Jeff - I don't have a solution to fix how FT8 has damaged operations on 160, 6 and other bands. However, I have included my exchange w/ Rick K5UR about the need to extract FT8 from the current Digital category and establish a separate award category for that mode. So, for award purposes, there would be no mixing of FT8 with other modes since it is a computer aided-only non conversational mode. He rogered up so we will see if anything happens. 73, alan K9MBQ
From: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) <[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])> Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 12:11:51 PM Subject: Re: Establish a New Award Category for FT Modes Hi Alan: Seems I recall the Programs and Services Committee (PSC) looked at this issue sometime back but it's been a number of years ago. Noteworthy to look at it again, especially with the huge growth in the FT modes. I am forwarding your email to Director Bill Lippert, AC0W, who is Chair of PSC for their review. 73,Rick - K5UR On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 10:46:41 AM CDT, Alan Swinger <[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])> wrote: Dear Rick, Many of us are displeased that FT-8 contacts made based on Computer interaction w/ formatted messaging count the same for DXCC and other ARRL Digital Awards (e.g. RTTY, PSK, etc.). I think the big discriminator/difference between FT8 and the others is that it is not a conversational mode and is completely dependent on a computer to make a formatted QSO. Although RTTY and PSK may also need a computer based program, Hams can have a conversation and operate much the same as Phone and CW when it comes to split, EMCOM, etc. Also, FT8 does not appear to support EMCOM. Therefore, I strongly suggest that the ARRL create a new and separate Category for awards – DXCC, WAS, etc – for FT modes. It could be named the “Digital – Computer” mode or “Digital-Message” Mode, or title of your choice. If you agree, and I hope you do before you lose we DX’ers as members, then I also suggest that you establish the new category without any retroactive changes to current FT credits for awards! Please advise re your thoughts and possible actions. 73, Alan Swinger K9MBQ ARRL QSL Card Checker Charlottesville, VA -----Original Message----- From: k1zm--- via Topband <[email protected]> Sent: Jun 1, 2026 3:41 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Topband: 160m Today - Some additional musings....about the old days... Monday 01 June I have been following this thread and YES - FT8 has materially changed 160m. There is almost NO CW on the band today - except during MAJOR contest weekends. I can often hear 30-40 countries each winter night on 1840 on FT8 and only a handful of the SAME stations on CW when I tune down the band such as: OK1CFF5INON7PQEA5CZS1COZ1BNN and one or two random others. And to make matters worse - FT8 Dx'peditioners seem to have failed to operate at THEIR OWN SUNRISE peaks to make matters worse when they come to 160m. They operate early evening looking into EU - and then qsy to 80m or 40m when propagation at THEIR SR periods favors qso's into North America on 160m. This is maddening to make matters worse... OR Pacific Dx'peditoners often fail to understand EAST COAST SR peaks here on the EAST COAST - and come on the band LONG AFTER SR has occurred here on Cape Cod. This too is disappointing.... For me - this has been a SEA CHANGE on 160m and I too have often had no other choice but to HOLD MY NOSE and get on FT8 along with W8LRL and AA1K both of whom I often see on 1840 these days. I am not IN LOVE with FT8 - far from it - but it is either that - or not be able to make any DX contacts most nights on 160m at all. I never thought I would live long enough to see this take place on Topband! And starting in 2020 the same thing happened on 6m during E season. Now you just sit on 50.313 or 50.323 all day long now and work what you SEE on FT8 mode - there is almost ZERO DX'ing on 6m CW or SSB anymore - same thing that happened a few years thereafter to Topband. FWIW The 4 current160m DXCC Single Band honor roll members on Topband each made all of their contacts on HUMAN modes - eg: CW or SSB - but most future DXCC's almost assuredly will include entities worked on FT8. I do not think there will be many more (IF ANY) DXCC single band honor roll members on Topband with the exception of those that are there today...So IT IS WHAT IT IS - sadly! I fully understand that you cannot hold back technology - FT8 is here to stay - but I am very glad I lived (like a DINOSAUR) in the glory days of 160m. About the only thing that remains today is that YOU STILL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND PROPAGATION on 160m in order to run up a strong DXCC total. That's about all that remains - everything else has changed - SO IT IS WHAT IT IS - HI HI Thanks for the bandwidth... 73 JEFF [email protected] _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
