Hi there, here's my opinion on FT8...why do many hams dislike this mode? Do I care? What about running FT8 with high power? Is it a demographic issue? Hope you enjoy the video. Keep safe and 73.
I love FT8 (and FT4 for even more throughput but generally fewer stations). With a shack in the house and wife and kids asleep I can work stations with my morning coffee, I’m not disturbing anyone and not having to listen to the Towers of Babel in a pileup on SSB. It’s ace ❤
hmm idk where you live but there is literally zero nobody ever ever on 10 meters like never besides what are you going to talk about your signal and colonostpy with a stranger hmm not really fun
I pretty much do the same, being that I'm not a Ham yet, I hook my Shortwave radio up to the PCs line in and run WSJT-X and grid tracker and see how far I can hear.
Hi Clint.Ive never tried FT8 but will give it ago sometime. As for the output power readings recently between the various rigs you have and the MFJ tuner what I have always done in the past is to use a decent dummy load and a known accurate power meter without any tuner inline.That way I know exactly what output power my equipment puts out.I recently had an MFJ tuner that worked fine but the internal meter in the tuner was very inaccurate on all bands from 1.8 to 30 Mhz.I did unfortunately have to recalibrate it which was not a problem but when you purchase a brand new item you shouldn't have to do that. Another great video and hopefully one day we will make that qso on Topband. 73.G7HFS/PA3IKH
i would of thought that 200w is a little overkill has it is not very friendly to other band user's especialy if their not able to turn off AGC you may become a nuisance to other band user's on the band and your running your amp at 100% duty cycle for 15 seconds out of every 30 seconds which is tough on your amp. FT8 is a weak signal mode but more power does normaly mean more contacts, ive found 50w max is fine for me but 10 watts most of the time which keeps evertbody else happy, you could maybe test to see if your TX range is out performing your RX performance and adjust pwr to suit has the 40m noise floor normaly dictates RX permance. 8-)
50W is my usual limit, but every now and then I like to experiment. As regards the duty cycle on digital modes, the BLA350 eats 225W for breakfast with no issues. 73
I don't get the hatred around FT8, it polarises almost everyone! I don't see it as a conversation mode, it's a propagation tool. Saying you don't like FT8 is like saying you don't like DX Clusters or SWR meters or antenna analysers. FT8 gives you instant feedback and answers the question in real time of "did that antenna tweak I just make work".
While I am a CW only op, our hobby has room for everyone. I don’t see the fun in sending only canned info. I don’t like the “599 TU” QSOs any more than my computer sending a hard wired “call RST” message. Difference is that the code or phone op can at least send something more than just the canned message. My complaint with many ops, not just digital folks, is that all too often they start transmitting without verifying they have a clear frequency. QRM is always bad. My TS480H runs 200 watts very happily all day long but I have a SB-200 that puts out 500 watts when needed. It does sometimes kicks my RST up from 339 to 549. Makes a QSO a lot more fun.
Inflammatory videos always get a load of views ...obviously we like to get views on our videos but it is like running butt naked through the streets for attention ..It works but not in a good way. I like some of your more constructive videos Clint ...Keep it up!
I don't agree with you at all. I think it's actually constructive to point out how some hams can be quite small-minded etc. There's not many of us out there prepared to speak up, irrespective of whether some agree/some don't on an issue. 73
200 watts is a small drop compared to some European and Americans. Here in VK we see some massive signals from alligators we call them. ft8 has its place it is use full for a hard core dx'er like my self with 300 dxcc confirmed i don't love it but it is a tool i have many atno's in ft8 then i get the same dxcc in cw or ssb. so 240+ dxcc confirmed in ft8 tells you some thing. ft8 has also brought new life and more ops to the 6m band where it is a game changer .Now as conditions dramatically improved dont be afraid to grab the mic or the key if signals are in the + range. 73
I like FT8 certainly better than me learning the old Morse Code...No wonder you are getting out on 200W ;-) probably you who's jamming 40M ;-P The FT991A is a Joy for digimodes ...have a good time on FT8
101blog: You then have no idea what you're missing if you don't operate CW using morse code. I would say morse code is the most fantastic mode every developed, and besides being able to have great conversations using it, contesting using morse the ultimate high.
I have to say I don’t understand the hate FT8 gets (or any other mode). It’s just another mode. Nobody is forcing anyone to operate it. If it’s not your cup of tea, don’t operate it. I like FT8, personally. It allows me to operate from my apartment and with very low power - in the winter, this is great. A lot of these “it’s deskilling the hobby” people would’ve probably said the same thing about phone modes back when it was all CW. It must really bother them that you can buy a radio via the internet and never have to pick up a soldering iron!
Nowdays it's all about making contacts and never about a good voicr qso with someone on the other side of the planet. I dont hate ft8, I just don't see the point. It holds the same fascination as texting on my phone or sending an e-mail.
A lot of the folks who are anti FT modes are the same ones moaning that we can't attract 'younger' people to the hobby... well guess what ... a lot of them aren't interested in CW (yet) but are quite happy using computers... each to their own. I'm happy trying all mode at my disposal and have been for nearly 50 years !😵💫
I think your comment is a bit Harsh towards ham operator's who dislike ft8". You may like it but to be honest i find it boring. its not my cup of tea' it maybe be yours . some of us enjoy Morse and SSB along with FM & AM call me old fashioned ? my motto is live and let live.
