Hi Hal: I’ll chime in with another comment.
Ops that think FT8 is “automated” and requires no skill do not have enough experience with the mode. I am a former contester and traditional CW/SSB DXer (from the 1970s and early 80s), and FT8 is now my primary mode. Chasing a rare DX station on FT8 requires just as much skill and strategy as it does on CW or SSB. You need to listen (watch the waterfall) to the QSOs to figure out how the DXop is operating and to get a good look at the waterfall to figure out where some good spots to call. Techniques like tail-ending or cold-calling might be appropriate, and watching to see where the DXop’s RX window is might be helpful as you can call next on one of those DF frequencies. Chasing and then bagging a rare DX station takes patience and skill, and I do not think that the skills involved are fundamentally different from the old days when ops would chase CW or SSB DXops. FT8 for DXing is most closely related to a DXop working offset callers, e.g. “listening +/- 5” It is not an automatic activity. Ops not familiar with the mode think that it is fully automated and that you can set FT8 up, go for coffee, and come back to find that your station has made a bunch of contacts. This is NOT the case. The automated sequence advance feature is certainly helpful once you are in a QSO - but that is only if you choose to use it - and the skills to break through the “pileup” are just about the same as with CW or SSB. I would strongly suggest that ops with bias against FT8 or digital modes hold their nose, get set up and then make a few hundred QSOs on the mode. Find some DX and chase it, or start a new WAS. When you hear the DX or are on the hunt then you will soon appreciate the subtleties of the mode and learn how to call strategically, get into the mind of the DXop and be able to call him/her so that YOU get the next call from the guy. I really enjoy hearing a “pileup”, spending a few minutes listening and strategizing, and then calling and getting a reply right away - jumping the queue over the dozens of other ops who just call and call and call! FT8, FT4 and these other new HF digital modes are great fun and offer QSO possibilities in poor propagation conditions when CW or SSB QSOs are not achievable. It’s amazing to make QSOs on what otherwise appears to be a “dead” band. If you have FT8 installed and have abandoned using it, then resolve to try it again and stick with it long enough to get into this strategic, DX chasing phase of learning it. It’ll be exciting, I (and thousamnds of other FT8 ops) guaranteee it! 73, Kevin VE7ZD/KN7Q > On Aug 30, 2025, at 10:11 PM, dyno lab via Elecraft > <[email protected]> wrote: > > FT8 and some other modes have made it too easy to sit on our backsides and > let the computer do the work while we gradually lose interest. > It takes the excitement out of making contacts the hard way. > No wonder so many are giving up. > > There was a time when we built our own equipment and could not wait to put it > on the air. > We need something that makes it hard and interesting again. > > I thank the Ol Man Upstairs that I still find it really fun and interesting > to see a problem and go about building something to fix it. > > 73, > Hal > W7YNC > DynoLab.com > > >> On 08/30/2025 6:51 PM PDT Glenn Maclean via Elecraft >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> I have to say. The on going Morse Code Class I teach at a local bar because >> the owner is a ham and welcomes the class. I am little by little getting >> more students that see our table and are curious. I give them my spiel about >> ham radio and why Morse Code. Which is when boom boom the lights go out >> Morse Code will always come through! Then the next thing I know I end up >> with a new student who wants to become a ham! The new students are in their >> 20’s - 30’s >> Glenn Maclean WA7SPY >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On Aug 30, 2025, at 09:03, [email protected] wrote: >>> >>> Send Elecraft mailing list submissions to >>> [email protected] >>> >>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >>> [email protected] >>> >>> You can reach the person managing the list at >>> [email protected] >>> >>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >>> than "Re: Contents of Elecraft digest..." >>> >>> >>> Today's Topics: >>> >>> 1. Re: Effective ways to introduce amateur radio to newcomers? >>> (email) >>> >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> Message: 1 >>> Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2025 11:12:55 -0400 >>> From: email <[email protected]> >>> To: [email protected] >>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Effective ways to introduce amateur radio to >>> newcomers? >>> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed >>> >>> Why ?? (Why is it necessary that we talk other people into ham radio in >>> the first place??)? WELL, In the USA, the average age (determined by my >>> browser) is 65 years old.? That means in 20-30 years, that 800K number >>> will be 400K without adding new (younger hams) ??? >>> >>> My kids are in there 30's (and have let the license lapse - but plan on >>> renewing ??) >>> My wife is not active... >>> I know a number of hams in retirement communities that are not active. >>> How many of the 800K are active ?? >>> >>> I have a friend (Scout admin I work with/for) that had a novice in grade >>> school, she let it lapse a number of years ago.? I have been giving her >>> Tech class info and she may have time to do the zoom class...? She did >>> like CW (still knows it).? I may give/lend her my "old" NorCal 40.? It >>> would be nice to have a kit again ??? for new hams.? The NorCal 40 is >>> simple to use and a single band dipole is simple to "throw" into a tree... >>> >>> 73, Steve WB3LGC >>> >>>> On 7/26/25 18:57, David Gilbert via Elecraft wrote: >>>> >>>> Exactly. >>>> >>>> Trying to talk people into being interested in things we're interested >>>> in for the reasons we're interested in them is a foolish endeavor.? >>>> Evangelism is boring and off-putting.? The best we can do is describe >>>> what ham radio can offer and let people decide if that has any >>>> interest for them. >>>> >>>> If we have to convince somebody that ham radio is interesting to them, >>>> then it probably isn't and even if they go along it won't last. >>>> >>>> Which brings me to this question: >>>> * >>>> Why is it necessary that we talk other people into ham radio in the >>>> first place?? * There are supposedly close to 800,000 licensed hams in >>>> the U.S., which is a bigger market and a bigger pool of like minds >>>> than LOTS of other activities.? Is there some sort of collective >>>> insecurity complex going on every time this comes up? And it comes up >>>> with annoying frequency on almost every forum. >>>> >>>> Dave? ?AB7E >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> On 7/26/2025 2:27 PM, Fred Jensen via Elecraft wrote: >>>>> They almost all view ham radio from a utilitarian perspective, not as >>>>> a hobby ... they have hobbies and interests. Probably the largest >>>>> non-work interests were in the outdoors. >>>> >>>> ______________________________________________________________ >>>> Elecraft mailing list >>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>>> Post: mailto:[email protected] >>>> >>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >>>> Message delivered to [email protected] >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Elecraft mailing list >>> Post to: [email protected] >>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>> You must be a subscriber to post. >>> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com >>> >>> End of Elecraft Digest, Vol 256, Issue 20 >>> ***************************************** >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[email protected] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to [email protected] > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
