What has FT8 done for 6m ?

[VK4WTN]

After todays opening from the southern states into JA and BV anyone can not ignore the benefits we have gained using digital modes such as FT8 and JT65 on 6 meters. Could anyone a few years back ever dreamed that we could work the USA, South America, Europe and asia at the bottom of the sunspot cycle. These sensitive modes have opened up incredible paths that we only dreamed of in the past. For several years between cycles we couldn't even work JAs now look what we can work. With all the doom and gloom over the low sunspot cycle we are actually working dx again. I love using CW on 6M but boy Ive had some fun on FT8 and JT65. Happy days on 6M are here again
Wayne VK4WTN

[VK6CPU]

Since noise is essentially random - the longer and at a lower data rate you transmit a signal the easier it is to resolve.
So of course JT65 can resolve weaker signals.
As stated in earlier posts its horses for courses. Like golf you choose your club/tool for the shot you are playing for.

But tongue in cheek, what this discussion has really shown is that the notorious do like to pontificate and remind you of when or for what they were infamous.
Which has had the benefit of educating the new and relative new-comers to the hobby as to what personality traits made them notorious in the first place.

[VK3ZAZ]

Chaos today when cross towners called dxers.
There is no reason to stay congested on 313.
JAs KG6 DU BV3 JR6 FO5 3D2;FK8
mixing in at -10 to -20 with VK7s at +16
The guy in vk7 the zed call you have serious open mike issues.
The bonking from windows users also.
CQ dx is cq dx not vk not zl.
There has been a suggestion by the yanks we go to 50.323
Also the FO5 dropped back to jt65 on 313.
some adapted others were perturbed.
need to develop a situational awareness as to what is going in.
auto response rotational cqs are pointless
you need to know where you are in the spectrum and who you might be stomping on.
dont call the dx on their frequency for starters.
and the rx0 was from 17 metres so if u dont have cat you may invariably send out a 6m report that is actually hf.
let the games continue.

[VK6OX]

Steve, we may not see eye to eye on a lot of things but I very much agree with you on those points you've put fwd which I've highlighted below:

Chaos today when cross towners called dxers.
There is no reason to stay congested on 313.
JAs KG6 DU BV3 JR6 FO5 3D2;FK8
mixing in at -10 to -20 with VK7s at +16
The guy in vk7 the zed call you have serious open mike issues. I tried to draw attention to his problem a couple of days ago.
The bonking from windows users also.
CQ dx is cq dx not vk not zl. Yep!!
There has been a suggestion by the yanks we go to 50.323
Also the FO5 dropped back to jt65 on 313.
some adapted others were perturbed.
need to develop a situational awareness as to what is going in.
auto response rotational cqs are pointless
you need to know where you are in the spectrum and who you might be stomping on. I agree totally to these 3 points....but how do we educate the newbies (and even some oldies?)
dont call the dx on their frequency for starters. Sometimes the DX will ONLY answer on their frequency. FO5 was a case in point for me??? Maybe depends on the amount of traffic which I can't see.
and the rx0 was from 17 metres so if u dont have cat you may invariably send out a 6m report that is actually hf.
let the games continue.

[VK4SC]

Chaos today when cross towners called dxers.
.

This really bugs me

[ZL3RC]

Don't stay on 313 is part of the answer. During the northern summer the US and JA stations had the same problem and 323 was used a lot.
So JA DX ops know about it we just need to start using it.

Maybe us 313 for even TX only and 323 for odd TX only.

Dont know if that would work but its always going to be a s**t fight if we all stay on 313.

I've walked away from the radio both last session now. Last year when some dick locally was calling CQ when a VP8 was on. And again this session when it got sill between ZL - VK and SA.
Its a hobby and you need to enjoy it so if your not, walk away for a while.

Cheers

Roger

[VK3ZAZ]

Everyone talks about northern hemisphere.
We are not 5000k we are 13000 to 16000 km

How come the South americans have stuck with jt65?


I enjoy working the band if everyone would play by the rules
and anyone warching the logger on sunday would see it was Rafferties Rules
go check the history the qrm and the vk7 frustrated qsos by ignorant operators in vk zl calling and qrming them.

zl vk is not dx.


.

[VK4CC]

zl vk is not dx

Ok,, I'll ask the silly question. From S.E. Qld what constitutes "DX" on 6m?
Does it have to do with distance? Is it defined by DX entity? Does it vary during the sunspot cycle?
If distance;
A VK6 in Perth is more distant from me than FO5, FK, 3D2 etc. Would VK6 be DX?
If based on DX entity:
ZL would be DX. So would VK9W.
Obviously I would not be trying to call VK6 while others were trying to work SA, US etc.

So, for us Noobs. What constitutes "DX" on 6m?

Col

[ZL3RC]

Everyone talks about northern hemisphere.
We are not 5000k we are 13000 to 16000 km

Makes no difference Steve. If I was new to the band 2000km would be DX maybe even 200km

How come the South americans have stuck with jt65?

Don't see the relevance of this comment as both modes have a 1st and second period and the some QRM problems.

I enjoy working the band if everyone would play by the rules

Yes but I think thats the problem there are NO rules.

and anyone warching the logger on sunday would see it was Rafferties Rules
go check the history the qrm and the vk7 frustrated qsos by ignorant operators in vk zl calling and qrming them.

You know in a way this is good news as it tells me there are lots of ops on 6m and that can only be good.

zl vk is not dx.

YES IT IS to some but maybe not in your rules as we all have our own rules on this one.


Cheers

Roger