
EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer
for
Scouting
Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude:
-75.288988 (40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W) Grid:
*FN20is*
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KENT TRIMBLE

Re: Boldly OT: 6 meter Sporadic-E season and the FT-8 microjuggernaut

In reply to this post by Josh Fiden

What is being overlooked in all of this discussion is that the bulk of
today's ham population makes its living at a keyboard.

When the bulk of an eight-hour work-day is spent in front of a monitor,
it should come as no shock that an entire generation will prefer making
QSOs with keyboard-keys rather than telegraph-keys. For them it requires
less skill, less time, and less patience . . . precisely the kind of
activities most sought by millennials.

Everything on this earth evolves, including amateur radio, and evolution
has never been straight-forward. It explores, imagines, and
experiments. It leaves behind a trail of bad ideas, weird adaptions,
and dead-end cul-de-sacs. At one time trilobites ruled the oceans. The
oceans did not change, but the trilobites went away.

My CW class on Saturday mornings has several IT guys who work for the
State of Missouri. They are fascinated by code ... not their kind of
code ... Samuel F.B.'s kind of code. They learned it mostly on their
own and want to get better at it. They bring in keying projects, they
bring in paddle renditions, they bring in mini-programming accessories,
they keep bugging us to schedule forays to the boonies so they can throw
wires into trees and "play radio." No one has yet told them such
efforts take time, skill, and patience. Apparently they don't care.
Why? Beats me. Come Monday morning they're back in front of their
monitors all day.

In Hiram Percy's house are many rooms.

73,

Kent Trimble, K9ZTV
Jefferson City, MO

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