I "probably" won't work any more new ones on 160m, nor 6m.
At one time I was neck and neck (or trailing slightly behind) with guys like VE1YX and VE1ZZ(sk) on 6m DXCC totals in VE. I think I was #3 or #4 to get 100 DXCC's on 6m here in VE, but never applied. I would literally leave my 6m rig on for weeks on end, endlessly scanning or keyer calling CQ, sometimes for hours. I picked up a handful of super rare DX's this way. I had rigs in all my cars, cottage, work QTH's, parents place so when visiting, could put the rig on, motorcycle, you-name-it. I even have worked or heard a few rare stns mobile. Very exciting~! Those days are dust. Gone forever. Only memories remain. I know what I have (148 now on 6m but when FT8 hit the scene all those rare DX stns went away. I won't "cheapen" my 6/160 DXCC totals with computer modes that take little in the way of real skill. (I hear that there are actually guys employing robot programs so they can leave their rigs on all night and check in the morning to see what they've worked on 6/160) Yawn! Where's the pride in that? The story is very much the same here on 160m. I never ran huge antennas nor power, but was very active in the 1990's into the 2000's and managed to scrape together 200 DXCC's with what I have and other than to pick up a few mults in CQWW CW (etc. ) I don't ever get on Topband anymore. Why would I ? 99% of everyone is parked on FT8. Like watching paint dry. Oh, and I put on several rare DXCC's in the area so OTHERS would be able to work a new one. I will never be a FT8 op. I hope things change, but I don't see it. dit dit guys Mike VE9AA Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
