FT8 or CW? Personal comparison of the two modes

I am one of those, what they like to experiment with. I really enjoy various HAM competitions, I've been going for years CQ WW SSB, most recently even the CW, although I don't control it at all morzeovku. I came across it by accident, in year 2015 i bought SDR FlexRadio 6300 and it was something wonderful. That year I participated in the CW competition for the first time in my life and it was absolutely great. Without it, to have some previous experience, Flex 6300 and the CW skimmer allowed me to make hundreds of connections in fashion, which I didn't really control.

But let's move on to the present. I was finally getting a little involved, I have a smaller signpost here 5 bands on a nice 12m mast, so 20-10 I have covered and on 160/80/40 I made a FAN dipole after my experience with this antenna from Australia. I use SunSDR2 Pro as TRCV. And yes, many different devices have passed through my hands, But SunSDR allows me to devote myself fully to broadcasting, I have a beautiful overview, where is the station and what about the competition, it has no problem even in difficult conditions. So lately I can devote myself not only to SSB, but I also make a few nice CW connections practically every day, again, without even knowing Morse code, although I plan to learn it. An excellent software called SDC was made for SunSDR, which is even better than the CW skimmer and allows me to broadcast with a smile even in CW.

Since my soul is not always satisfied, I also wanted to look at FT8. One thing surprised me, and that is the activity on the bands. FT8 can be heard almost always, while SSB and CW is not there. And yes, I won't go into details, why is that so?, but those of you, who use FT8, they have this information at their fingertips.

So I installed it WSJT-X on my MacBook, connected everything, I use RumLog and SDC and after a little experimenting I was able to start making my first FT8 connections. To my surprise, too many people broadcast in this mode, I even made new connections from Africa and Asia, which I don't have in other mods. Well, interesting. That's it 30 minutes of broadcasting using the FT8 mode, however, I start to yawn. That's what I'm thinking, that why. Well, I'll be honest, it's boring. It's the same thing over and over again. It's all too easy. The computer does all the work for you, you just tap here and there on the keyboard, you choose a station, who you want to connect with and boom, you have it. Sometimes immediately, sometimes it takes longer. Like it's fine and I understand, what is this mod about. If I only had a QRP station and a simple antenna and I wanted to establish a connection with someone, who is very far away, this mod will allow me to do that. But, it doesn't give me anything, I have no joy in these connections, it's all about computers and people take me for an IT expert, who works in IT 30 years (but look at mine LinkedIn profile – Oliver Bros).

until significant zeros appear along the wire in the direction of the final radiation, making just a short connection on SSB or CW puts a smile on my face. I even built one Morserino, which has been lying here for a few months. And I listen to the CW, I even try to broadcast.

I know a lot of people, which are against FT8, and much, which FT8 likes. But in my opinion, FT8 a little “messed up” our hobby. Yes, has its own representation – QRP, people, who have any health problems, for example, they are defeated and can no longer make connections using CW or SSB. That's what FT8 is great for, but when I hear, that people use full automation, they have the radio on day and night and look here and there to find out, that they have 20 of new DXCCs… like sorry, but not this anymore. You have nothing to brag about. This is my private opinion. While I am writing this text, I made a beautiful connection with the CX3AT, we talked about 4 minutes for 20m, went very nicely here, though 57, but solid, I heard him live, it was great for me to talk to a real person. Yes, i can now switch to FT8 and do another new DXCC, but I ask myself, I want it? NO. In my opinion, this should be an experimental mode, should not be included in DXCC or other awards, if people want, let them use it, but my opinion is, that NO, the computer does everything for you, it's boring. And when I hear, that they are DXpeditions, which use only FT8 exclusively, so my hair stands on end.

And yes, i will be using FT8. I'm going against myself? Not, but he will tell me, where it is open and then I will try SSB and CW connections. Even RTTY is a great mode, I used to use PSK31 and SSTV too… golden days.

And not, I don't want to start any war. I'm just writing my opinion. People are “crazy” o FT8, I don't. It is extremely boring, impersonal mode, it can even be fully automated. Where is our enthusiasm, which we had after each new connection on SSB/CW/RTTY? Aha, I made another connection, while I was writing this, this time with XV9G on CW. Awesome! These days I am following the cluster and watching, what's new on SSB and CW, I am not interested in others. I'm going to look for a friend, which is on Pitcairn Island… It only does CW, that's my man 🙂 And I should finally learn this beautiful mod. FT8, as I write, he has his reasons, nezatracujem ho, but for me it is more valuable, when I make a connection on SSB or CW. I even really like the CW, I have different, macros set up for now, which allow me to have a decent conversation, when it is necessary and the other party requires it. And even if the SDC software doesn't decrypt everything correctly for me, I understand the conversation and I know, what the other side will answer me, did she catch me, what signal report did she give me.

I'm listening to D2ACE right now, goes beautifully on SSB, I'm going to yell at him. Hold on!

Oliver, OM0RX