Re: Topband: K9FD & digital
PLEASE lets NOT go down the digital ruined the world rabbit hole again! its a discussion for a different venue PLEASE I am not a moderator, just a list member with a sore delete finger. I DO want to hear what the folks actually on the air are accomplishing. but I do NOT want to hear doom and gloom about SSB ruining the AM bands, or Digital is the end of the world, its NOT topband material. Robin, WA6CDR - Original Message - From: "Jim Brown" To: Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2022 14:52 Subject: Re: Topband: K9FD On 9/28/2022 1:34 PM, kol...@rcn.com wrote: Seriously, he developed the mode, but it was the general Ham population that popularized it. They "voted" to operate that mode out of free will, many because folks with mediocre stations had very little opportunity to work DX at the sunspot doldrums, some because they just didn't enjoy the other legacy modes, etc. No one stopped anyone who actually wanted to get on CW (or any other mode) from doing so. So "they" didn't ruin 160m, 6m or anything else, for that matter. Blaming the decline of 160M CW activity on FT8 is barking up the wrong tree. Two factors are far more important. Both here, and on a jazz email reflector I've participated in for at least 25 years, we're getting older, getting less active, far too many QSYing away from the green side of the grass. Note the recent post from one of the guys in VK who noted that as he got older, he was no longer motivated to be on the air at the crack of dawn to work DX. The second factor is noise. In a San Francisco SBE chapter meeting I just attended online, it was noted that noise levels on the AM broadcast band have risen more than 20 dB. The presenter, from Orban, a long time leader in signal processing, is a ham, and at least half of the attendees listed their ham calls. The primary objective of broadcast signal processing is maximizing loudness; on the FM band, it's about maximizing the excitement level of music; on the AM band, it's about getting through that noise. I've known that presenter, W9CN, from our days in Chicago more than 40 years ago! 73, Jim K9YC _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: K9FD
On 9/28/2022 1:34 PM, kol...@rcn.com wrote: Seriously, he developed the mode, but it was the general Ham population that popularized it. They "voted" to operate that mode out of free will, many because folks with mediocre stations had very little opportunity to work DX at the sunspot doldrums, some because they just didn't enjoy the other legacy modes, etc. No one stopped anyone who actually wanted to get on CW (or any other mode) from doing so. So "they" didn't ruin 160m, 6m or anything else, for that matter. Blaming the decline of 160M CW activity on FT8 is barking up the wrong tree. Two factors are far more important. Both here, and on a jazz email reflector I've participated in for at least 25 years, we're getting older, getting less active, far too many QSYing away from the green side of the grass. Note the recent post from one of the guys in VK who noted that as he got older, he was no longer motivated to be on the air at the crack of dawn to work DX. The second factor is noise. In a San Francisco SBE chapter meeting I just attended online, it was noted that noise levels on the AM broadcast band have risen more than 20 dB. The presenter, from Orban, a long time leader in signal processing, is a ham, and at least half of the attendees listed their ham calls. The primary objective of broadcast signal processing is maximizing loudness; on the FM band, it's about maximizing the excitement level of music; on the AM band, it's about getting through that noise. I've known that presenter, W9CN, from our days in Chicago more than 40 years ago! 73, Jim K9YC _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: K9FD
Yeah. K1JT can shove that Nobel Prize where the sun don't shine... Seriously, he developed the mode, but it was the general Ham population that popularized it. They "voted" to operate that mode out of free will, many because folks with mediocre stations had very little opportunity to work DX at the sunspot doldrums, some because they just didn't enjoy the other legacy modes, etc. No one stopped anyone who actually wanted to get on CW (or any other mode) from doing so. So "they" didn't ruin 160m, 6m or anything else, for that matter. It seems bizarre to me to go QRT because of decisions others made, but, whatever. It also seems strange to me to assume Ham Radio exists just to cater to our particular preferences. DXing has always been my favorite Ham Radio interest, so when I heard about an organization that's called the "True Blue DXers Club" I joined, it sounded like something I would be interested in. But one day I found in my email that the "club" wanted its members to take an anti-FT8 loyalty oath, that we wouldn't operate that mode, or resign. So, I did. Nuts to that. I wouldn't take an anti-CW, SSB, RTTY, moon-bounce or ragchew oath, either. I am reminded of an old proverb "The Dogs bark, but the Caravan moves on". I have had a great time DXing (CW especially) and back in the day, contesting. But to me, it would be the height of arrogance to insist that my old ways should preclude others from finding their own ways and interests. So yes, let's advocate what we do to the new generation of Hams and serve as good example for the new guys rather than just disparage them. It's better to plant seeds rather than curse the ground. 73, Kevin K3OX - Original Message - From: "sm6cvx" To: "ok1tn" Cc: "topband" Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2022 1:27:53 PM Subject: Re: Topband: K9FD To OK1TN YES Slavek, I agree 100%. K1JT and his computer-game has completely destroyed 160 and 6 meters and most other bands. VERY SAD .Its a shame. Me and many many others has almost gone QRT ,and people stay away from our hobby. But we had a lot of fun before FT 8. Because now almost no Ham radio activity ONLY FT 8….without challange and antennas. and no need for operating skills. Take care and stay safe SM6CVX Hans > 28 sep 2022 kl. 18:47 skrev ok1tn : > > Hi to all topbanders. > K9FD/KH6 was my first and only KH6 station. Merv thus enabled me to get WAS > on top band. Thanks for the QSL too. Unfortunately, the days of dx on the > top band ended with the expansion of FT8. I am 76 years old and the > remaining 4 countries until 300DXCC on TB is probably just a dream.. > > -- > 73 Slavek Zeler > www.lc-variable.eu > www.okdxf.eu > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: K9FD
On 9/28/2022 9:47 AM, ok1tn wrote: Unfortunately, the days of dx on the top band ended with the expansion of FT8. Even during major contests, CW QSOs with EU have become nearly impossible from my QTH near San Francisco, thanks to greatly increased noise levels at both ends of the QSO. I can still work VK/ZL and JA on CW, bot I've heard 7 CW signals from EU in seven seasons, and only two of those stations have heard me, running legal limit into a TX antenna that is a few dB better than what I had in 2006 to work a dozen or so EU stations. Thanks to its 10 dB advantage over CW to get through noise, FT8 is a solution to that, and, during the recent solar minimum, enabled me to add twenty new countries in EU over two seasons. FST4 provides additional noise rejection, which is why it dominates 630m and 2200m. Although I've been primarily a CW op all my 67 years in ham radio, it's also about radios, antennas, understanding propagation and learning new stuff. 73, Jim K9YC _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: K9FD
To OK1TN YES Slavek, I agree 100%. K1JT and his computer-game has completely destroyed 160 and 6 meters and most other bands. VERY SAD .Its a shame. Me and many many others has almost gone QRT ,and people stay away from our hobby. But we had a lot of fun before FT 8. Because now almost no Ham radio activity ONLY FT 8….without challange and antennas. and no need for operating skills. Take care and stay safe SM6CVX Hans > 28 sep 2022 kl. 18:47 skrev ok1tn : > > Hi to all topbanders. > K9FD/KH6 was my first and only KH6 station. Merv thus enabled me to get WAS > on top band. Thanks for the QSL too. Unfortunately, the days of dx on the > top band ended with the expansion of FT8. I am 76 years old and the > remaining 4 countries until 300DXCC on TB is probably just a dream.. > > -- > 73 Slavek Zeler > www.lc-variable.eu > www.okdxf.eu > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: K9FD
Hi to all topbanders. K9FD/KH6 was my first and only KH6 station. Merv thus enabled me to get WAS on top band. Thanks for the QSL too. Unfortunately, the days of dx on the top band ended with the expansion of FT8. I am 76 years old and the remaining 4 countries until 300DXCC on TB is probably just a dream.. -- 73 Slavek Zeler www.lc-variable.eu www.okdxf.eu _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
