Hi.
PSK31/63, RTTY and other non automated person to person data modes are
still VERY much in use!
Tune around you'll find plenty of MFSK16, Olivia(various versions) Thor,
Helschriber and other modes in regular use. But not in the same
spectrum block as FTx modes, thankfully. Except on 17m, where just
about anything else is bulldozed off the air by the FT8 crowd.
Here's a contentious thought. Ban FTx modes on 17m, as it's not a
contest band. (My Tin Hat and Fire extinguisher are ready!)
Many of us out here still preffer the person to person type QSO, not the
"wham-bam-thank-you-mam" Contest exchange of FTx etc.
WSJTx also has many other automated "contact" modes too, many way much
better at getting through noise or fading, and not just on HF, many used
VHF and up, in the high microwave bands too.
And of course, there is JS8Call, a conversational mode based on the way
FT8 works, it sounds much the same on-air, but is not code compatible.
It works well, but that's even less used than the other conversational
modes. Pitty, as it works very well indeed. (Even allowing repeating
between stations, and probing to find a path / discovering who can hear
you and how well.)
And of course full analogue SSTV is still a thing too, not just the web
interconnected version where in effect only URL's are sent
"over-the-air". (Some of the images sent do make one wonder though!)
FT8/FT4 is not the be-all-and-end-all, just the tip of the digimode
iceberg, should you wish to explore. (You can't pass emcom traffic
over FT8 or FT4! But you could over JS8Call, and of cours the other
modes supported by Fldigi, MixWin and other software modem software titles.)
Lastly, if you really want to find out how far away you can be heard,
try WSPR. Takes a bit more time to do, and is one way only, so no
instant gratification that seems important to some. (You need to use the
WSPR Map website.) I hit Chrischurch in New Zealand, the first time I
tried it, with 1W of RF out on the 30m band, from here in the UK with a
"very" compromised antenna some 5 years ago.
There are also other dedicated ultra slow modes, often used at VLF.
Other systems and methods to explore.
Each to their own though.
The great thing about Ham Radio, is we can explore and experiment.
73 & good DX for all.
Dave G8KBV.
But yes please, if possible CESSB and Sync'AM Reception would be
wonderful to have. Again, there is still "Lots" of AM broadcast on
Shortwave in general, not all of it from China!.
How about a DRM IF output feature? For external decoders. (Not sure,
but ISTR 12kHz being mentioned in the past for that.)
>><<
On 15/07/2025 17:00, [email protected] wrote:
Message: 7
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2025 22:09:48 -0400
From: Gwen Patton<[email protected]>
To: Rick NK7I<[email protected]>
Cc: Elecraft<[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Software Update for KX3
Message-ID:
<ca+nqa2mdy2iy-xghmbum1moytr8deqbhtb_ryy2pypv8+h-...@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Perfectly reasonable. It was just a thought, since PSK is not really being
used all that much these days. I used to love it, but nowadays I tend to
use FT8 more.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73,
Gwen, NG3P
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