Finding a clear spot the Xmit and knowing some tricks makes working DX
much easier. Sure you can xmit for hours on the same spot and hope for
the best. If you want to get in and out fast like a CW or SSB pileups
there is skill. Different skills but skills. Those with skills
understand this and it is really easy to tell the people who really have
little FT mode experience.
W0MU
On 6/2/2026 6:02 AM, Ron Spencer via Topband wrote:
Lots to agree with on this current thread. Some of my random thoughts.
FT8 and skill. I imagine there is some skill involved (beyond setting up your
station to work ft8). But not as much compared to chasing dx on cw. For
example, in FT8 you have NO idea where the DX is going to work next (unlike CW
where you study the pile, follow them as they work through it and try to
position yourself in their path). Instead, on FT8, you pick a spot and call.
Check occasionally to see if that spot is still open and continue to call
hoping the DX station clicks on you. For me, not much sense of accomplishment.
Sorry.
Re DXpeditions. Yes I'd like to see continued emphasis on the low bands, CW and
SSB but, and I've always felt this way, its THEIR dxpedition, THEIR money,
THEIR time. THEY are right to run it as they want. If you don't like how
they're running it, I'm sure you'll do better when you go there.
RE DXCC, yes, would be nice to have a separate category for digital. But, in
my opinion, the ARRL has, a long time ago, lost its way. Instead of making
decisions based on what's best for the hobby they seem to make them based on
quantity vs quality. And they seem a bit uninterested in what the members are
saying/ suggesting. I left a while back.
All that aside, I'll continue to enjoy the hobby.......until I don't
Ron
N4XD
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