FT8 is a bit like Marmite, or Vegemite if you’re in Australia, you either love it or hate it. I used to be firmly in the hate it camp, probably because I didn’t really understand it. But, once I took the time to look into it, I found myself sitting on the fence. It definitely has its pros… and cons.
On the downside, FT8 can make operating feel somewhat passive. In many cases, you just sit there while your computer handles everything. No microphone, no keyboard, just watch the screen as QSOs roll in. It can feel more like monitoring than communicating, which to me takes away some of the fun and skill from the hobby.
On the plus side, FT8 is good for checking propagation. That said, I believe WSPR is better suited for that purpose. Another advantage is that FT8 doesn’t require a great deal of power or large antennas, making it accessible for operators with limited setups or in restrictive environments.
I’ve recently had several FT8 contacts. Or, I should say, my computer has. It’s good, I quite like it. But I do miss RTTY, PSK31, Olivia and the many other digital modes. All of which seem to have fallen by the wayside of late.
Running 20 watts, I ‘worked’ a station in Lebanon on 15 metres and a station in Italy on 6 metres. It was fun and proved that my antennas are reasonable. But I don’t think I could sit at the computer for too long watching the screen. For me, it doesn’t feel hands-on. What I will say at this point is, FT8 is obviously here to stay and has its uses. As the saying goes, millions can’t be wrong. Can they? I’m not going to sit out in the cold just because I have some psychological hang-up about a relatively new form of communication. That said, I love RTTY and PSK31!
I’ll be adding to this page as I make more contacts on FT8 and learn more about the mode.