There are a lot of “new” things in ham radio since I was last active on the air in the late 1990s.
There are a lot more digital modes and the new rigs have USB ports for directly interfacing with a computer to use software for RTTY, CW, and many other digital modes like FT4 and FT8.
My first reaction to FT8 was “okay, it’s boring”. After watching a few youtube videos I was still unimpressed. Even after a few months of actually making FT8 contacts, I’m still wondering why it’s so limiting.
Meanwhile, god forbid you mention to a ‘real’ ham that you’re making FT8 contacts, they will literally shit all over you.
It’s amazing how close-minded and dismissive some of these people can be. They turn into outright assholes.
This attitude reminds me of why I dumped ham radio 20 years ago – I just didn’t like a lot of the people I was talking to – and that’s kind of the point of amateur radio, isn’t it?
I joined a 10 meter group on Facebook and I’ve mentioned a couple of times how I use FT8 to gauge when there may be an opening on 10m here in Omaha.
Since I am not an 80 year old retiree, I have to work during the day. I can take a break now and then and work a couple of FT8 QSOs without a lot of distraction. I mean, aside from the first ‘click’ of the mouse, the entire FT8 qso can be completely automatic.
It is a boring mode and it is not very compelling.
However, over time, I’ve decided that I find it very useful, particularly when you can aggregate the data on a site like PSK reporter (see map)
I love to kick off WSJT-X and send some CQs out on 10m FT8 and then check the site to see if anyone is seeing me (I activated the feature that reports what I see to the site). This can be helpful for knowing when to get on 28.400 and call CQ (or listen for activity).
What FT8 has shown me is that my antenna is working and my signals are getting out. I’ve hit 23+ countries on FT8 in just a short while.
It may not be captivating and informative QSOs but you can send short (I mean VERY short) text messages as well. I arranged a VHF QSO with a local guy the other day by sending him a “QSY 146.48” message.
I wish the software was a little more flexible with respect to messaging, it can be done, but it’s not exactly as smooth as I would like.
Still, I don’t get the hate.
I know some folks have never worked a single CW contact in their entire ham career – I don’t shit on them for being fake ‘no code’ hams.
There’s so many ways to enjoy ham radio, I don’t understand why people can’t just let you do it. 😉
73 N8OVU