This is a view from NASA of the sun today, October 9, 2018, and I am making 10m DX contacts one after another. Zero sunspots but working DX on FT8! Is FT8 creating a “tipping point” for amateur radio at the very bottom of the solar cycle?
Several years ago I was captivated by a book written by Malcolm Gladwell called, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. Merriam-Webster defines tipping point as, “the critical point in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place.” In his book, Gladwell describes how, “The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.” He shows us how the phenomenon applies to everything from flu epidemics to the explosion of new technologies.
Does the FT8 mode included in WSJT-X software constitute a tipping point in ham radio for good or for harm? There are many ham radio opinion blogs on the Internet that strongly or sometimes sarcastically take one or the other stance. There is even an Internet poll asking, “Is FT8 damaging amateur radio?” At this moment it is 52% yes, 45% no and 3% undecided.[1] All of the articles and videos I have seen agree on one undeniable fact – FT8 has since its introduction in June of 2017 achieved “killer app” or tipping point status. Some think it will kill amateur radio and others believe that such innovations give the hobby new life…..READ MORE
Equipment
Hilberling VLF / HF / VHF Transceiver PT-8000A
Hilberling PT-8000A VLF / HF / VHF Ham Radio Transceiver RX: 9 kHz … 30 MHz / 50 … 54 MHz 69.9 … 70.5 MHz / 144 … 1... Read more
K42C CW Keyboard/Reader Kit
The K42 is the Swiss Army knife of CW keyers, it will provide lots of CW operation and enjoyment. A CW keyboard interface, CW reader, iambic paddle ke... Read more
Wireless Bluetooth mic for Yaesu mobile radios FT-7900R/100DR etc
Yaesu mobile Yaesu Mobile Radio Please check our new bluetooth speaker mic VGC BMH-68, it’s a very perfect replacement for the MH-48 serial wire... Read more
144 MHz filter stops interference
Designed and manufactured by SOTABEAMS, this neat bandpass filter is for use with handies (HT) in areas with multiple transmitters. In such areas, man... Read more
ICOM IC-7610 – Pre-release Brochure
ICOM IC-7610 The SDR Everyone Wants! Receivers Independent direct sampling receivers capable of receiving two bands/two modes simultaneously. DIGI-SEL... Read more
VHF
VHF Contesting with the ICOM 9700
“Our entry into the RSGB 2m Backpackers contest, using the new ICOM 9700. We made 79 contacts into 6 DXCC during the 4 hour contest and got sunb... Read more
NEW Launch TYT DM-UVF10 DPMR Digital voiceWalkie Talkie VHF + UHF
TYT DM-UVF10 ,a dualdisplay, dual standby two-way radio,adopts high-technology and novel designDM-UVF10 adopts humanism design,making it smart... Read more
PHOENIX 1000 TRIBAND 1 KW 50 – 70 – 144 MHz NCR
Description Freqency Coverage 50 – 70 – 144 MHz Mode FM-CW-SSB “JT65” Output power 1000W Input power 7-10W Power supply insid... Read more
News from DARC — 50 MHz
The Federal Network Agency made a preliminary provisional implementation of the WRC-19 results for the 6‑m band in MItteilung 111 from Amtsblatt 08/20... Read more
How to Build your own DMR Digital Radio Code Plug – Ham Radio Q&A
“A DMR radio isn’t any good if it doesn’t have any frequencies or channels programmed into it. Programming your first DMR radio might feel a lit... Read more
Digital Modes
FT8DMC 3rd Anniversary-Activity Days 2020
To commemorate our 3rd anniversary, special event stations will be on air during the FT8DMC Activity Days from 1. to 31. July 2020. All stations will... Read more
K1JT , JOE TAYLOR HINTS AT POSSIBLE NEW MODE!
In a post to the WSJT-X email group today, Joe Taylor K1JT hinted at some ongoing experimentation of a new digital mode with sub-modes. His post was a... Read more
WWSA GACW Contest Rules.
WWSA GACW I – Dates Second weekend of June of every year. From Saturday 15.00 UTC until Sunday 15.00 UTC. 24 hours period. II – Goal To co... Read more