Regarding the important religious issue of ham radio modulation, I am agnostic. There is room in ham radio for many modes including CW, AM, FM, SSB, RTTY, DV, FT8, and more. This springs from my belief that the universal purpose of amateur radio is to have fun messing around with radios. As long as you are obeying the FCC rules (or equivalent), having fun, and not being a pain to other radio hams, you have my full support to choose whatever emission type you prefer.
When I mention the use of FT8, I often get comments from folks disparaging the mode. Usually, the complaint is that FT8 is too impersonal or that it relies too much on DSP and computer power to get the job done. Those are actually valid complaints. Most of us would rather hear the voice of the other operator (or their CW fist) and have just a bit of interaction with them, even if it’s just “Roger, Five Nine Colorado.” (JS8 is a digital mode that provides a bit more interaction, so that is another option.) And there is no question that we depend on the technology to make the contact (more so than your typical CW or SSB contact.)
Recently, I wrote about how I need A Reason To Get On The Air, which is all about going after some particular operating activity whether it be DXCC, SOTA, POTA or whatever. The main objective of such activity is making a radio contact. Can I get my electromagnetic wave through the ether and have it arrive at the other station’s location? Then can they get their signal back to me, so we have a legitimate contact. If so, I get to check the box on that radio contact. See What is a Valid QSO?
I am not alone because many hams are voting with their transceiver settings on a daily basis, choosing FT8 over other modes. They are prioritizing making the contact higher than having a robust conversation with another radio operator. In fact, I sometimes hear radio amateurs comment that they prefer not having to deal with the standard chit-chat that provides a signal report, name, location, etc. They would rather just get the contact and put it in the log.
And it’s not just FT8. Many examples of ham radio operation emphasize making the QSO, independent of the mode used: SOTA, POTA, IOTA, DXCC, WAS, WAZ, contesting, EME, meteor scatter, and more. Meteor scatter is an interesting one…on the surface, it is not the most exciting activity. Sometimes it feels like watching paint dry because it may take 20 or 30 minutes to complete a contact. However, there is clearly a challenge here…can I bounce a signal off a meteor trail and have it reach the other station? And can I hear the other station’s reply? I’ve worked new stations and grids on 6m and 2m using this method and I enjoy getting a new one in the log. Perhaps not much different than busting through a CW or SSB pileup trying to work a rare DXpedition.
So keep having fun messing around with radios, using whatever mode you like.
And make the contact…we can talk about it later.
73 Bob K0NR
Bob, I’ve always like your catch phase about Hams having fun messing around with radios. But, when I consider the debate about digital modes, it makes me wonder if the catch phrase could be tweaked, for purposes of this discussion, to be “having fun with radios and the people who use them.” Then, the digital mode comparisons/equation becomes a little more clear. A rag-chew on SSB or FM is having fun in conversation with the people who use radios as an enabler. Digital modes flip the fun to primarily using the radio and digital technology with the people as the enabler. That’s my 2 cents. Ray / KD8EQA
I use a very broad definition of fun. Let’s take SOTA, which we both enjoy. A SOTA activation includes the fun of assembling the right gear, identifying the summit, planning the hike, enjoying the hike (hopefully with good wx), making radio contacts, talking with SOTA folks, seeing the points accumulate, etc. It’s all good.
If people want to do FT8 that’s fine. I guess if you like watching paint dry, all the power to you. But it shouldn’t be allowed in contests or awards programs unless they’re specifically for digital modes. How’s fair is it that some station gets DXCC or WAS or Worked All Whatever, using FT8 vs all that have gotten it before them using SSB or the even tougher CW? It makes it not even worth it to try and get them if their value is belittled by someone using FT8 to get them.
In the end, FT8 is nothing more than mindless mouse clicking that anybody can do. It takes a skilled operator to earn those same awards using SSB or especially CW. Personally I’ve been working for the hunted all states award in POTA. But I refuse to take the easy way out by using FT8 to get the last 2 states HI & AK. I just need to be patient and eventually I’ll get those last 2 states.
This is an edit to conform to the webmaster’s code of conduct.
I don’t think the the reason behind the establishment of Amateur Radio was for people to mess around playing with radios. Isn’t it more like provide a backup capability to communicate in case of a disaster where the grid, the internet and cell phones go down. Aditionally it serves a purpose of expanding the art and science of radio communication through experimentation.
Regarding FT8, I have heard all the arguments against it, like FT8 is not real Ham Radio, etc. Yes, it’s not for rag chewers but it does provide an opportunity for those of us with 100W and a wire to have a chance at DXCC and WAS without getting squished like a bug by the big guns with 1.5KW, an 80 foot tower with a 4 element yagi on top.
Ron KJ7PAQ
Mark,
On the contesting front, most of the major contests are already organized by mode: ARRL DX, CQ WPX, Sweepstakes, NAQP, etc. The ARRL VHF Contests are multimode, addressing the issue by splitting the single-op categories into All Mode or Analog Only. There are some multimode contests such as ARRL 10 meter (CW and SSB only), Field Day, many state QSO parties. Field Day actually encourages digital operation by giving those QSOs two points vs one for SSB. State QSO party rules vary with some not allowing digital, some giving it extra points. So which contests are unfair?
The major operating awards (WAS, DXCC, WAZ, WPX) typically have endorsements for Mixed, CW, SSB, Digital, Satellite, etc. The standings are also kept via these categories. So if you want a fair competition within a mode for an award, it is there. However, your POTA WAS award probably doesn’t have that.
73 Bob
The content of the first transatlantic radio contact was just the letter “S” – which has even less information and is less personal than the average FT8 contact. Pretty important though.
There are lots of things that aren’t my thing, including FT8. Still, I think that it’s cool that somebody’s out there doing them, because you never know where that R&D and experience will lead. For example in the case of FT8, it has evolved into JS8call, a robust text mode. There are radio things that I do that aren’t other people’s thing either (QRP from Tate’s Hell Swamp, anyone?). As you said Bob, if they’re within the law, playing by the rules, and not messing up anyone else’s fun, it’s a valid contact.
Yeah, FT8 sounds unfair against phone or CW contests. It reminds me of the unfairness inherent in biological males competing in women’s sports. Modes should compete with like modes.
As explained in a previous comment, the major phone and CW contests are mode specific, with digital not allowed.
(The ironic thing is that FT8 is so slow it would not be effective against a strong phone or CW op in a contest.)