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Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:42:25 +0100
From: Tobias DG3LV <DG3LV@gmx.net>
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Subject: Re: Re: LF: Activity etc.
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Hi Steinar !

> "But maybe you prefer sitting before your laptop..."
Yes, I do ! Loooking at the spektra and waterfall of the entire 630m 
Band from 472 to 479 kHz on the wide screen of my SDR-TRX gives me the 
best impression about any activity on the band.

I can see an operator calling CQ at transsonic speed with no gaps 
between letters nor words, i can see him occupying the frequency of 
primary user "BIA" by lengthy CQ-loops. His CQ-QSX calls on 476 to 478 
kHz are noticed as well as his ragchew QSOs with fellow LF-enthusiasts. 
FLdigi and CW-Get are decoding well, who wants to spend some money will 
get an almost perfect decode by CWskimmer.

WSQ is a different story. The program appeared to be an early alpha 
version with no choice of soundcard, no choice of decoding frequency and 
not any filtering of unwanted signals like constant spectral lines. Wolf 
DL4YHF ist doing his best to make an usable program out of the initial 
ideas. The version from yesterday (5.3.2014) looks promising.

The lack of QSO-activity of any mode is a social "problem" in my view. 
As the number of joining hams in a mode usually is limited, there are 
always "the same suspects" who can talk to each other or even can hear 
each other. After some time its getting boring and unpolite to have a 
QSO several times a day without any "news" to tell. So the number of 
QSOs is decreasing by the time, and people start to run endless CQ-loops 
to gain a QSO by force. Some are not answering another ham calling CQ 
but starting a CQ of their own instead. The subbands fill up with 
"beacons" by that.

There has to be a critical mass of people to keep a mode running. People 
have to know about any new mode, so a high level of publicity is 
mandatory to acheive that critical mass. (but exaggerating technical 
data up to the sky is not helpful, as we have seen in the past)
Those who read this reflector are informed very well about any tests, 
but who in the outside world will notice ? It will take a time to 
establish a new mode for everyday use. There is a good chance that WSQ 
will become an effective keyboard to keyboard mode that is used 
frequently. Just a fortnight ago we first heard about it by you, its 
definitely too early to dismiss it.

sorri, long answer to a very short question...

73 de dg3lv Tobias

Am 05.03.2014 22:11, schrieb Steinar Aanesland:
> "But maybe you prefer sitting before your laptop" an unnecessary
> comment. If you want  to play with CW , fine. I have absolutely  no
> interest in QRO.  I love playing with intelligent and sophisticated
> modes that makes it possible to use LOW power. Not only on MF, but also
> on HF.  That is MY hobby .
>
> Bytheway, my intention was not to create a heated debate, but to answer
> a rhetorical question. I have no problem with some people's lack of
> interest. I fully respect that.
>
> LA5VNA S
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 05.03.2014 19:40, C. Groeger wrote:
>> Chris,
>> Why not learning the code, buying a tx with reasonable power and having fun in CW?
>> The code is same as spoken language and you can talk to other hams in real time!
>> But maybe you prefer sitting before your laptop...
>> I do crossband QSOs with hams  with no tx on mf but with serious interest in this band...
>> 73, DF5QG
>>
>> Christian Groeger
>>
>> Chris <c.ashby435@btinternet.com> schrieb:
>>
>>> Hi All,
>>> There have been questions lately about lack of activity, Steinar suggests "Yes, lack of interest".
>>> I am not so sure that is the case.
>>> I agree with the comments about too many modes and would also add lack of publicity as to where each mode resides on the LF bands. The casual listener, who might well take an interest but is not on this reflector, is likely to quickly lose enthusiasm.
>>> Also, whilst I am all for the spirit of experimentation, just maybe the increased use of much lower frequencies has added to the problem by spreading activity so thinly.
>>> Another BIG problem, often overlooked by people making comments about other's lack of receive capability, the increasing noise/crud level from things like TVs, LED lights etc.
>>> Then there's the CW operator who sends so fast you can't even read his callsign (DF5QG - sorry!) and only appears to listen on another band, a band I don't use.
>>> Wolf has been doing a great job with WSQ, several of us locally have been testing his modified version which works well - on topband. I would suggest this mode is potentially ideally suited to LF and gets us away from the 'beacon' modes so frequently criticised on here.
>>> I am frequently monitoring the 472kHz band - when LED lights permit - and look forward to things settling down as the year progresses.
>>> Vy 73,
>>> Chris, G4AYT, Whitstable, Kent, JO01MI.
>
>