ZS8W Stats.
I took a peak at the updated Log Stats from ZS8W a bit ago.
Well before the operation commenced in my April 19 post “ZS8W Marion Island By YL2GM“, I predicted, “My guess they’ll be a little CW, almost no SSB and over 85 to 90% lazy computer scripted text messaging. Anybody that thinks different would you like to place a bet (or two)?”
4 days into the activation here are the numbers:
56 from North America made it into the ZS8W log on CW. 56 of 2,020 NA Q’s is 2.8%. That’s 97.2% on computer TXT FT8 for NA. Overall NA has worked ZS8W on CW one half of 1%. 56 NA CW out of 9,957 Q’s is 00.56%.
Total of 9,957 Q’s so far = 93.5% TXT. 6.5% CW. 0.0% SSB.
Care to guess the percentages of the next 10,000 Q’s? (hint $$$)
N0UN
That was one of the most disappointed operations I’ve ever seen. Another FT operation catering to QSL money and the losers, posers and wanna be hams who take the easy way. Disgusting and shameful are not strong enough words to describe it. Only one ham from my Texas club worked him on CW.
Yuri had a great signal on 7.019 CW last night while calling NA for a few hours. Worked many here stateside. Pile was huge, but he steadfastly worked up and down the pile. Easy to follow. Got him within about 15 minutes. Rotatable dipole @60ft, 1KW. Easy Coast. #324
Anything is better than 119 North American CW contacts out of 18,786 total Q’s. I suspect he probably tripled that last night. NA CW may make 1%!
Yuri is a good op. Im hoping he gives the text msg hams their “ATNO” then turns focus to real hams using human decoded modes. Not ready to give up yet.
here we are a second 3 day QRT break coming up says dx-world. this is truly been past disappointing this dxpedition. no ssb at all and very little CW. this is obvious a big cheating swindle for qsl monies. just as its free to upload to club log it is the same for lotw. free. takes a minute to upload log but ZS8W will charge for oqrs. these criminal acts ft8 for money should be black listed and not count.
AMEN CDX, I havent been this disappointed in an expedition since UN-Heard Island some years back.
Oh well…
Joe
I’m one of the lucky 56 so far that have worked him on CW…I’m a bit surprised at the small number of NA CW contacts as he had a great S9+ signal into Boise on 20m yesterday morning for more than 2 hours. He’s not the greatest pileup manager; as stated above, the pileup was more than 25 kHz wide but, I think that actually helped me a tad as it was pretty obvious that he was primarily only working 0-10 up…helps to use that sub-receiver! Perhaps he just couldn’t hear NA through the European wall. I also have him on 20 and 40 FT8 but the CW contact feels more legit for sure.
So far I have made three QSOs which resulted in two new bands (30 & 40) and one new mode (Digital). I was there for 20 CW LP but couldn’t get in. I need CW for a new mode. I am looking forward to Yuris getting back on the air after his work QRX. 73 de Steve N2AJ
I heard him work you yesterday morning. I tried like hell but the spread was over 25 kc with little chance for my modest station. I looked at the SA Agulhas II SNAP schedule and they are scheduled to depart on May 15, not later like some news says. And now news reports he will not be active for the next 3 days. So he arrived days later than scheduled plus 3 days off now plus all FT plus a day or two to load and depart earlier than news means even less chances to work him on CW. This has turned into a big disappointment for those needing CW. 73, CDX
Sad to see the loss of human communications. I consider FT8 another form of artificial intelligence.