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Re: [CQ-Contest] Impact of FT* Modes on DXpeditions

To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Impact of FT* Modes on DXpeditions
From: "Yuri" <ve3dz@rigexpert.net>
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2019 11:48:24 -0400
List-post: <mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
I'd like to thank John W2GD for taking his time to comment on my post. 
Obviously, opinion of such well known and famous contester and Dxpeditioner is 
greatly appreciated here.
Also thanks to the Moderators for allowing this civilized discussion to 
continue. :-)

Besides some misinterpretation of the my words in the original post I would 
tend to agree with John on one thing - yes, there are SOME well-organized 
DXpeditions, Top World Class ones, usually 1-2 a year, that doesn’t' 
necessarily lean on QSL/donation support and his example of KP5 and KP1 was a 
very good one! But I have to agree with Mats RM2D that those DXpeditions were 
in the pre-FT8 days...

To defend my point I have to ask John 2 questions (since he chose to talk on 
behalf of ALL DX expeditions):

1. If you say that one of the main DXpeditions goals is to provide an 
opportunity for those running 100 watts (and those who probably don't use very 
good antennas), then why most, if not all, DXpeditions do not upload their LOGs 
to LOTW right away? I would see it pretty logical if the goal would be just to 
help those "poor souls" to get their new ones... Instead we see 6, 9 months and 
in some cases 1 year delay.

2. John, if you look at OQRS on CLubLOG and on some of the DXpeditions 
websites, you should have noticed that a lot of them request $4, $5 or in some 
cases even more for a direct QSL card. The cost of mailing a letter overseas 
from the States is now at $1.15. And in most countries this cost rarely goes 
above $2...$3. So, where the rest of the money goes? :-)

Again, I'm not judging here. I'm not saying it's bad. I'm just stating the 
facts.

And my original post was actually not about DXpeditions and donations, it was 
mainly about intended multi-channel streams in the future FT8/FT4 contests and 
how it is going to correlate with well-know PJ4G after which the rules for the 
ARRL Contests were changed.

Thank you.

73 Yuri  VE3DZ
Also 6Y2T  8P3A  8P9AA  9N1UZ  HC2TDZ  HD2T  N2WCQ  P40T  PZ5T  TO2U  UT4UZ  
V31UZ  VE2IM  VO1AAM  VP9FOC  VY2IA  ZF1DZ  4J1FS (op.) …/FP  …/VP9 …/KP4  
…/PP5 …/S5 …/SV2 …/TF  etc. 



-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of John 
Crovelli
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 10:45 AM
To: Yuri; cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Impact of FT* Modes on DXpeditions

I want to take a moment to dispel the notion suggested by Yuri that DXpedition 
operating strategy is all about financial considerations.  It simply isn't for 
well planned operations.

It is the intent of virtually every DXpedition to provide an opportunity for 
those running 100 watts or more to work an ATNO.  DXpeditions teams are 
constantly considering ways to reach the broadest possible audience while on 
site.

The implication that operating strategy and mode selection is all about post 
operation donations (to cover costs) is just not true.  Well organized teams 
have these issues resolved well in advance.

I've been on some large DXpeditions (KP5 and KP1 - both were top ten world).  
Our operating teams NEVER set goals based upon donations, and in fact, this 
issue was never even discussed since no one felt it to be important.  Again, 
financing issues were resolved well before we ever departed for the islands.

We did however (on a daily basis) take stock of propagation, probably of 
openings, and how we were providing global coverage ... to prevent missing 
opportunities to those regions traditionally most difficult.  As a tool, FT8 
can be useful.

FT8 modes are providing options not previously available and for the most part 
now replaces RTTY activity.   It is my expectation CW and SSB will always be 
the main modes for DXpeditions.

John, W2GD aka P40W/P44W

________________________________
From: CQ-Contest <cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com> on behalf of Yuri 
<ve3dz@rigexpert.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 7, 2019 4:57 PM
To: 'Jeff Clarke' <ku8e@ku8e.com>; cq-contest@contesting.com 
<cq-contest@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] WW-Digi Contest -- Rule Clarification

>>> Seems like the last two big Dxpeditions (CY9 and 3D2) are putting FT8 first 
>>> before the traditional CW/SSB modes. I sure hope this isn't the future of 
>>> ham radio.

I might not be politically correct, but why not to mention that one of the all 
of the DXpeditions' goals is to try to maximize the overall QSO count in order 
to get more donation? That's what hiding behind "best kept secret" (that 
everybody knows) of F/H mode in FT8 in my opinion.
I'm not saying it's bad or good, but it's a fact.
Multi-channel streams need to be prohibited, otherwise it looks like hypocrisy.
I still remember how the rules for M/S in the ARRL Contests were changed under 
the pressure after PJ4G(?) team managed to have 2 stations on the same band 
(even not at the same time).

Yuri VE3DZ

-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jeff 
Clarke
Sent: Wednesday, August 7, 2019 10:51 AM
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] WW-Digi Contest -- Rule Clarification

Didn't someone create a FT8 contest reflector? It would be nice to take all 
these comments over there. Seems like FT8 is monopolizing the contest reflector 
just like it is on the air.

Seems like the last two big Dxpeditions (CY9 and 3D2) are putting FT8 first 
before the traditional CW/SSB modes. I sure hope this isn't the future of ham 
radio.

BTW I do operate some FT8 because I'm working on a the digital DXCC.
(because there is hardly any RTTY activity outside of contests) Now that I've 
reached 100 countries I'm starting to get bored with it.

Jeff



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